EDITOR’S NOTE: Hopkins varsity bowling coach Josh Dandrow said the Vikings’ two teams opted to bowl in Allegan instead of Wayland after the Dorr lanes closed. Hopkins has not used the Wayland bowling establishment as a home base in more than seven years.
Ron and Linda Lannon, owners of the Rock ‘N Bowl’ establishment, have announced that the business is in trouble of going under because of the recent closures caused by Covid-19.
The couple bought the bowling alley to save it from a similar disaster a couple of years ago, but the pandemic has shut it down twice this past fall.
Rock ‘N Bowl has been the home site for the Wayland High School bowling teams and remains the only bowling establishment open in this area. The lanes in Dorr and Plainwell have gone belly up in recent years.
If it is shuttered, the Wildcat teams will not a home place for dual matches and practices. This is not to mention a lot of recreational leagues that play on weeknights and on weekends.
Rock ‘N Bowl has a storied history with they heyday of longtime owner Haven Tarnutzer and it was where state champion Lady Wildcat Sydney Urben rolled a lot of games. Head boys’ coach Sherry Miklusicak virtually grew up at the Airport Lanes.
Current girls’ head coach Eric Bottrall, who guided the Lady Wildcats to a conference championship last year, commented to the Lannons on Facebook “Our Wayland kids will be waiting patiently for the reopen to start our high school season! We appreciate all you have done for us!”
The couple posted on the Rock ‘N Bowl Facebook page, “It is with a great deal of pride-swallowing that we type this. This year has been hard for all of us, especially for a lot of small businesses, and with the most recent extension to the latest shutdown we are in danger of not being able to re-open. We are asking the community for help.
“We received assistance through the first shutdown, but options are limited to get through this one and we simply can’t afford another loan. We have been honored to be a part of this community and provide a fun, active service to so many.
Airport Lanes had been in business for more than 75 years.
Samantha Alexander is spearheading a Go Fund Me fund-raising effort, which as of Thursday evening eas close to gaining one-fifth of its $5,000 goal. Those interested in helping financially can go to https://www.gofundme.com/f/rock-n-bowl-wayland-needs-your-help?utm_source=customer&utm_medium=copy_link&utm_campaign=p_cf%20share-flow-1&fbclid=IwAR3GX8tDEOB8TgAe0Tx7abBK1n0Ed9LzZ1KLahJJZylNfbTXgvBQzYWsoVk
