Bowling center a good fit for Altus couple
ALTUS - Kenton McKnight’s dream came true 16 years ago when he and wife Emelia bought Town & Country Bowling Center.
McKnight, born and raised in Altus, had bowled numerous times at the old alley which was built in 1959. Emelia lived a short distance from Altus, so she was also familiar with the bowling center.
“We were living in Dallas, and I worked for a big credit card company. We wanted a slower pace and actually wanted to buy a bowling alley. Surprise! This one was for sale. I love sports and love bowling, so this was a good fit.”
Emelia remembered her husband was automatically drawn to the idea.
“He said, ‘We could do that,’” said Emelia.
And that’s what they’ve done for the past 16 years with Emelia serving as the center’s accountant and Kenton working as the operations manager.
“The expectation was we could make a living,” Emelia said. “When we bought it, it looked the same as it did when were in junior high. We thought if we did upgrades people would come back. And they did. They started coming back to check it out.”
The couple installed synthetic lanes, purchased three more pool tables, brought in new video games and upgraded the snack bar. These were investments that had to be made to turn a profit.
“At the time, the bowling business was declining because league bowlers had gone down,” Kenton said.
Now, Town & Country offers leagues on Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday. In addition, Town & Country hosts a few large tournaments each year.
Bowling, a $10 billion industry, has always been fun for the McKnights and that’s what they’re trying to keep alive in Altus.
“We’re constantly upgrading our scoring system, our social media and we go out to schools,” Kenton said. “Bowling is a great way for young people to exercise, have fun and interact with family and friends. It’s a sport where no one sits on the bench.”
Town & Country, which sports 18 lanes, draws from several smaller cities and towns including Frederick, Hollis, Cordell, Mangum and Vernon, Texas.
The bowling center, 1616 E. Broadway Street, offers programs for churches, schools, fundraising and lock-ins. The alley is open 3 p.m. to 9 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Fridays, noon to 11 p.m. on Saturdays and 1 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays. The center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays. For more information about game and lane prices, leagues and parties, visit www. townandcountryok.com or call (580) 482-6614.