Favorite New England Candlepin Bowling Alleys
Looking to try your hand at candlepin bowling? As the home of this historic sport, New England has some great spots to get you started.
Candlepin Bowling
Photo Credit : Renee Schwietzke/Wikimedia Commons
New England’s primacy in the sport of candlepin bowling is clear. It all started here in 1880, when Justin “Pop” White, a bowling lane owner in Worcester, Massachusetts, invented the sport, which today remains part of the regional culture. No surprise, then, that the best candlepin alleys are located in New England.
What is Candlepin Bowling?
Candlepin differs from standard (and, non–New Englanders might try to argue, superior) tenpin bowling in significant ways. The balls are smaller, players roll three balls per frame as opposed to two, and the pins are thinner. For those reasons, candlepin fans contend, the sport is more difficult. The International Candlepin Bowling Association has a robust website that details the sport’s history and how to play it.
Ready to get rolling? Read on for some favorite candlepin bowling alleys in New England.
Favorite New England Candlepin Bowling Alleys
Boston Bowl | Dorchester, Massachusetts
Non–New Englanders and regional natives can unite at Boston Bowl, which features both tenpin and candlepin bowling. Even better: It’s open 24 hours.
Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley | Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts
Considered the second-oldest candlepin venue in the country, this eight-lane favorite has first opened in 1906, just a quarter-century after the sport got its start. Check out a history of the center in this recent Yankee story.
Photo Credit : courtesy of Shelburne Falls Bowling Alley
Dover Bowl | Dover, New Hampshire
Located in New Hampshire’s Seacoast region, Dover Bowl is a popular destination for both kids and adults. Twenty-two tenpin lanes and four brand-spanking-new candlepin alleys are the centerpiece of this entertainment haven, which also features a restaurant, video games, laser tag, bumper cars, and a bar. The bowling lanes are computerized and include automatic scoring.
North Star Bowl | Wilmington, Vermont
Completely rebuilt after Tropical Storm Irene ripped through Vermont in 2011, North Star features six lanes and is located on Route 100, an iconic sightseeing road that cuts through the heart of the state and is a favorite among leaf peepers.
The Big 20 Bowling Center | Scarborough, Maine
Opened in 1950, the Big 20 has played host to three world championships and in 1980 became Maine’s first candlepin center inducted into the Candlepin Hall of Fame.
Photo Credit : Ian Aldrich
Bowling Acres Family Fun Center and Grill | Peterborough, New Hampshire
When Yankee editors want a candlepin fix, this is where they go. Located just down the road from the magazine’s headquarters in Dublin, Bowling Acres features 10 lanes, a small arcade, and a grill that also serves pizza and bar food as well as pitchers of cold beer.
33 Elmwood | Westbrook, Maine
Don’t think bowling can go highbrow? Think again. This bowling center opened in 2016 and includes bocce lanes and a restaurant menu that goes beyond typical bar food, with offerings such as fish tacos and steak frites.
Got a favorite candlepin bowling alley that didn’t make the list? Let us know!
This post was first published in 2017 and has been updated.
Ian Aldrich
Ian Aldrich is the Senior Features Editor at Yankee magazine, where he has worked for more for nearly two decades. As the magazine’s staff feature writer, he writes stories that delve deep into issues facing communities throughout New England. In 2019 he received gold in the reporting category at the annual City-Regional Magazine conference for his story on New England’s opioid crisis. Ian’s work has been recognized by both the Best American Sports and Best American Travel Writing anthologies. He lives with his family in Dublin, New Hampshire.
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