Bowling in the Bayou Region
Kelby Toups staff In South Louisiana, bowling alleys created big communities that enjoy the sport both for casual and competitive players. However, with the decline in demand for these bowling alleys, there aren’t many locations left to enjoy. Creole Lanes is the only surviving bowling alley in the Houma-Thibodaux area. Located in Houma, Louisiana, Creole Lanes opened its doors in 1983. “In order for the bowling alley to stay in business, we always want to keep that middle ground to benefit from our competitive players and the families and friend groups,” says Zachary Jones, a long-time manager at Creole Lanes. “In order for the bowling alley to stay in business, we always want to keep that middle ground to benefit from our competitive players and the families and friend groups.” Zachary Jones Twenty years ago, Jones says “Evergreen Junior High would have their PE classes come every so often to give their students class credit to bowl.” While Creole Lanes is still up and running today, some bowling alleys were not as fortunate. In the Thibodaux area, there was Thunder Bowl, which went by a few names before ultimately shutting down. Johnny Craig, the original owner, opened the bowling alley as Sugar Bowl in 1965. It was later changed to Gator Bowl by Allen and Cindy Parks around the late ’80s. In the early 2000s, Buster Lagarde bought the bowling alley and changed the name to Thunder Bowl. In 2014, the bowling alley was then changed to Hickory Lanes. The bowling alley shut down officially in 2018. What Happened? David Boudreaux, a Thibodaux native, says “In a 12-lane house, you can bowl on lanes 1 and 2 and know what was going on at lanes 11 and 12. It was sort of a family atmosphere where everyone knew each other that would bowl there.” Thunder Bowl was mainly built for the competitive scene of bowling, but once they started losing their older and more frequent customers , they began to notice a big loss in revenue. Thunder Bowl shut down in 2018, but the building still stands today on Hickory Street right off of St. Mary Street in Thibodaux. Looking outside of the Houma-Thibodaux area, there is Steelwood Lanes which is located in Morgan City, Louisiana. Steelwood Lanes was built in 1961 and is still in business today. Unlike most other bowling alleys, Steelwood Lanes had a unique building layout. Dylan DuPree, the owner of Steelwood Lanes, explains, “One thing about Steelwood is that we are one of the only Brunswick bowling centers in the United States that was built with a second story.” This second story acts as a bar that allows guests to oversee the bowling lanes. The bar area is still there to this day, however, it is currently under renovation. When it comes to bowling, Steelwood Lanes shows its competitive side by hosting tournaments with the Morgan City USBC Bowling Association. Their tournaments allow everyone to take part in the fun while fundraising for different causes. Back in October of 2022, they hosted a tournament called “Strike Out Breast Cancer, Spare a Pair” in support of Breast Cancer Awareness. more bowling coverage
Bowl South
Kelby Toups staff Bowl South of Louisiana was one of the few bowling alleys located in Houma from 1992 until the damage from Hurricane Ida in 2021 forced it to close. “It did not just tear apart the building, it also took away something that meant the most to the community,” says former Bowl South employee Jason Ledet. Originally named East Side Bowl, it was renamed Bowl South of Louisiana in February 1992. The bowling alley consisted of a snack bar and grill, a sports bar, a pro shop, and 24 bowling lanes. Throughout its time, the bowling alley hosted many league tournaments, high school team matches, and fundraiser events for the community. “It was like my second home,” says Larry Grabert, a long-time bowler and employee. “Both owners Marie and Terry Lirette, who never had kids of their own, became like my second parents.” Like Grabert, it was considered by many as a second home with a large, and consistently growing community. “That place for countless bowlers was not simply a bowling center, but it was like home,” says RJ Ugas, a former mechanic for Bowl South. “That place for countless bowlers was not simply a bowling center, but it was like home.” RJ Ugas On August 29, 2021, Hurricane Ida made landfall in Port Fourchon making its way north through the Houma-Thibodaux area. The hurricane wiped out many well-known landmarks including Bowl South, destroying the building and causing Marie and Terry to shut down the business. Bowl South Branding Bowl South Bowl South 1992 The Classic League more bowling stories
Thunder Bowl
Brandon Thomas Staff Some remember it as the Sugar Bowl, some remember it as Hickory Lanes and at the end of its life, it went by Thunder Bowl Snack Bar. Regardless of the building’s namesake, it’d be hard to find a Thibodaux native who hasn’t been to the bowling alley on Hickory Street. Serving the community since at least the 1960s, Thunder Bowl has served as not only a bowling alley but also a snack shop. They served hot dogs, pizza, and other quick meals. “[Thunder Bowl was] a great place for all ages in the ’60s,” says former Thunder Bowl patron Wayne Talbot. “For bowling, socializing, and good food…it was a place where parents could feel secure allowing their children to be with friends, whether in league bowling, on a date, or gathering after other functions.” Players who bowled a perfect game had their names placed above the respective lane where they bowled a 300. Thibodaux native and former Thunder Bowl bowling league member Kenny Lirette says, “The best experience I had was the night that I bowled a 300…We got to meet different people in the community and have a good time.” Located at 201 Hickory Street Thunder Bowl Snack Bar was permanently closed in 2018 and will soon serve as the new home to Salon Moxie hair studio. Sugar Lanes- “Weenie” Borne Sugar Lanes Thunder Bowl 2010 Thunder Bowl Building