Since opening in 1948 with eight lanes and a staff of wiry high-school kids resetting each pin by hand, Wood Dale Bowl has grown with its community to become a beloved entertainment destination. Current owner Mike Melone started at the alley when he was only 14 years old, bussing tables and chasing pins led astray by delinquent bowling balls. Mike signed as a partial owner with fellow manager Chuck Hall in 1978, taking over control of an alley that was part sports venue, part community gathering spot. Whether stewarding Fenton High School’s women's bowling team to three state championships or joining volunteers to rebuild the lanes after a devastating 1987 flood, Mike and Chuck have ensconced Wood Dale Bowl into the neighborhood consciousness. Their work also shows within the current facility, which hosts 16 Brunswick lanes, automatic scoring systems, cosmic bowling nights, and league opportunities for adults and children.