Anybody in Pike County looking for something to do should roll on over to Pike Lanes as soon as they can spare the time. The familiar building on U.S. Highway 231 between Troy and Brundidge will reopen today.

“We’ll open at noon and close when nobody wants to bowl anymore,” said owner Scott Oertel.

The upgraded 14,000 square-foot facility will feature eight bowling lanes, four pool tables, a dart board, video games, foosball and an internet jukebox with a new sound system.

Oertel said he won’t be laying in the gutter on improvements anytime soon though.

“I’ll be updating the equipment a lot more,” he said.

“And I’m going to say that by mid-summer we’ll have a kitchen.”

Until then, Oertel said he’ll be serving pizza starting next week, and there’s also vending to hold over customer appetites.

Pike Lanes will offer a new recreational alternative to area residents that wont strike them where it hurts.

“It will be $3 for shoe rental for the whole night and $3.25 per game to bowl,” Oertel said.

“For the opening weekend, kids can bowl for $2.75 per game from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday, and noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.”

Oertel believes attracting children and their parents to the bowling alley is the best business plan for a perfect game.

“It’s going to be a family atmosphere and there will be no smoking,” he said.

In the future, Oertel said that he plans to renovate a locker room into a kids’ birthday party area. The space would be complete with large windows where parents could watch the kids from a lounging area without getting a seven-ten splitting headache.

Additionally, Oertel plans to transform an approximately 5,000 square-foot storage area into a rentable banquet hall with a dance floor and stage.

Other changes will be coming sooner.

“By Feb. 20 we’ll start moonlight bowling on Friday nights,” Oertel said.

“Also we’ll eventually start leagues and a senior day.”

When bowlers at Pike Lanes nail some pins, the first thing they may see is an advertisement for other businesses in the community.

“That crossbar that clears the pins is a great place for local businesses to advertise,” he said.

And Oertel said he was confident there would plenty of eyes to see those ads.

“The support from the community has been good,” he said.

“I heard a lot of people say they’re glad it’s reopening.”

Pike Lanes will open at noon on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, and 3 p.m. on Monday through Thursday.

“I’m hoping people will come out and show their support,” Oertel said. And that, is no-bowl