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    Northgate Bowl

    3.7 (32 reviews)
    Open 9:00 am - 10:00 pm

    Northgate Bowl Photos

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    Eh. Been talked to 3 times for not having my mask over my nose even when there are no other people for 20 ft... also gave us dirty looks, aassumed my pronouns when she talk to me and friends... for anyone born after 1970 these computers are a little hard to use... definitely would recommend mm.. anywhere else within a 100 mile radius. Anyways. Gonna finish out my over-priced two hour rate and then go get plastered. Thanks guys:)

    Very old-school, just the way I like it!
    Jared Y.

    My girlfriend and I just moved to Salem, OR from San Diego, CA. San Diego used to have 2 or 3 older bowling alleys that had real wooden lanes. They have since closed down and have been converted into apartment complexes or drug stores. It was a sad day when my favorite bowling alleys closed and I had to settle for newer, over-priced, synthetic lanes. Well, today I just visited Northgate Bowl off of Portland Road in North Salem. All of those good feelings came back. I was in my element! $1.50 games on Sunday, and yes, real, honest-to-goodness wooden lanes! Why is this a big deal, you ask? Well, if you want a reliable hook, on synthetic, you want a state-of-the-art, super fancy ball that is designed for an aggressive hook-- or the next best option, hurling the ball with reckless abandon and putting an ungodly amount of spin on it. On wooden lanes, just a nice handshake-grip with a moderate amount of spin applied does just fine to hit that sweet-spot to roll a strike. Any old bowling ball will do. I've found my bowling home!

    My son at Northgate Bowl in Salem.
    Bo L.

    Unfortunately, there isn't too many places to bowl in the Salem / Keizer area. In fact, I believe there are only 3 choices, Northgate Bowl being one of them. The outside looks as though it's stuck in the 70's and that doesn't change too much as soon as you enter the front door. The decor is a bit outdated, well very outdated, actually. It wouldn't hurt the place to have some cosmetic remodeling inside and out. The cafe / snack bar offers the typical selection of most bowling snack shops and, from what we had there, the food wasn't too bad. It's rather small but it does the job. The pro shop needs to be updated. Every time I've been there, however, it's been closed. Maybe it's because most of the times I've been there it's been rather late in the evening. Nevertheless, it could use a little beauty sleep. The staff has always been friendly, as far as I can remember, and the prices seem to be a little bit cheaper than it's competitors. I'd say that this is probably the better alternative to the other bowling alleys simply because you'll go home with a few extra bucks in your pocket. The lanes are in good condition and the lanes give a lot, which is pretty helpful for groups and families. If you can get pass the outdated decor, then this would be a great spot for you.

    Anthony A.

    Really awesome bowling alley! Super family friendly and always room to bowl. Some days they have nice deals like ~$1 bowling before 2pm or something. Really nice. Staff is friendly and always willing to help. Always check ahead of time to see if they have any deals that day. Highly recommend if you are looking for some affordable fun!

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    Super nice owner and staff and really a wonderful bit of nostalgia. Well taken care of and run.

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    Ask the Community - Northgate Bowl

    Review Highlights - Northgate Bowl

    My dad and I went there for the first time and I gotta tell ya the place is very bright and inviting.

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    AMF Firebird Lanes

    AMF Firebird Lanes

    3.1(36 reviews)
    2.4 mi

    We participated in a bowling tournament for the end of summer league. The bowling alley is a bit…read moredated and has a lack of seating down by the lanes (only 3 seats per lane and only one table). Large parking lot and the front entrance had stairs which was weird to navigate your bowling ball bags. Looks like it has a fun arcade game room area for the kiddos. Full bar avail and snack bar. The bathrooms were in need of a deep cleaning.

    I am really impressed by the team responsible for managing my friend's birthday party at AMF…read moreFirebird Lanes this afternoon. One never knows how events like this will go, especially on busy Saturday afternoons. But the manager and associates handled all of the logistics related to our birthday party with ease. At first glance, the bowling alley has a real old school vibe; almost everyone has stepped foot in a bowling alley like this before. The lockers, the benches for putting on shoes, the seat configuration around the lanes, the concessions, the signage... it all evokes a strong sense of nostalgia. But AMF has done a great job maintaining high standards when it comes to technology of the lanes, equipment, and arcade. Everything runs smoothly here. The staff were extremely helpful in setting up the seating area for my friend's party, including timing food delivery with our game play, helping with our cake, and managing cleanup when the time came. I think they even threw in a few extra guest cards for the arcade! Even though AMF Firebird Lanes is part of a large network of over 350 bowling alleys across the country, the management and staff at this location help create a strong sense of community. I don't bowl much, but if anyone ever asks me about party venues in Salem, I'll be sure to mention this place. Nice work, folks!

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    AMF Firebird Lanes
    AMF Firebird Lanes
    AMF Firebird Lanes - Bowling tournament

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    Bowling tournament

    The REC

    The REC

    3.5(42 reviews)
    1.3 mi

    We went to The Rec yesterday for their Monday Madness night. It was a packed house, and their staff…read morewere super busy accommodating all of the customers' requests. We rented two lanes for the time, one for the kids and one for the adults--eight of us in all. Unfortunately, the kids' lane wasn't working at all, and it turns out they wouldn't be able to fix it that night. As most of the lanes were rented out already, we thought we were going to just have to get a refund and have the kids bowl in our lane. Instead, in the midst of dealing with all of the other demands on their attention, they were able to shuffle things around, and relocate us to two other lanes that were next to each other. We had no other issues the rest of the night, and had a lovely time. The manager/owner and his crew could not have been more professional, kind, and even-keeled. They brainstormed a variety of solutions during the controlled chaos that was happening with the influx of customers all coming at the beginning of the event, and wanted to make sure our evening was rescued and fun. We all ended up having a blast, the food was good, and our night was indeed everything we had hoped it would be on a summer night trying to escape the heat. Highly recommend The Rec!

    Worst experience I've ever had in a bowling alley. Me and my family were on a road trip and decided…read moreto stop in to stretch our legs and as soon as we walked in there was a horrible smell that practically burned my nose hairs. Then we had to wait 20 minutes just to get a lane even though there were plenty open. Once we finally got a lane we decided to get food and the manager was screaming at the employees calling them names and racial slurs. To top it all off I saw a mouse run right under the managers legs and he just brushed it off like it was nothing. We left after that and can guarantee that we will never be back.

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    The REC
    The REC - Action shot of our Thursday Morning "Seniors in Action" bowling league!

    Action shot of our Thursday Morning "Seniors in Action" bowling league!

    The REC - Moonglow bowling! The lanes have glow lines and your bowling "aim" markers are lite for successful extreme bowling practice!

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    Moonglow bowling! The lanes have glow lines and your bowling "aim" markers are lite for successful extreme bowling practice!

    Langer’s Entertainment Center - This place

    Langer’s Entertainment Center

    3.5(179 reviews)
    28.1 mi

    I take my kids to Langer's Entertainment Center regularly, and without question the worst part of…read moreevery visit is dealing with the bar staff. The service is consistently rude, cold, and unprofessional. It's the same group every time, and nothing ever improves. There's no sense of customer service. Just short attitudes and a clear vibe that they don't want to be there or deal with people. On my most recent visit, I had an issue where my phone number was entered incorrectly. When I pointed it out, instead of simply fixing it, the response I got was irritation and attitude. Like I was the problem for asking them to correct their own mistake. That kind of interaction is unacceptable anywhere, especially in a place that markets itself as family-friendly. At this point, it's not a one-off, it's a pattern. When multiple visits consistently come with the same poor experience, it reflects a bigger issue with management and expectations. We enjoy bringing our kids here, but the ongoing lack of basic professionalism from the bar staff and the wait staff in the bowling alley, is seriously dragging down the experience. It shouldn't be this hard to get decent service. We all know it all starts at the top.

    This was a pretty fun space to explore. We bowled and played some arcade and claw games. The…read moreemployees were all nice and helpful. I was a little put off by the taxidermied animals around the venue and some of the processes felt a bit overly complicated. For example: we had gift cards and were told we had to go to the front desk to combine them then we had to go to one of the kiosks to transfer that card for a game card. Also, for bowling, I went to the check-in desk and was told I had to sign up using the QR code and then check back with the desk employee after registering on my phone (a process that was all the more complicated by the fact that I had bad service there but they did have free WiFi). All that said, still had a pretty decent time.

    Photos
    Langer’s Entertainment Center
    Langer’s Entertainment Center - Ropes course closed indefinitely as of 2023

    Ropes course closed indefinitely as of 2023

    Langer’s Entertainment Center - Toddler play area

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    Toddler play area

    Starlite Lanes

    Starlite Lanes

    3.5(11 reviews)
    15.7 mi

    From the moment the phone was answered to the time we stepped out the door, I was very impressed…read morewith the level of customer service, friendliness and professionalism we were shown at Starlight Lanes. I inquired about reserving a lane because it was my husband's birthday the following day. Sabin answered the phone and told me they were having a tournament that Saturday but anytime after 3pm was available to reserve a lane. I asked if they needed any deposit. He said no, just my name and phone number is fine. He told me they have an arcade and a full kitchen and bar. We arrived at the alley on time and were welcomed by Joe. He confirmed our reservation, got us set up with shoes and asked if we needed anything else. He showed us where our lane was and wished us a good time. Joe came by several times during the 2 games asking if we needed anything it if he could get anything for us from the restaurant or bar. My husband needed help with his bowling ball. Done! We did order some sodas and fries. They were cooked to perfection! Not greasy or overcooked at all. The overall experience was fantastic. Even the other patrons were friendly and nice. It is clean and the equipment is well maintained. Everyone was friendly and respectful. No children running up and down the alley. Lots of families there. It is so refreshing to be able to enjoy yourself in a nice, wholesome environment. Thank you, Starlight Lanes. We will definitely be back.

    Fun place for family to relax, laught and enjoy bowling. Good snack bar friendly atmosphere.read more

    Photos
    Starlite Lanes
    Starlite Lanes

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    Northgate Bowl - bowling - Updated May 2026

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