Spare time leads to bowling alley makeover
Sports reporter
"Wow," was all he could say.
In fact, he said it about three more times.
"It's like 180 degrees," Marion resident Roger Bryant said. "It doesn't even look like the same building."
Bryant strolled into Sher Bowl Lanes 131 S. Thorp, formerly Mar Bowl Lanes, for the first time in four months Aug 16, and was shocked.
Bryant has been competing in leagues at the bowling alley for nearly 20 years. When he, along with about 30 other team captains, piled into the revamped facility that night to discuss the start of the new bowling season, it was as if they were in a completely different place.
This time the building they were in didn't have old, drab carpeting on the floor.
No, the bowlers were walking on a shiny, newly black and white tiled floor. The ceiling and walls were painted a fresh, bright white.
But what Bryant is excited about most are the new electronic scoreboards the bowling alley now boasts. They will not only keep score, but have animations after each shot, and even tell a bowler how fast he or she rolled the ball.
"They will bring a lot of people back," Bryant said.
Sher Bowl looks as good as it does because of a local Marion couple who took over ownership in November.
Bill and LaDonna Sherbert began bringing new life to the all but dead bowling alley at the end of May. With the help of family members and some local kids, Bill has put in five to seven days a week, making the place look brand new.
Bill said when he first started working on it the kids from town were still inside bowling. He remembered at one time it seemed as if all of the sixth graders from Marion were there bowling.
As much as he wanted them to have a place to go, he knew not enough work was getting done.
"I told them it's never going to get done if they don't let me close," he said.
So, he shut down the alley May 31 knowing that when it hopefully opens just in time for league play on Friday, the kids will feel like they are bowling in a whole new place.
Along with the new scoreboards, floor, and ceiling, the alley will feature an open kitchen, dart board, juke box, pool table, and arcade games.
There will be league play on Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with open bowling on the other three days.
However, Saturday night will be Kids Night, and the day might feature Cosmic Bowling. The normal lights will be turned off and black lighting will be added to give a disco feeling to the place.
It also will be a little easier to breathe thanks to four newly installed Purifans.
The fans, or smoke eaters, suck in dirty air and spit out recirculated, clean air.
"It wouldn't be fair to tell somebody they can't smoke," Bill said. "It's like discrimination to me."
But he understands that not every bowler smokes, and the installation of the fans accommodates everyone.
Now, after three months of hard work during virtually all their spare time, the Sherberts and their family nearly have a finished product. Which means it's time to focus on keeping the place looking as nice as it does now.
It shouldn't be a problem for Bill because he has enough motivation.
"I want it for the kids," he said.
Starting this weekend, they'll have it.
