Late winter storms couldn’t have come at a better time for FireLake Bowling Center, as families attempting to get out of the house and stay out of the cold found a revitalized FireLake Bowling Center offering the latest in digital entertainment.  The facility recently expanded its family-friendly entertainment offerings to include new arcade games, sports simulators and a snack bar.

“Our upgraded arcade has more than 25 games,” explained FireLake Bowling Center Director Chris Skillings. “Anything from normal video games, a sports simulator to prize games like those at state and county fairs, we have all kinds.”

Two of the major upgrades, Lazer Frenzy and the Visual Sports Simulator, are as popular with adults as they are with the kids. The laser maze sets obstacle courses made of dozens of laser lights inside a small chamber. When a participant comes into contact with the beam, they lose points.

The sports simulator has found a following amongst the kids and adults as well. FireLake Golf Course staff members have been amongst its most active users during rain and snow days. In addition to golf, the sports simulator also has games like football kick, rugby and hockey. Zombie dodgeball, which is exactly what it sounds like, is becoming a favorite for FireLake regulars too.

“It’s a family oriented arcade, and that means parents and kids can enjoy it,” Skillings added. “You come in on a daily basis and can see the various ages, from four to fifty, have a good time there. Everyone can come in and enjoy something.”

The bowling center has also resumed food service in the areas that once housed San Remo’s Pizzeria, this time with the FireLake Bowling Center Snack Bar. Burgers, fries and sandwiches are the snack bar’s staples, including the Texas-sized chicken fried steak sandwich.

It’s not all video games and food at FireLake though, as the bowling center prepares for its busy spring and summer schedule when it will host a number of professional and charity tournaments.

March 22 kicks off the professional events, with the qualifying tournament for the PBA FireLake Grand Casino Resort Southwest Open. Just a few weeks after, on April 11-12 FireLake hosts the PBA FireLake Grand Casino Hotel Resort Southwest Open. The night before the big event, FireLake hosts its annual pro-am fundraiser for Big Brothers, Big Sisters of Pottawatomie County.

“It’s an awesome event,” said Skillings. “These PBA guys are professionals and it is a massive draw to have teams from Shawnee and the surrounding areas pair up with them to make some money for a worthy charity like Big Brothers, Big Sisters.”

This is just a prelude to the summer’s showcase with the May 9-17 Oklahoma Grand Casino Hotel and Resort PBA Summer Swing, a two week long pro-am event with final rounds broadcast on CBS Sports Network.

 

“It will be a busy summer for us, both with our normal bowling-related events and with our upgraded arcade,” said Skillings. “For us it is a great opportunity to bring professional sports to Shawnee, something which we’re proud of at FireLake.”

FireLake Bowling Center is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursdays, and 10 a.m. to midnight on Friday and Saturdays. Find out about our current events at https://www.facebook.com/firelakebowling.