Let The Good Times Roll At Wisconsin’s Holler House, The Oldest Bowling Alley In The Nation

There are lots of bowling alleys in Wisconsin. But there’s only one that takes the title of the oldest – and it’s Holler House. Delighting bowlers for well over 100 years, a visit to the historic alley is like taking a fun step back in time. Take a look:

At first glance, Holler House, which is located in Milwaukee’s Lincoln Village neighborhood, looks like a typical tavern.

However, with the nation’s first certified bowling alley in its basement, it’s anything but typical.

The historic tavern that houses the alley opened as Skowronski’s in 1908.

In the 1970s, the name was changed to Holler House, after a woman complained about the noise that was coming from the bar.

Despite the name change, many things at Holler House have remained the same. For one, the bowling alley’s two lanes feature the original wood and are still oiled with a spray can.

And just like in years past, the pins are reset by hand – a task that’s usually handled by neighborhood kids.

Sticking to the basics, the no-frills bowling alley doesn’t have any seating and scores are kept by hand.

Over the years, the historic bowling alley has attracted several famous faces, including Joe Walsh of the Eagles and Larry the Cable Guy.

The basement bowling alley is just one of the notable things about Holler House, though.

There’s also the upstairs bar, which has been deemed one of the best in America by Esquire.

Like a time capsule with drinks, the bar is adorned with memorabilia, pictures, historic newspaper clippings, and…

…signed bras. That’s right; as part of a long held tradition, first time visitors are encouraged to leave their signed bras somewhere in the bar.

Ready to pay a visit to this historic gem? If you plan on bowling during your visit, remember to call in advance, so the owner can arrange for pin attendants to be on site.

Holler House is open Tuesday – Thursday, from 4 p.m. – 12 a.m., Fridays, from 3 p.m. – 12 a.m., Saturdays, from 2 p.m. – 12 a.m., and Sundays, from 12 p.m. – 5 p.m. For more information, call (414) 647-9284.

So, did you know about Holler House? Ever visited? Did you bowl on the historic lanes? Tell us in the comments section.

This isn’t the state’s only historic bowling alley. Read about another here.