Free Bowling: Channahon Lanes Mark 25th Anniversary

CHANNAHON, IL — One of the area's small-town success stories, Channahon Lanes and Mini Golf, is offering free bowling games and shoes Friday, Saturday and Sunday to mark its celebration of being open for 25 years.

Since 1998, Channahon Lanes has been owned by the family of Tom and Betsy Doud, and his sister Patti Paul and her husband, Greg. The 16-lane bowling center was originally built in 1981.

Channahon Lanes and Mini Golf is located on Route 6 at 25306 West Eames Street. According to Google Reviews, Channahon Lanes has 249 reviews, averaging 4.5 stars out of 5 stars.

"We just did a pretty big update and renovation." Tom Doud remarked. "We redid the bar, there's new carpet, new flooring, new section for ball returns, all in the last 18 months."

Patti Paul said the support has been fantastic over the past 25 years. Channahon Lanes draws its most of its customers from Channahon, Minooka, Shorewood, Joliet, Morris and Plainfield.

"You get to meet a lot of different people, and there's a lot of loyal customers," Tom Doud explained.

"It's kind of fun to watch them grow up," his sister added. "There are some former junior league bowlers who have their children in our junior leagues."

Channahon Lanes are open seven days a week, and the brother-sister owners said they have about a dozen different bowling leagues "for all different ages and skills."

Channahon Lanes has a pro shop inside the bowling center as well as a full bar, plus snack food and pizza. There's also an 18-hole outdoor mini-golf on the property that is open April through October.

The brother-sister owners say they are grateful for the community's support, especially during the challenges posed during COVID.

"It's a nice community that supports us as well," Patti Paul said. "They were phenomenal during and after COVID."

Patch asked the owners of Channahon Lanes what's been the key to their success in terms of their longevity.

"I think we try to keep it family focused," Patti Paul said. "We try to instill that with our staff. We do try to give back to the community. We host fund-raisers, the school has the career fair, we do things with the Girl Scouts, National Night Out."

Channahon Lanes also hosts birthday parties and other events.

"We've had wedding receptions, baby showers, bridal showers, and we just had a birthday party for a 60-year-old," Tom Doud remarked. "The Lions Club meets here, and we have euchre games on Tuesday nights. It's a lot of different things."

For the 25th anniversary party, Channahon Lanes is hosting the special event extravaganza on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Friday includes two free games and shoes from 3 to 10 p.m. and there will be karaoke by SoundZ Good Productions from 7 to 10 p.m.

On Saturday, bowlers can get two free games plus shoes from noon to 10 p.m. and from noon to 4 p.m. the Chicago All Fired Up food truck will be on site selling food; kids activities are from noon to 4 p.m. featuring Magic Frank starting at 1 p.m.

Starting at 8 p.m. is Steve Michaels Music, a one-person acoustical live music production.

On Sunday, the last day of the celebration, customers get two free games of bowling and shoes from noon to 5 p.m. There will be kids activities during that time and the Chicago All Fired food truck will be back, selling food from noon to 4 p.m. There will also be a face-painter at Channahon Lanes from noon to 3 p.m.