CHESHIRE — Adults and children alike can enjoy a fun and challenging game of bowling at one of the only duckpin lanes in the area — Highland Bowl.

“It’s a faster paced game, it’s a lot more challenging,” said Todd Turcotte, owner of Highland Bowl, 1211 Highland Ave. (Route 10).  “It’s easy to do but harder to score.”

In duckpin bowling, a smaller bowling ball without holes is used to knock down shorter, lighter pins.

The family owned and operated 20-lane alley includes an arcade, bar and cafe.

On Saturdays, guests can enjoy “Dancing Ducks,” a disco-themed bowling night complete with blacklights, disco lights, laser effects and music. On weeknights the lanes are filled with bowling leagues.

“It really equals the playing field because you don’t have to be very good, with bumpers and a lot of that stuff, it balances out,” Turcotte said.

Since Turcotte took over the lanes two decades ago, a number of public duckpin bowling alleys in the state have closed.

“Back in the day there were close to 70 of them,” Turcotte said. 

Today there are less than a dozen duckpin bowling alleys left in the state that are not private or club-owned. They include Woodlawn Duckpin Bowling in West Haven, Devon Duckpin Lanes in Milford, Danbury Duckpin Lanes in Danbury, Ducks on the Ave in Hartford and Laurel Duckpin Bowling Lanes in Winstead.

Turcotte said his bowling alley has gone through changes in the last few years to remain a fun attraction to the community, including  computerized scoring, updated equipment and machinery as well as the addition of a full service bar.

It takes approximately 12 to 15 minutes per person to play a game. The bowler gets three balls per round. 

“We get a lot of families,” Turcotte said. “Kids love it because it’s easy for anyone to go up and roll the ball.”

For more information call 203-272-6500

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