The Carman 5 Pin Bowl

We've been serious about a good time for 60+ years!

The Carman 5 Pin Bowl has been the area's source for the Canadian invented 5 pin bowling for 60+ years.

We carry a rich heritage of tradition, with 8 hardwood lanes with automatic computerized scoring, 6 String Pin Lanes and 2 Free Fall Lanes, a MLCC licensed lounge, snack bar, and a small selection of hot food.

Established in 1962, the Carman 5 Pin Bowl was managed and owned by 1960 Dominion Men’s Singles Champion Johnny Harrison and wife Mabel for over 25 Years. Subsequent owners Harold and Nola Cox, Randy and Nancy McFarlane, the Wilson/Hanson families and Aquila Sportainment Inc. continued the traditions started by Johnny, while investing in improvements to the facility to keep up with the changing face of the sport.

We hope that everyone continues to enjoy the fun of 5 pin bowling that's been a staple of this business for years to come.

A Brief History of 5 Pin Bowling:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Five-pin bowling is a bowling variant which is played in Canada, where many bowling alleys offer it, either alone or in combination with ten-pin bowling. It was devised around 1909 by Thomas F. Ryan in Toronto, Ontario, at his Toronto Bowling Club, in response to customers who complained that the ten-pin game was too strenuous. He cut five tenpins down to about 75% of their size, and used hand-sized hard rubber balls, thus inventing the original version of five-pin bowling.

The sport is recognized by Heritage Canada and was  ranked #4 during the CBC miniseries The Greatest Canadian Invention.

As of summer 2024 there are only 26 remaining active free fall five-pin bowling lanes with the Carman 5 Pin Bowl having 2 Lanes.

Carman 5 Pin Bowl - Photos from the years past

If you have any old Photos or Memories you would like to share about The Carman 5 Pin Bowl please feel free to contact us via email at carman5pinbowl@gmail.com or stop by and give us a visit.

1960's - 1970's - Click to enlarge