Colonial Bowling Center

The most cost-​effective way to time travel to the 1960’s is by way of Colonial Bowl. There’s that comforting aroma of Grandpa’s American Spirits still ripe a decade after smoking indoors was banned, a color palette of burnt orange and muted yellow you last saw in an episode of Mad Men, and nothing but a pencil and paper to keep score.
Candle pin bowling is a treasure unique to New England (and apparently some provinces of Canada, but that’s not important). It’s always humorous to overhear first timers to candlepin bowling explain how much of a better bowler they are with «real balls.»
Just as Obi-​Wan first described a lightsaber to Luke Skywalker as a «weapon of a Jedi Knight. Not as clumsy or random as a blaster. An elegant weapon… for a more civilized age,» such is candlepin bowling a sport of kings lost in the sands of time only to be kept alive by the few, proud lane warriors burdened by the respect for their craft… bowling with balls the size of grapefruits.

Fabulous nostalgic evening! We took our kids here when then were young. Now that they are married, we took them and their spouses who are from Florida and have never seen candlepin bowling. We all had a fun time.

What a gem, a throw back to a time gone by in the best sense! It was amazingly clean and well maintained. I am not an avid bowler but my friend and I were looking for something to do with our kids ranging from ages 7 – 11. She knew how to keep score which is a good thing, no electronic score keeping here. It is candle pin bowling which is perfect for small hands and a true New England tradition. Bumper bowling was available. The gentleman on duty was very nice and helpful. Make sure to bring cash because they do not accept credit cards, there is however an ATM machine on site.

So, I love this place. My husband and I used to go here when we were dating and it was always fun for us. It’s never packed and the facility is very clean and well kept. It’s also one of the only few candlepin alleys in the area.
The décor is something from the 70’s. Orange and blue seats, ashtrays behind the seats (which aren’t used anymore), and manual score keeping. No frills or fancy work here, but that’s the whole essence of candlepin bowling. Despite the age of the building and machines everything is clean and works. Even the bathrooms are old, but clean! There is even a «Ladies powder room» and an old phone booth!
There is no fresh food served but you can bring your own. There are a few vending machines with soda, coffee and snacks.
The guy who usually works there is really nice and has a great memory. It had been well over a year since my last visit and he recognized me. I feel that the prices could be more reasonable but that’s the owner’s fault for being greedy.
Check this gem out, it’s a pleasant blast from the past!

So I’m not much of a bowler anyway, but my boyfriend is. Neither of us had ever tried Candlepin bowling, but we had fun! As soon as we arrived, we were greeted and given explanations of how to do Candlepin bowling (different than regular bowling) and also how to score. The attendant was very friendly and actually checked back on us later as well.
We were surprised at how busy it was when we first got there (around 3pm), and when we walked in we saw it was all senior citizens bowling together and they cleared out soon, leaving us as the only patrons. We didn’t mind at all, but it was pretty quiet.
This is an old school place to bowl and only bowl. There is no snack counter (there are a few vending machines but that’s it) or arcade games. There’s no automatic clearing of pins or electronic scoreboard. It’s a little bit of a time warp, but it’s clean fun and you can learn something new.
Tip! It’s cash only and runs about $ 3−4/person/game, plus $ 2.50 for shoes.

Normally I wouldn’t find myself out in Worcester, but since I was I knew I had to find an alley to play in. I found Colonial and it almost looked like an old town office or something. Decent action on the pins.
It was pretty affordable, but its cash only. They don’t have an ATM, but theres one next door at the package store. If I’m in the area I’d love to come back and bowl here.

Its very nice place. Its old building. but They keep it up very clean. I enjoy myself at there. Very cheap to play bowling! Not expect the fancy building or anything. Its just plain and simple place to play candlepin bowling

This is one of the 2 places in the Worcester area that I know has candle pin bowling. For those of you who don’t know what candle pin bowling is, it’s like regular bowling except the pins are straight (like candles) and you get 3 small balls per frame. It’s one of the most New Englandy things I do and I LOVE it!
Now imagine a bowling alley from the 1980s and that’s what Colonial Bowling center is like. There are about 20 lanes, there is no automatic scoring, you have to press the reset button every time you finish your frame, and the whole building just screams 1980s. So don’t go there expecting to get a beer at their bar. .. they don’t have one. And you can’t get any snacks and their snack bar. .. there is none.
Also, they close super early! I brought some out of town friends on Saturday night around 10 and they were already closed! WTF!
Anyway, if you want your candle pin bowling fix, you can go here or out to Spencer (where they have a more modern bowling alley that does candle pin bowling).