By Joseph Cyr
Staff Writer
HODGDON — Walking into the Hill-Top Lanes bowling alley is akin to taking a step back in time for a number of reasons.
For many, trips to Hill-Top Lanes bring back memories of their childhood either from family bowling nights or accompanying their fathers to watch them bowl in men’s league events. The fact that little has changed inside further fuels the trip down memory lane. The seating and signage is the same as it was from the 1980s, which adds a touch of nostalgia to the business.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
HILL-TOP OWNERS — Larry Scott and his wife Michelle are owners of the Hill-Top Lanes bowling alley. The Scotts are finding new ways to lure people into their business by hosting “family fun” nights.
But somehow, word on the street had spread that the bowling alley was closed. Perhaps it was because the business was for sale for a time, even though the alley is currently not on the market.
“We’re still open,” owner Larry Scott said. “We just haven’t been able to get the word out for some reason.”
Built by Dick Stewart, Gene Stewart and Orville Boutlier in 1964 at 61 Calais Road, Hill Top Lanes bowling alley has gone through many ups and downs in the market. Scott has worked at Hill Top Lanes since 1979, starting while he was still in high school. Since 2000, Scott has been the sole owner of the property. His wife Michelle also works at the bowling alley.
Aside from 12 lanes of candlepin bowling, Hill-Top Lanes has two billiards tables, an air hockey table and juke box to crank out the music. Scott said he has ideas for things he would like to bring in to drum up business, but was not at liberty to disclose those ideas at the present time.
Unfortunately, the bowling industry, much like the movie theatre industry, is experiencing a bit of a decline. What was once a booming market in the 1970s and ‘80s has dwindled and Scott attributes much of this decline to the fact that today’s youth lead a more sedentary life.
“It seems that if it is not electronic, kids don’t want to play it,” he said.
At one time, there were so many men’s and women’s league teams that events were held every night of the week. Seniors at Houlton and Hodgdon high schools were able to substitute bowling for gym class, but neither school continues that practice, Scott said.
Now, the alley is open Mondays, Fridays and Saturdays from 6:30-10 p.m. and Sundays 5:30-9 p.m. Scott said he will also open up by appointment if someone calls and asks.
Houlton Pioneer Times Photo/Joseph Cyr
READY FOR ACTION — The bowling alley at Hill-Top Lanes, located at 61 Calais Road, is ready for action.
Hill-Top Lanes is now a smoke-free establishment, family atmosphere, Scott said. The bowling alley can be rented for events such as children’s birthdays or private parties. This past New Year’s Eve, Scott opened the alley for a private party to ring in the New Year.
Some of the arcade games inside Hill-Top Lanes are not functioning, but Scott said he has plans to replace many of those units with “vintage” arcade games from the 1970s and ‘80s.
“I really want to find a Pac-Man machine,” he said. “The older games, kids don’t know them, so they are new to them, but the adults remember them and it brings them back. It is something for both fields.”
The lanes and pin assemblies are original from 1964. Scott performs all the maintenance on the units himself, but parts are getting harder to come by. To work around this, he has turned to private manufacturers who had to create the gears and sprockets needed to run the machines.
Recently, Scott partnered with Tim Humphrey of Northern Maine Musical Supply to hold a Family Fun Night at the bowling alley, offering a special rate for unlimited bowling. Humphrey, who lives across the street from the bowling alley, served as a DJ for the evening, and about 70 individuals attended. In fact, they had such a good turnout for the Family Fun Night that additional events are in the works for February.
Scott said he would love to see the community rally around the bowling alley to prevent him from closing the doors for good.
“People cry there is nothing to do in the Houlton area, but you know what, I sit here a lot of Saturday nights by myself without anyone in here,” he said. “If this is gone, I don’t think it is ever coming back.”
For more information on Hill-Top Lanes, visit their Facebook page or call 532-6791.
