From New Smyrna to Palm Coast, here's where to find bowling alleys in the Daytona area
One of America’s favorite pastimes is heading for the nearest bowling alley for a few hours of fun competition with friends and family.
In fact, more than 67 million people in the United States bowl each year, according to the United States Bowling Congress.
But just 1.2 million compete regularly in league play, making the vast majority recreational players.
Where did bowling originate?
According to the United States Bowling Congress' website, the sport "has been traced to articles found in the tomb of an Egyptian child buried in 5200 B.C."
"The primitive implements included nine pieces of stone at which a stone 'ball' was rolled, the ball having first to roll through an archway made of three pieces of marble," according to their website.
But bowling at pins "probably originated in ancient Germany, not as a sport but as a religious ceremony.
"The game moved throughout Europe, the Scandinavian countries, and finally to the United States, with the earliest known reference to bowling at pins in America made by author Washington Irving about 1818 in 'Rip Van Winkle.'"
It became popular by mid-19th century, when "indoor lanes were being built throughout Manhattan and the Bronx and on westward, in Syracuse, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Chicago, Milwaukee and other cities with large German populations."
What is the perfect score in bowling?
To get a perfect score in bowling game, you'll have to shoot strikes for all 10 frames in a row (including the two extra shots you get if you strike on the 10th frame), which will result in a score of 300.
But that's a lot easier said than done. Even for professional bowlers, shooting a 300-game is no easy feat.
The first televised 300-game in a Professional Bowlers Association tournament happened in 1967 when Jack Biondolillo did it. Since then, only 35 300-games have been televised.
The most recent happened in June 2023, when Jason Belmonte shot the perfect score.
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Where to go bowling in the Daytona Beach area?
For Volusia and Flagler residents, the options of where to go bowling are plenty. Here is where you can find bowling alleys in the area:
Ormond Lanes
Ormond Lanes offers food, drinks, parties, arcade games, laser tag, a Pro Shop and more.
Open play bowling prices range between $5.15 and $47.50 (per person and/or per hour). Shoe rentals are $4.25.
Ormond Lanes’ hours, which are subject to change, are:
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Monday and Tuesday: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Wednesday and Thursday: 9 a.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Friday and Saturday: 9 a.m. to close.
Ormond Lanes is located at 260 N. U.S. Highway 1. For information, visit ormondlanes.com or call 386-672-2014.
Back Alley Lanes VR-Cade
Back Alley Lanes VR-Cade, located in South Daytona, is also an option for those looking to bowl and more.
The venue offers a virtual reality videogame experience called “Virtuix Omni Arena,” as well as party packages, an arcade and food options.
Hours are:
Sunday and Monday: 1 to 9 p.m.
Tuesday and Wednesday: 1 to 10 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Rates range from $5 to $35 (per person or per hour). Shoe rentals are $3.75.
Back Alley Lanes VR-Cade is located at 2400 S. Ridgewood Ave., Suite 6.
For information, visit backalleylanes.com or call 386-388-7020.
New Smyrna Lanes
New Smyrna Lanes is another option for southeast Volusia residents.
The bowling alley offers space for parties, kids' birthdays, a snack bar and more.
Open play hours are:
Monday, 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Thursday: 9 a.m. to noon.
Friday: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. followed by Glow Bowl from 10:30 p.m. to midnight.
Saturday: 11 a.m. to midnight
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Rates are $4 per game, per person before 6 p.m. After 6 p.m., rates are $5 per game, per person, and $35 for “Glow” bowling per hour, per lane.
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New Smyrna Lanes is located at 185 N. Causeway. For information, visit newsmyrnalanes.com or call 386-428-4332.
GameTime Daytona
GameTime Daytona offers plenty for your bowling outing.
The venue offers a “full liquor sports bar,” more than 100 interactive arcade games, food and drink options, birthday parties and corporate events.
Hours are:
Monday through Wednesday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Thursday: 11 a.m. to midnight
Friday: 11 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Saturday: 10 a.m. to 2 a.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Rates are $24 until 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, $29 after 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, $39 on Friday after 6 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday. Shoe rentals are $3.25 for kids and $4.25 for adults.
GameTime Daytona is located at 250 Daytona Blvd. For information, visit gametimeplayers.com or call 386-944-5495.
Sunshine Bowling Center
Sunshine Bowling Center in DeLand offers 20 traditional bowling lanes as well as eight VIP lanes with special perks, such as couches and access to a full bar.
Hours are:
Thursday through Sunday: Noon to 9 p.m.
Friday through Saturday: Noon to 11 p.m.
Rates are $10.99 for one hour of traditional bowling and $13.75 for the VIP experience; $14.99 and $18.50 for two hours.
Sunshine Bowling Center is located at 595 E. International Speedway Blvd. in DeLand.
For information, visit sunshinebowling.com or call 386-738-5566.
Palm Coast Lanes
Aside from bowling lanes, space for birthday parties and food options, Palm Coast Lanes also has a bar/patio area for guests to enjoy.
Hours are:
Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday through Friday: 11 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Saturday: 10:30 a.m. to 1 a.m.
Rates, per game and per hour, range between $5 and $20.
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Palm Coast Lanes is located at 11 Old Kings Road N. in Palm Coast.
For information, visit palmcoastlanes.com or call 386-445-4004.
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Bowling alleys in Daytona Beach, NSB, DeLand, Ormond, Palm Coast
