Bandit Lanes improves facility, experience

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Joshua Stevens
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  It always seems to happen. You are bowling great, then suddenly the pinsetter freezes, interrupting and throwing off your game.

In response to situations like this, Bandit Lanes will begin renovations to its pinsetters, June 30, as well as enhancing their Cosmic Bowling equipment and updating the snack bar, Lane 17, to offer a newly-constructed salad bar.

"Various renovations have been under way for the last three years," said Ron England, Bandit Lane pinsetter mechanic. "We've been planning the latest revamps, however, since March."

The construction and installation will close Bandit Lanes from June 30 to July 16 or 17, tentatively, said Kenneth Young, Bandit Lanes manager.

Much funding was needed for the undertaking to make way.

"The projects altogether will cost more than $254,000 in the end," said Brenda Haycraft, 28 Force Support Squadron non-appropriated funds contractor.

The new pinsetter installations are a much-needed modernization for Bandit Lanes.

"Our current pinsetters are more than 35 years old and 90 percent mechanical," Mr. England said. "The new American Machine and Foundry 90 XLi Pinspotters are only 30 percent mechanical, making them less likely to break, due to the fact they have two-thirds less parts. In addition, they will use 30 percent less electricity, in keeping with Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century initiatives."

The most common breakdown of pinsetters, the "freezes" or "stops," will be decreased dramatically.

"Typically the pinsetters we currently have installed can only go up to 300 or 500 frames before a 'stop' occurs; the new machines will possibly be able to go up to 1,200 frames before this happens," he said. "In fact they will even have automatic problem alerts which will send a call directly to the mechanics or front desk."

Before the pinsetter installations can take place, the old ones must be removed.

The old pinsetters were sold to a third-party source to be refurbished and sold to other bowling alleys, he added. They will be removed for this purpose during the first four days of renovation.

Along with the pinsetters, all the pins will be replaced and upgrades will be made to the lane scoring systems, adding improved graphics and an updated interface.

In Lane 17, the Bandit Lanes snack bar, the renovation will bring a new addition.

"There is a small brick wall in front of the ordering counter," Mr. England said. "This wall will be pushed farther back from the counter so we may add a new salad bar to the facility; we will move our 'grab and go' items to this area as well. We will also replace the drainage pipes and sewer lines there during the construction."

The third major renovation of this endeavor will enhance the equipment utilized for Cosmic Bowling.

"We will be installing top-of-the-line lighting and sound systems, plus adding a fog machine," he said. "The black lights used for Cosmic Bowling will now stretch as far back as the tabled seating behind the lane area."

"The construction and installation will culminate with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by base leadership; they will then throw the first official ball down the updated lanes," Mr. Young said. "Normal operations will be underway by June 18."