Forest Lanes closing by end of August

Bowlers, who have been gearing up for the new fall season at Forest Lanes, are looking for other options following the announcement that the facility will be closing its doors at the end of the month.

Janet Osborne, who has bowled in the Monday night women’s league since 1983, said she and her team want to continue bowling and are looking at Richmond, Somerset or even LaFollette, Tennessee, as options.

“All of those are right at an hour drive,” Osborne said adding that Richmond would be the best of those three because it is a straight shot up and down I-75.

Osborne, who heard about Forest Lanes closing while she was at a bowling tournament in Las Vegas, said she would prefer a fourth option, to continue to bowl in Corbin.

“We are trying to rally everyone to help put Forest Lanes in a new building,” Osborne said noting it would likely take two to three months to get a building renovated and ready.

Osborne said the fall leagues were scheduled to begin right after Labor Day.

“The men’s leagues on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were completely full with waiting lists,” Osborne said adding her women’s league took up about half of the lanes and the Tuesday afternoon senior league was also popular.

In addition, Osborne said Corbin, Lynn Camp and Whitley County High Schools, along with Union College and University of the Cumberlands fielded bowling teams.

Corbin Independent Schools Superintendent Dave Cox said the school system plans to continue fielding a girls and boys’ team from the high school and planning is in the works to bus those students to Somerset or Richmond for practice and matches.

“As long as we have kids interested, we are not going to do away with the team,” Cox said.

Cox said a long-term solution will require outside investment.

Unlike other sports for which the school gym or the football field can be configured to accommodate, bowling requires a unique playing field.

“The construction is very specific,” Cox said noting it is not something that can be thrown together.

What will happen to the equipment from Forest Lanes remains uncertain.

Forest Lanes owner Roman Cassidy did not return calls or Facebook messages seeking comment.

Forest Hills Shopping Center owner Kyle Perkins referred questions about the business to Cassidy.