Life in the fast lanes

Bowling at West Park Lanes is about to get ... cosmic, man.

The Cape Girardeau bowling alley will soon undergo a half-million-dollar makeover that, when completed, will mean new lanes, seating and scoring programs.

The project will add new "glow lanes," said co-general manager Darryl James, allowing for "cosmic bowling," using glow-in-the-dark pins and balls. West Park Lanes is also adding new scoring monitors that feature bright colors and animated graphics.

"We're doing a complete renovation," James said. "It's something that hasn't been done in 20-something years."

West Park Lanes is owned by Bob Drury's company, Drury Southwest Inc. It opened in December 1983 and this is its first remodeling, said co-manager Joe Seib. Work is expected to begin as early as Aug. 20, when they will start to remove all 32 of the existing lanes and have the new ones put in.

Most everything there is getting a makeover, including new lanes, the bowler's areas, score tables and concession area, Seib said.

Bowlers should especially like the new score monitors, which will feature flashy colors and cool graphics and animation, Seib said.

The bowling alley will be closed for about a week or so the week of Aug. 28. The work will hopefully be completed about the second week in September, he said.

The timing is perfect, the managers said, because Cape Girardeau and Jackson are preparing to sponsor the 2007 Missouri State Mens Bowling Tournament, which is expected to bring several hundred bowlers and their families to the area for 10 weekends from February to April.

West Park Lanes and Main Street Lanes in Jackson are co-sponsoring the event.

Main Street Lanes owner Jim Maevers said the event had never been held here because there were not enough lanes to accommodate all the teams.

"When I designed Main Street Lanes, I made sure we would have 18 lanes, so with West Park Lanes' 32 and our 18, it made 50 lanes in a geographical area so it made sense to host the tournament," he said. "We made a joint application to the state men's association two years ago and were awarded the 2007 tournament last June."

Charlie Herbst, a bowler and Cape Girardeau City Council member, said he has participated in the event since 1986. It had traditionally been held in Columbia, St. Louis, St. Charles, Kansas City, Joplin and St. Joseph.

"West Park Lanes is already nicer than most bowling centers we have visited in the past years," Herbst said. "2007 should be showcase year for the tournament."

smoyers@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 137