Discover an interactive museum brimming with one-of-a-kind bowling artifacts, a unique bowling experience and a cutting-edge glimpse at the far-flung future of this global pastime. Pass through bowling’s Hall of Fame where rare photos and vintage film clips tell the stories of the game’s greatest legends. At this 18,000 sq. ft. museum you can see 5,000 years of bowling history come to life. See this special game progress from an ancient Egyptian pastime to a world-class sport. Enjoy 2-for-1 admission on Tuesdays.
International Bowling Museum and Hall of Fame
621 Six Flags Drive (three blocks south of I-30)
Hours: Tues-Sat 9:30am-5pm (closed Sun & Mon)
Admission: $9.50 adults, $7.50 kids ages 4-18; $7.50 senior 65+; kids 3 & under Free
(817) 385-8215
www.bowlingmuseum.com
Arlington, the new Mecca of bowling, is home of The International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame in the heart of Arlington’s Entertainment District. The 100,000 square foot International Bowling Campus includes: a kid-friendly hall of fame & museum; a state-of-the-art training and research facility; and the headquarters for the sport’s governing bodies.
As the #1 participatory sport in the United States, an estimated 67,136,000 Americans bowl at least once a year. That’s way ahead of #2 (fishing, 58.49 million) and #3 (jogging/running, 50.02 million). The sport is also big business. Bowling is a $10 billion industry.
Whether you bowl weekly in a league or once every blue moon, the International Bowling Museum & Hall of Fame invites you to unearth the sports history, then unleash its future.
The museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:30am-5pm (closed Sundays & Mondays). The price is $9.50 for adults, $7.50 for children ages 4-18; $7.50 for senior citizens (age 65 & over); and free for kids ages 3 & under. Enjoy 2-for-1 admissions on Tuesdays.
The state-of-the-art museum is interactive and allows you to journey back to where bowling began (ancient Egypt). Exhibits include the USBC’s Hall of Fame, a movie theatre, a replica of pre-turn of the century bowling lanes (including pin boys), a look at a 1950’s diner; a look into Joe Thum’s White Elephant where bowling first came to America; and a history timeline of bowling’s journey from Egypt to British monarchs to German immigrants coming to American Shores.
But the campus is not just about the past, it’s about the future. The museum includes “The Future: Computerized Coaching, Robotic Simulation and Bowlopolis”. This is the future of the sport.
Next door to the museum is bowling’s International Training & Research Center (IRTC) which includes 14 dedicated training lanes, biomechanical motion tracking, DigiTrax technology, robotics and foot & grip pressure mapping. Yes, you can even get instruction from a private coach at the IRTC. Click here for more info: http://www.bowlingitrc.com/Home.aspx
Be sure to visit the new Spare Partz gift shop which includes everything from caps & shirts to customized bowling balls. The gift shop is located within the museum.
With over 18,000 square feet of space, 2 break-out meeting rooms, and a mini-movie theatre, the museum is also available for group tours and events (20 people to 400 people), field trips, birthday parties, corporate events, and reserved meeting rooms. Call (817) 385-8230 to ask about special events or parties or group tours. You can also e-mail info@bowlingmuseum.com.
Located in Arlington’s Entertainment District, the International Bowling Campus’s address is 621 Six Flags Drive, two blocks south of I-30 (and just one block south of the entrance to Six Flags theme park). Click here for map/directions: http://www.bowlingmuseum.com/Visit/HoursandDirections.aspx
Arlington Insider 