Springfield bowling landmark, Holiday Lanes, to close

For 55 years, Carl Litle has made the three-block drive to Holiday Lanes to knock down bowling pins.

The crashing sounds of strikes and spares soon will cease at the north side Springfield landmark.

Owners Steve Wiemer and Gary Clouse revealed to league bowlers on Monday night that Holiday Lanes — which opened in 1960 — will close on May 31.

"I'll miss it," said Litle, 81. The retired mail carrier has bowled at least one winter and summer league at Holiday since it opened.

Wiemer, the majority owner, cited increasing costs to maintain the aging infrastructure of the business. The timing is right, he said, after Clouse decided to retire.

Clouse, who has managed the center since 1986, said he and wife Nona have considered retirement for the last two years.

"This spring we pretty much decided that we were going to hang it up," Clouse said, adding that he has mixed emotions about seeing the business shut its doors.

There are hobbies that he finally will get to enjoy, such as fishing and golf.

"And our grandkids," he said of boys ages 12 and 13. "That's the No. 1 priority.

"But we've met so many people over the years. We've always felt that our customers were our friends. Everybody that came in here were friends, like a big family.

"That's going to be the hard part, missing the people."

Clouse said some people "had tears in their eyes" when the news of the impending closing broke before Monday's league play.

"Most of them have congratulated us on our retirement," he said. "Some, we'll still see. I'm going to keep bowling and hopefully many of the people we've bowled with will do the same."

Litle, who is bowling four leagues as this season winds down, said he's unsure. Driving across town to another center does not sound appealing.

"When Hugh Rhodes took over as manager (in 1960) he convinced me I should bowl here and not drive across town," Litle said. "I don't know if I will now or not. It's up in the air."

League bowling has been in decline in recent years, not only at Holiday Lanes but other bowling centers nationally.

The Springfield area still has five other bowling centers in operation — but none on the north side. The others are Sunshine Lanes, Lighthouse Lanes, Andy B's (formerly Battlefield Lanes), Enterprise Park Lanes and Century Lanes in Nixa.