Snowmass bowling alley on a roll

Snowmass Village’s newest activity is not on the slopes or even outside — it’s under your feet, in the Slopeside Lanes bowling alley.

The alley, which opened in November below the Snowmass Village Mall, has struck a chord — or a pin — with people of all ages. Après ski has been a popular time for families, and football fans have shown up to take advantage of the four 180-inch television screens and kitchen, said owner Mark Reece.

“Sometimes it’s perfect weather outside and people are in here bowling,” Reece said.

Slopeside Lanes has eight lanes and a couple of arcade games. The space is complemented with artwork by Steve Baffa, an artist from Naples, Fla., where Reece formerly owned a restaurant.

It also offers a full-service bar and kitchen. As much as possible is made in-house, from the hand-cut fries to the pizza from the Italian wood-fire oven. Using only applewood, the pizza comes out with a unique flavor you won’t find anywhere else, Reece said.

“Nothing here comes out of a brown bag,” Reece said.

Reece has long been a lover of bowling. His mother has played three 300 games. Reece really got into it, though, at Penn State University, where he and some friends started playing in the local league and eventually got enough people to start their own league for the fraternities at the college.

League play is something Reece hopes to incorporate this offseason. He wants to get rivalries started and provide some entertainment in the upper Roaring Fork Valley year-round.

jbeathard@snowmass sun.com