August 20, 2020 at 4:45 p.m.
Hodag Lanes to remain closed after 50+ years in business
League, amateur bowlers will need to travel to nearest bowling alley
Hodag Lanes to remain closed after 50+ years in business
By Stephanie Kuski-
Both the bowling alley and restaurant are now for sale and will remain closed until purchased by a new owner.
The closing of Rhinelander's last bowling alley has provoked a flood of emotions from the bowling community and locals alike. Hodag Lanes has been a mainstay in our community for over 50 years, during which time patrons enjoyed banquets, birthday parties, homemade pizza and, of course, 20 lanes of bowling.
"We've been closed down since March 15 when the governor mandated everybody close down, and since then due to COVID, we've been closed." Sharon Cline, former bowling manager at Hodag Lanes, explained. "Then with the construction (on Stevens Street) coming into play, that certainly didn't help the business... So the owner felt that he didn't want to open. We were going back and forth for a couple months on different ideas, and he just felt it was wise not to open."
Now that the decision to remain closed has been made, both league members and amateur bowlers are wondering what alternative options there are for bowling outside of the Rhinelander area.
The Northwoods chapter of the USBC (United States Bowling Congress) Association includes over 440 bowlers from Eagle River, Rhinelander, Wabeno and the Land O' Lakes/Conover area, Cline stated. Hodag Lanes had been the biggest house of those locations, she added, with roughly three-quarters of those bowlers coming from Rhinelander.
Rhinelander bowlers will now have the option to travel to bowling alleys in Minocqua, Woodruff, Tomahawk, Antigo and Merrill, Cline said. But because of the distance bowlers would need to travel, she said many Rhinelander participants in the Northwoods USBC Association have opted to drop out for the time being.
"I've talked to Merrill Lanes, I've talked with Tomahawk Lanes and these houses are more than willing to help out the bowlers, but travel is the big issue," Cline said.
Mike Bourcier, coach of the Rhinelander/Three Lakes/Elcho high school bowling team, said he has been approached by Lincoln Lanes in Merrill as a possible site to house the team. (More details on the boys' and girls' high school bowling team are provided by Jeremy Mayo in the sports section). The fate for the adult league, however, will be determined by the bowlers themselves in deciding whether or not they want to travel to another bowling alley.
"The adult leagues are the ones that are probably the most affected," Cline commented. "A lot of them won't bowl this season. They'll just take off and hope that somebody will buy Hodag Lanes."
Prior to its closure, Hodag Lanes accommodated an active bowling schedule with leagues playing nearly every night of the week, in addition to a Couples League every other Saturday and a Junior League and Bumper League on Saturday mornings. Cline said Thursday evenings featured their biggest league, which boasted 13 teams with five people on each team.
"We also had Special Olympics there too, and now they don't have a place to practice," Cline added. "We so enjoyed having those children and adults there."
The bowling alley also features a banquet hall and restaurant that can be used for large get-togethers and birthday parties.
"When we had birthday parties and special events, we really packed the house," Cline commented. "There have been times when we've had all 20 lanes going."
Hodag Lanes has also played role in the community as a venue for fundraisers and other benefits through the years. Back in January, Hodag Lanes hosted a fundraiser for Wild Instincts and had planned to do another fundraiser since it had gone so well, but that unfortunately will no longer be an option. In February, Hodag Lanes also hosted the 10th annual Kory Dahlvig Memorial Scholarship Fundraiser, and prior to the pandemic shutdown, Hodag BMX had planned to do a fundraiser in March that was since canceled and can no longer be rescheduled.
In addition, the annual Northwoods USBC Bowling Association tournament that would have been held the last Sunday in September has also been canceled.
Following decades of success for these local events and bowling leagues, the closure of Hodag Lanes was met with heavy hearts by community members. Cline added that all Hodag Lanes employees have been laid off since March and will most likely be in search of jobs now that the decision has been made to remain closed.
"I've been there for 16 years," Cline said. "I started off as a public relations manager and then went to the bowling alley as a manager. I had a great staff that worked alongside me... That made people want to come in and enjoy the fun things we had to offer."
Cline said she is planning on retiring this year and plans to bowl in either Tomahawk or Antigo this season in order to keep up her average for future tournaments.
Although there weren't any prospective buyers at the time of this interview, Cline said she hopes someone will buy Hodag Lanes and Restaurant so that league bowlers and locals alike can redeem this once treasured gem of our community.
"I will help anybody that comes into the business that needs help with anything to guide them in the right direction to get the business up and running," Cline added.
Hodag Lanes and Restaurant is for sale and those interested in inquiring about its purchase can connect with RE/MAX Property Pros in Eagle River.
Cline is directing local bowlers to bowling alleys outside of the Rhinelander area while Hodag Lanes remains closed. For more information, or to inquire about picking up personal items, connect with Cline via the Hodag Lanes and Restaurant Facebook page.
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