Houghton Lake Bowlers Devastated After Fire Destroys Dart Lanes

Investigators are searching through debris after a fire destroyed a bowling alley in Houghton Lake.

Crews responded around 2:45 Wednesday morning to Dart Lanes Bowling Center along M-55. The fire started towards the back of the building, just feet away from a fireworks store.

Bowlers woke up Wednesday devastated to hear their beloved bowling alley was turned to rubble.

Long time bowler Rebecca Storm is calling the fire a big loss.

“During the week we come on Tuesdays to get a little extra practice in — so we were here yesterday afternoon — so it was really just a surprise to hear that news this morning,” said Storm.

The manager of Dart Lanes, Carlos Jean-Francois, said he was sad to see a place he’s worked at for over 40 years turn to nothing.

“It was sad, very sad to see a place like this go in flames,” said Jean-Francois. “I mean I’ve been here since 1980 and this is a history or this town, this county it’s just a landmark. It was sad to see people dreams, peoples hope and peoples future go in flames.”

Many bowlers came out Wednesday afternoon to see the rubble of a place that meant so much to them.

Storm looked at the damage with her son Conner, “This is a very big place for social activity for him [Conner], so it really means a lot. This is where we have friendships and fun and enjoying a sport that we love. This is a personal loss as much as a community loss,” said Storm.

The initial sting from losing their bowling alley is hitting bowlers in Houghton Lake hard, but Jean-Francois is asking bowlers to hold out hope as Dart Lanes plans to rebuild.

“Don’t lose hope, we’re gonna come back. We like bowling, I love bowling and we’re going to rebuild,” said Jean-Francois.

The bowling alley changed ownership in the fall last year.

Firefighters said the new owner was making renovations to the building.