This Bowling Alley is INSIDE a Semi-Truck Trailer

If you can’t go to the mountain – in times of the pandemic – the mountain must come to you. 

Since the pandemic began, most sporting facilities have been closed or their number of visitors restricted. And of all the sports that you could engage in during these times, you certainly wouldn’t choose the one that requires you to stick your fingers into holes, in which countless strangers before you already did (mind out of the gutter, we’re talking about bowling balls).

But if you miss the anticipation as the bowling ball rolls down the lane and the sound of it striking the pins and you happen to live in the vicinity of Southfield, Michigan, an entrepreneur from thereabouts now offers a private bowling alley that will roll up to your doorstep.

The bowling alley, called Luxury Strike is a two-lane operation built into a 53-foot semi-truck trailer. Of course, the trailer can only accommodate shorter lanes and just three-pound balls. But like duckpin bowling or mini-golf, the sets are smaller but the fun is still big.

Besides the bowling lane, the trailer contains an elevated lounge, overlooking the lanes, as well as an 8o-inch theatre screen, which can be synced with the guest’s phone.  Food and smoking are not allowed, but guests can bring their own booze, and there is a lounge butler on standby. Of course, the trailer is thoroughly sanitised between rental sessions and there are hand sanitisers provided.

The idea for Luxury Strike was not born during the pandemic, but Terence Jackson, whose brainchild this was, thought of it two years ago. Jackson’s CV includes building party buses, and one day he thought, hmm, how about packaging up a sport that can be ‘taken home’. The only sport that couldn’t be packaged up, he thought, was bowling.

The actualisation of the idea, however, did take place during the pandemic. Jackson began designing and outfitting the trailer back in March, right at the start of the pandemic, and launched it sometime in June. The entire process cost him US$300,000 and Jackson sold a few real estate that he owned, including his own home, to fund his vision. Now, that’s passion and just a little bit crazy.

Well, the skeptics can now step down because Jackson gets bookings for his bowling-alley-on-wheels between 20 to 30 times a week, which brings in at least US$10,000 in sales. Rental is US$500 for two hours, for a max of five hours, and for up to 15 guests at a time.

One wonders whether the pandemic might have been a blessing in disguise for Jackson, as people look for a responsible way to have fun with friends during times like this. Entrepreneurs around the world are thinking of new ways to provide entertainment on wheels, in a socially distanced manner, including the revival of drive-in cinemas and drive-thru haunted houses.