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The Bowling Barn

3.3 (346 reviews)
ModerateSports Bars, Bowling
Open 10:00 am - 10:30 pm

The Bowling Barn Photos

Business Info

THE BOWLING BARN ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Loud
Casual
Good for groups
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - The Bowling Barn

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Reviews With Photos

So many screens!
Mike B.

This place is so fun!! Was driving through town with my fiancé and saw the big red barn. We had to stop and check it out! When we got in we noticed an arcade and a bar. I went to get the drinks, she went to the arcade to win some prizes! Then we got an hour of bowling. It was so much fun! Our first bowling experience together. The vids they have on the screen are so fun! You can also choose from different games not just regular bowling. It really makes the experience so much more fun, especially if you're the competitive type like she is. It's a fun atmosphere with a lot of neon colors lit by black lights. Huge place too with lots to do for family or kids. If you like bowling, arcades, food, and drinks you gotta spend some time here!

They are not working, I am waiting on the waiting list while no people in the lanes.

The place is great, but the service is the worst. They are rude talk back to you. They act like you're not paying for the service. I come all the way from Pasadena. I told her that I needed 30 more minutes and they said I couldn't play 30 more minutes because there were a lot of people waiting when there was five lanes open. I went back to tell ask if I can I still play? She said oh yeah I forgot you were here. So they were five lanes open and I was still in the waiting list waiting to play, but she was flirting with everybody around town so she didn't care if other people were waiting to play. They should hired professionals not someone that's here to flirt with else instead of doing her job.

The lanes
Gavin C.

The Bowling Barn is not just a clever name. This large barn shaped structure in Big Bear does actually have a bowling alley. And as far as bowling alleys go, it's decent. This is a nice alternate activity for those of us who enjoy ski resort areas but lack the balance necessary to safely navigate the slopes. The Barn's lanes are modern, and can handle traditional bowling, as well as a number of "Hyperbowing" modes which add a modern spin to the game. They also have the usual bar and arcade, both well stocked with the classics. There was a snack bar, but we did not partake. Needless to say, this appeared to be standard bowing snack bar fare. This ski-challenged guy had fun bowling. My companions also had fun drinking. So the only miss here (gutter ball?) is the lack of reservations. Similarly situated alleys allow one to reserve a lane and avoid having to wait around. They would do well to look at a place like Bowl Incline as direction toward a better experience.

Cristina D.

Seems like a happening place! It was packed and there was a 1 hour wait for a bowling lane for a party of 3. While we placed our names on the queue, we hit the bar for some drinks: a Henny & Coke and just a simple, cold Cutwater. The bar was well stocked with some premium liquors and the bartender was really sweet. I also placed our food order and got the usual bowling fare: wings, pizza, onion rings and curly fries. The food was hot, crispy and pretty tasty. The vibe was pretty happening at 2pm on this Saturday.

You'll never forget you're in big bear at this place...
Jay T.

I had been to the bowling barn before, but thoroughly enjoyed all the new upgrades since my last visit. There were a ton more games than in the past and it seemed like the bowling area was much more dynamic. The scoreboard did a thing where it capture pictures of your face and then make funny animations all during your game, which was absolutely hilarious & really fun! We didn't try any of the snack bar type food but just had a couple of beverages and enjoyed the bowling. The whole place seemed refreshed and new inside and we really enjoyed our time there. At $71 for an hour of two people bowling, it's a little pricey, due to this I probably won't be back for several more years.

Frank L.

Stop whatever you're doing and head straight to The Bowling Barn! This place is the ultimate fun spot in Big Bear--it's not just a bowling alley, it's a whole entertainment complex. The bowling is fantastic, especially during their nightly Glow Bowling sessions where the black lights and music turn the lanes into a party! They have a huge arcade full of games, and you absolutely have to try the new Virtual Reality (VR) experience; it's a blast. When you get hungry, their full-service grill is serving up great food like their awesome pizza. And for the adults, the Alley Oops Sports Bar has a full selection of drinks to enjoy while you bowl or catch a game. Whether you're a family, a couple, or a group of friends, The Bowling Barn is where the fun is at!

Big bear bowling with the fam!
thomas f.

Absolutely 10 out of 10 recommend! Place is super fun with friendly staff, we will definitely be back !

Raegan N.

What a great time! I love this bowling alley! Fantastic visuals and light shows everywhere. Very many arcade games and even a virtual reality area. Before you start bowling you can snap a few pictures on their screen of yourself and they implement them in the funny graphics and you can watch while you're bowling. So much fun! They play some good music as well! It was $79 for the hour so it's not cheap but really worth it. Got two games in. All the staff was very friendly. Will definitely be back!

Outside the barn
Sergio P.

The Bowling Barn was a good time. They had good jams going on and it was also cosmic during the day. They had a great arcade with many options to play. The whole staff was great, they were all friendly and helpful. The booths were nice, they faced each other making it easy to converse with our party. Great spot to bowl.

Karlie M.

What an amazing bowling alley. In a cool building that looks like a big red barn, completely renovated. Beautifully resurfaced lanes, spectacular video screens and graphics. Cosmic bowling was super cool and immersive. They play the best music with the music videos playing on big screens. Music for everyone - music from today, the 90s, 80s, and 70s. They have a helpful, nice staff and comfortable retro seating and decor. I appreciate that they have maintained the nostalgic 50s bowling alley theme. They have these really cool wall wraps that look like a log cabin complete with bears and a lake view, fitting the Big Bear theme. They have state-of-the-art arcade games, a lot of them, and an epic VR gaming room. You could spend the whole day there; have a great date night or celebration. Food is spectacular too, with lots of options made fresh to order. Wonderful apple cider donuts.

View of the first couple of lanes from inside Alley Oops (the bar)
Nasim V.

Fun, family-friendly activity. We tried the Hyper Bowling experience, which reminded me of TopGolf, but for bowling. It was really fun, I would definitely recommend it. After a certain time, I think 12pm/4pm depending on the day, they do Glow Bowling where they turn down the house lights, turn on the colored lights and play good music videos. But don't worry guys... there are still plenty of TV screens showing the various sports games. Price for 1 hour of bowling and 2 adult shoe rentals came out to about $56. They also have a decent food/snack stand inside and a full bar with pool tables in the back area. We had to wait about an hour for a lane, so we ordered some cocktails and just hung out in the bar and enjoyed the music. Will definitely be back during our next visit to Big Bear Lake.

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3 years ago

A perfect place to spend a fun time with family and kids. Glowing bowling and all konds of attractions for kids

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3 years ago

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2 years ago

A must every time I come to Big Bear. Highlight of the trip! Cheap drinks, good rates and the wait time wasn't too bad for a Saturday night

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3 years ago

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4 years ago

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2 years ago

Good bowling lanes. Arcade area very small. Large bar area off of bowling lanes. Close to hotels.

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4 years ago

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7 years ago

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3 years ago

It's a vibe. Lots of fun and memories have been created here. It's one of my sons go to's When he's here in big bear.

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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5 years ago

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7 years ago

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6 years ago

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3 years ago

They have no deals for 2 people only 4 so don't go as a couple go with at least 4 I don't see why 2 people pay the same as 4

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3 years ago

Such a cool Bowling alley. Loved the vibe. Music. Games. Will definitely go again when in town.

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2 years ago

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8 years ago

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2 years ago

Interesting to watch the bowling staff taking shots behind the register everything else went down hill after that.

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2 years ago

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2 years ago

Great place to end the night after playing in the snow all day. Staff were very nice and the pace was very clean.

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3 years ago

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Page 3 of 9

Ask the Community - The Bowling Barn

Review Highlights - The Bowling Barn

Loads of fun with bowling, evening glow bowling, pool table, arcade games, food is also very good.

Mentioned in 10 reviews

Read more highlights

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Brought our little one here and Fire Rock Burgers & Brews turned out to be a solid call. Parking is…read moreeasy -- there's a lot right behind the restaurant -- and the seating is generous: patio in the front, patio in the back, and a full indoor area. Brought the stroller in without any trouble, which is always a win. The atmosphere is what gets you first. There's a ton of cool decor to take in, and the menu has music-themed names for everything -- a fun detail if you're paying attention. Food was delicious and the beers on tap are a great selection to pair with it. Service was attentive and the vibe is comfortable for families without feeling like a kids' spot. It's just a good place, period. Definitely coming back.

This is a really cool looking place. It has outstanding ambience. Really leans into the rock 'n'…read moreroll look. Everything from the bathroom to the lobby to the little dining room is really tricked out nicely. This place probably is more of a bar for beer and they happen to do food also. In the indoor dining room they have four televisions with the latest sporting events going. When we were there, two of the TVs were tuned to the pre-All-Star game, one was the NBA Summer league and the final one was to some Spanish station that had some type of soap opera /talk show going on. The wife ordered the declaration burger and I ordered the Californication burger. They both came with french fries. The one thing we both noted was the cold buns. This really immediately made the burger not that appealing. Both burgers were cooked to order. I can talk directly to mine. It was a good burger with an Ortega green chili on it piece of cheese two piece of bacon and shredded lettuce and some diced tomatoes. Unfortunately having a cool doughy bun on a hot burger just didn't do it. The wife complained of the exact same thing. The french fries were hot, but they were nothing to write home about. No seasoning or anything like that. They were not very busy when we walked in three tables going. The service was slow because our server was talking to some friend at the end of the bar who appeared to be an employee on break. They have a great concept and with a little effort and attention to detail the food could be outstanding. With all the competition going on in the village, we were really looking for so much more. We thought we were gonna be getting a Great light designer burger, that really wowed us with taste. But that didn't happen. Might give it a try again. We're making a point to try to hit every single place in the village and the surrounding area.

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Sweet potato  fries with cheese and garlic
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We had such an awesome experience at Village Sports Bar in Big Bear, and it was all thanks to…read moreHillary behind the bar. From the moment we walked in, she was welcoming, attentive, and genuinely fun to be around. She kept drinks flowing without us ever having to ask, made great recommendations, and somehow managed to handle a busy crowd while still making everyone feel taken care of. That kind of energy is rare. If you're in Big Bear and stop by Village Sports Bar, do yourself a favor and grab a seat at Hillary's bar. 10/10 service, amazing vibe, and we'll definitely be back!

I had one of the worst service experiences I've ever had here. Hillary has to be the worst…read morebartender/server in Big Bear. After overcharging me for kids' chicken tenders, I politely asked to be reimbursed. Instead of correcting the mistake, she disappeared seemingly hoping I would forget about it. When I followed up, she yelled at me in the middle of the bar over $10. Completely unprofessional and embarrassing. To make matters worse, when I called back to speak to a manager, the phone was left hanging and I could hear staff insulting me on the other end. Absolutely unacceptable behavior. The only saving grace was Leah, the manager, who was kind and professional when we finally connected. Unfortunately, one good interaction doesn't make up for the overall experience. I would avoid this place if Hillary is working

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Great Music, Great Food, Great Beer, & Even Better Memories.

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Great Music, Great Food, Great Beer, & Even Better Memories.

The Bowling Barn - sportsbars - Updated July 2026

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