Mega thanks to reader Ron for spotting this gem — a 1962 home in Rockford, Michigan (near Grand Rapids) that includes a spectacular two-lane bowling alley in the basement. This is beyond amazing! The house is currently for sale, it’s listed at $189,000 by Theresa Robinson of 616 Realty (listing now ended.) I talked to Theresa via phone to get permission to show this photo, and she explained that the house has been in the same family since they built it — with great care — in 1962. The original family member loved to entertain … and yes, loved to bowl! He got the bowling alley components from a bowling alley in Lansing, Mich. that was going out of business. Then, he built the house around the bowling alley. Theresa said that the local newspaper wrote a feature story about the house when it was finished.
The house is a wonderful time capsule a number of other ways — it does not appear to have been re-muddled. Original bathrooms, kitchens upstairs and down, great space, great finishes. But the bowling alley: Blow me away!
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Un be lieve able. What a house. And the price…!!!
I think that is Spartany-Roman tile in the bathroom! So refreshing to see that these original bathrooms were left unspoiled by granite…
This is such a wonderful HOME! Can you imagine how this could look decorated? AWESOME!!!!
So, here we have it – an awesome reason to move to Michigan! Love! Swoon! This house entirely rocks! If someone ends up owning this house, does that mean they get to have a “pool boy” to maintain the pool AND a “ball return boy” to maintain the bowling lanes? Whoo Hoo!
What fun! If I could afford a second home, this house would be in the running.
Excuse me while I pick up my jaw from the floor. Michigan is such a beautiful state with so much 20th Century history. It kills me that the state has been hit so hard during the last 30 years. I wish there was some way for all of the manufacturing infrastructure in the state to be put to work to make quality products here in America again. My mother owned an American-made Kenmore washing machine for 30 years. It worked beautifully and only needed a belt replacement now and again. We have burned through three Kenmore washers (made in China) and two refrigerators during the last 5 years (thank goodness for extended warranties).
I’m depressed!! It’s the PERFECT house, perfect price……but I don’t live anywhere near the location 🙁 Some buyer is going to be very lucky!!!! Thanks for sharing with us!
Love Love Love this house!!!!
Holy crap! I was looking at the pictures of the main level and thinking, “eh, this is okay”. Then I saw that lower level! Oh man, how awesome is that? A bowling alley AND a rec room! A full bar with a cooktop and a sink and everything! Wish I could find a huge place like that in my own area for such a reasonable price. There are things to like about the main level too, though. The thing is freaking cavernous– you could have several roommates and never even see each other! LOL. Also, look at that gigantic dining room! My “dining room” would barely be able to contain the table they have there. I also find the little microwave nook kind of amusing, haha.
LOVE this house! If I didn’t just buy a new/old house I would go take a look at it.
What a fun house!!! Thank you for sharing it with us, Pam!
Stunned and speechless!! I would so live in that house!! I sat here envisioning all the fun gatherings that could and must have taken place in this beautiful awesome home!! What a find!!! Someone will snatch this right up for sure! With some good retro decorating it will be a showplace for sure!! Wow and double wow!!
I know this isn’t as “wow” as this listing, but a home staging website is wowed that a non-updated ranch sold 30,000 ABOVE asking price: http://uglyhousephotos.com/wordpress/?p=20655
I left a comment — great house! Thanks!
I have a friend who went to college on a bowling scholarship. Yes, bowling. Who knew? She’d love this place.
My dad grew up in this house with the man who built it. He has so many great memories here. When i found this I had to show my father and it brought a smile to his face. I wish we could buy this home and keep it in the family.
well, I can’t get the link to the pictures to load. sigh… I had a school project back in 8th grade to design a house. I had a full wall TV, a restaurant style stainless steel kitchen and a basement with a bowling ally.
My teacher said the TV was impossible and gave be a bad grade. I was ahead of my time
click on the photo toward the bottom…
My dream home with only 2 major issues. The entire inside needs painting and it in MICHIGAN. blah… too cold