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Highland Lanes
Rating Details »
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
20 reviews for Highland Lanes
Came here for Lebowski Fest, so not on a regular bowling night.
The Highland Lanes employees were very friendly. The place was clean, they provided a fun night of bowling. Not much else to say.
I wasn't wearing socks and was glad they had a vending machine with socks.
Go bowling here!
Okay, I bowl. I bowl seriously. I don't drink beer and I'm not beer-bellied. I don't participate in bowling leagues, mainly because I don't drink beer and I'm not beer-bellied.
The reason I bowl is because no matter how many golf and tennis lessons I've absorbed over the years, there was always someone younger, stronger, or faster than me who would just hand me my ass during serious competition. For me, there's no point in competing if I have little chance of winning, and since I can't defy the laws of physics, why bother? I got into bowling because it's the only athletic endeavor I've found where physical attributes like height, weight, age, and gender don't mean diddlysquat--it is truly, the one great equalizer sport. There are few things I enjoy more than a friendly wager with some really big bowler dude who's determined to smash the pins. Sweet.
Ever wonder why you don't see televised tournaments pitting professional women bowlers against professional men? Because the beer-drinking beer-bellied ESPN crowd can't handle a woman kicking a man's ass on any given day.
Thanks for the vent. I go to Highland Lanes on Sunday mornings because I can do three-hours of serious practice for $7, which is the best deal in town. If bowling is just a fun thing for you, try the Tuesday night Cosmic bowling or the party deals Sunday nights and late-night Friday & Saturday--you eat lots of popcorn, spend quality time with your buds, and get no argument from me. The only advice I ever give to casual bowlers is consider investing a little money for your own shoes and a cheap ball that's10% your body weight and drilled for you--I promise you'll look cool, bowl better, and triple your fun factor.
I enjoy this place so much that I gave it four stars to keep the game interesting. I have never struck out here. I did have to take a star off because of the prices of the alcoholic beverages. I got a tiny White Russian there for a honker price, and that is caca. As far as the place goes, it is everything one would expect for a bowling alley: rental shoes, a small bar, snacks, decent prices, the whole nine, or ten.
The only thing missing is a rug, I think the rug would really tie the room together. I have taken my own shoes before and they were cool with it. I think bowling is magnificent, so I will pretty much be happy wherever I go to do it.
I have always gone in groups when coming here, and know that it can cost anywhere from $10-$25 per person, once you boil it all down.
I checked this place out on Monday night and was pleasantly surprised by the ambiance. The lighting was good and the lanes were well maintained with just enough oil.
Strangely, this bowling alley only charges by time and not by game. They charge 0.35 cents per min or $21 per hour with up to 6 per lane (but w/o shoes which are $2.50). Since it was just my wife and I bowling, we opted for 30 min which came out to $15.50 w/ shoes. We had just enough time to finish 2 full games, but pretty much w/o any rest or time to chat.
This place is on the pricier side for normal, everyday rates, but it's a good alternative to DART bowl which is always packed. Check out the Tuesday, Friday, and Sunday specials.
There's a big part of me that wishes I could live in the early sixties. I want to wear a full-skirted pink and turquoise party dress while listening to 45s and sipping a gin martini. I want to tease my hair into a flip worthy of Ronnie Spector and do The Pony. Opportunities to get my vintage on are limited, especially in Austin, but there are a few places in which I can comfortably experience a healthy dose of Americana without all the sexism and weird gelatinous foodstuffs of the real thing -- bowling alleys.
Though I prefer the Dart Bowl, Highland Lanes is not without its charms. The wood paneling and dim lighting give it a bowling-in-your-own-rumpus-room feel and the fuzzy, wall murals featuring the Austin skyline, Pennybacker bridge and bluebonnet fields rendered in glorious carpet send me back to my latch-key rug days.
The facility is better kept than Dart, the balls less damaged, and each lane has a switch to put up bumpers rather than ask the folks at the counter. Depending on the number of people you have bowling, it may be pricier than other alleys - you pay by the hour by lane, not by person, by game. This structure seems to be more economical for group bowling. But they do have excellent weekly and monthly specials.
The Highland Lanes café, "The Lebowski Grill", serves up most excellent fries; and of course there is an alley-appropriate dive bar - almost a necessity for its Burnet Road location.
Though Dart still has my heart for its ambience and neighborhood vibe, Highland Lanes is a good runner-up. They may not make gin martinis, but I'll settle for a bowling pin shaped bottle of beer.
Man. Friday night, $10 for all-you-can-bowl AND shoes, from 9p til close. What more do I need to say? We'd started out the night at Baby A's + arrived about ... shoot, I really can't even say. But we were able to snag one of the few lanes left -- the people around us were fun, the bartender was hilarious (I can't say how much drinks were, but I know the guys were drinking bottles and not pitchers, which maybe Highland could remedy). Too bad there weren't any more lighter bowling balls that weren't Finger Size Extra Tiny.
But seriously. So. Much. Fun. I was excited when I bowled a .. 57, maybe? so maybe that tells you how much bowling I've done. But man, black lights? Disco balls? (At least, I think there were disco balls... um, and black lights -- there was definitely some neon business happening) Good times, HL + bowling.
Today, I bowled.
I don't bowl, ordinarily. It was just a quick, goofy round with a friend, which was fun, but the alley itself, Highland Lanes, was pretty depressing. I guess it's a special kind of person who plays a serious game or two in the middle of an afternoon on a Tuesday. A special, mildly depressing kind of person.
The pictures on the walls were of men's bowling champions from the 1980s, one for each year, and recipients of the alley's scholarship each year in the early 1990s. Apparently they haven't had either since, or maybe they just don't make up plaques anymore. I don't think their balls or shoes have been replaced since then -- my ball was severely gouged and scratched, and my neon yellow, red, grey and black shoes were very slick.
The decor is dark wood paneling, neon and a pair of tacky, tacky, tacky carpet murals of Austin landmarks (the UT Towers even have working clocks!) and some weird blue amorphous figure that we couldn't place on opposite walls.
For $10 and change, we got two sets of shoes and one game. Neither of us was very good -- I lost by about 20 points with a 64 -- but it was a good way to add a little oddity to an afternoon.
You know what I like? A good mural.... I've always been interested in the size, detail, and theme of the murals around town. Well, they ain't got nothing compared to Highland Lanes. Not only does Highland Lanes have a beautiful (strange, interesting) mural depicting life in Austin, but it's also made of carpet..... which makes it so much cooler. How do you maintain a carpet mural? Vacuum it?
A carpet mural is really the only thing I need for a 5 star review.... but then throw in an awesome party, some balloons, good smelling food, funny nicknames, bowling pin shaped beer bottles, and a bunch of crazy Yelpers and you got yourself a party.
Finding a good ball is somewhat difficult (unless you're an elf with tiny hands) but it also adds to the fun. While you are looking there are endless amounts of "ball" jokes that await you. Also, the pins here seemed to be glued to the floor......I usually know how to handle my balls (the first ball jokes on me).....Highland Lanes proved to be a challenge and I left with my lowest score ever. But it didn't even matter...... I still had a great time.
Highland Lanes was a strike in my book!
A friend of mine used to have a "first date dress" that she always wore on you guessed it, first dates. And if she could, she'd always meet at the same place. She was very intentional in this so she could eliminate possible factors that may make or break the date.
I've been to several places with Yelpers--some of them, my first time to be there. It's hard to judge--okay, review--a place when the company I'm with is so awesomely cool. I'm sure I could be at the worst establishment, but with Yelpers, and I'd still have good things to say. I guess y'all are like my own personal first date dress.
Went to Highland Lanes last night to meet other Yelpers. It's been a few years since I was there last. Sometimes my game is SO on, other times, it's SO not. Last night, my game was not on, as expressed in my throwing of the ball backwards. I wish I could take away a star for that, but that's not fair to the Lanes.
Seemed cheap enough. I have no idea how much bowling should cost. The bar was good and had the requisite White Russians. Thanks, Dude.
We had a few spills, which were quickly cleaned up by workers. How else do you review a bowling alley? The ball returns were quick, the strikes were often, and the happenings were fun. Good place for kids. And laughs. And thank goodness for no smoking!
I gotta give a really BIG yelp to Highland Lanes, 183's classiest bowling establishment. We took a field trip of 250 there today, and every single person that worked there was so nice and accommodating. Normally, people HATE field trips, but they were amazing. The kids had a great time too.
I also love the shag carpet mural. So nice. And there was a Disney Princess bowling ball in the Pro Shop that pretty much redefined tacky.
I've said before that I don't like to review places I have only been once. That's not what I am doing here, but it is close. I've been to Highland lanes a few times before, I even had a birthday gathering here once. My friends had cake, and Barbi plates to eat it off of. It was pretty much just your average bowling alley, and I didn't think much of it one way or the other. It's no Dart Bowl, certainly.
It's amazing the difference the right people can make. Last night, the dashing Mr. Edison put together a great little un-official Yelp bowling event, and it was fantastic. There were about 15 of us, lots of us new to each other, and we all got along swimmingly. I had a fantastic time, and really didn't want it to end.
We had some interesting moments, for sure. Jessica S. (the taller one) dropped the bowling ball backwards. Twice! We all had a good laugh, but a happy one, not mean-spirited. Carrie C. brought one of the coolest bowling balls ever, with Cartoon Networks Johnny Bravo, which she picked up at Goodwill. Tobi also brought her own ball, and looked like a real pro. Also, I bowled a 170, close to a personal best. Then again, I also fell down once to, fouled, and accidentally rolled the ball down the lane at about 2 inched per minute, and we all laughed while we waited, seemingly forever, for it to fruitlessly miss the only pin that was left. All in all, a great evening.
This Bowling lane is what you picture when you dream of a bowling alley, the old school feel with wonderful and great customer service, from what feels like a family run business. That family feel is crucial to setting the atmosphere and tone for a place as such. There is a food stand inside that has a variety of foods, but remember to eat first or after otherwise it will eat into your time, since during the days the bowling is based on time. It is 16 dollars an hour which is a fairly good deal. I am an okay bowler and I was able to average about 6 or so games in an hour.
If you become a league bowler then the coast is cut in half, so join a league.
If you are a drinker and a fan of the Big Lebowski movie they do have a White Russian for 5 dollars at their bar.
The Pro shop is well stocked and it appears that there are always ample and friendly staff to adhere to all your needs.
Hope this was helpful.. as it is a place I would recommend to the casual bowler and even the semi-pros.
A lot of history, and a lot of fun... where can you go wrong.
I payed $24 for two of us to play on a Tuesday night (with shoe rental, which- by the way were not disgusting). After the first game was over, and i bragged about my 68 score, we decided to play again. When we left, my friend went to pay and we found out there was no money needed! So, unlimited bowling Tuesday nights, everyone. Have fun.
Bonus: drink specials on white russians, Dude.
Twice I've broken the 100 mark here in 4 frames bowled. That alone earns this venue five stars. However, being the site of a royal reaming after one of those, it gets minus one star. Also, the complete lack of disco lighting and throbbing music playing doesn't win any fans. Way too lit up and peaceful. Minus one more. Finally, the sheer awesomeness of having that much silly fun, and cowering in terror after the Taller S's double backwards bowling gets it plus one.
Bonus tip: Goodwill apparently has cartoon network bowling balls for sale. But they won't guarantee you'll bowl better.
It's fun...lots of fun...bring your friends...perhaps your family...throw a ?lbs ball around...after striking out...do a dance...but don't fall down...oh, and don't get your thumb stuck in the ball...your thumb will surely break before the ball does....
only downer is that I think it's a bit pricey without a coupon...but that's just cheap 'ole me....
I'm in a bowling league at work and we bowl here once a week. The place is pretty nice compared to the crappy alley where I used to live. They had a monopoly on bowling and would gouge our pockets with $3 games. At Highland you bowl by the hour, not by the amount of people bowling. Four people can easily get in two games for around $10 (If you have your own shoes and you're not slow).
I'm not sure about wait time, but you should probably try to reserve a lane before you show up. The place always seems pretty crowded to me.
Oh Highland Lanes, the semi ghetto bowling place of my youth. Many a high school night my friends and I would plan to meet, bowl, and stare longingly at the adults buying beers at the shady bar, or eating greasy food.
Even as other, snazzier bowling joints seem to spring up all over north Austin, Highland Lanes some how continues to hold its own. Playing hip hop music and selling socks out of a vending machine in the corner, this place sure hasn't changed. When my adult friends and I check ed it out years later, we realized bowling is about the same wherever you go. For a cheap game, go here. There is not usually much of a wait, even on a weekend night. The other thing we learned is this, bowling is also much cooler if you drink while you do it. Luckily Highland Lanes has a bar.
1st we had a great time. The bowling alley is all f up. There is no food served on premises, you must order in, not much help from the bowling alley staff. Our lanes which were f up also , balls not coming back, pins not resetting , and more shit like that. The bar sucks. They set up a tab for the both of our groups. There was some sort of indiscretion with our two parties. It was probably the bartender himself. After he gave us 90 dollars off he told us we did not have to tip him. We have had our Xmas party last year and it was a much better experience.
This place rocks! I've only been bowling a handful of times in my life but this was the best experience I've had. Prices were great. Staff was very friendly and laid back. Found a ball that fit my hand quite nicely. And a good time was had by all. This is on my "must do again" list for when I make it back to Austin.
Sure it's not super fancy or one of those la-di-dah bowling alleys, but this place is definitely a step up from the usual crap holes that I've visited in other cities. It does have a pretty reliable pinsetter and score system. The lanes are in fairly good condition and my ball doesn't usually come back through the return all beat to hell so that is a good thing. If you are going for a cheap night of bowling, you can't beat Sunday nights from 7-11 ($9 unlimited bowling, includes shoe rental and a bowl of popcorn for some reason). The Sunday night deal alone gives this review an extra star. Check it out.
