Broken waterline floods, closes Bonners Ferry bowling alley

A broken waterline left portions of A.J.'s Lanes under 6 inches of water and closed for up to three months.

Assuming the lanes at the nearly 55-year-old Bonners Ferry bowling alley need replaced, it could cost $500,000 to $800,000, said John Nelson, who is leasing to buy the building.

“It would be a substantial remodel,” Nelson.

Whether or not the lanes will need replaced won't be known for about two weeks. An official with the Pro Bowlers Association, who travels all over the world, will need to assess the damage.

“He has to come and inspect, and see whether or not they're warped,” said Carol Nelson, who is John Nelson's wife.

The Roundup, which is the bowling alley's restaurant and lounge, was not damaged and remains open. The building is insured.

Bowling alley owner Alan Jeppesen, who has living quarters there, discovered the water damage on the morning of Tuesday, June 10.

“He was out to dinner on Monday night, and when he got up on Tuesday to make some coffee, there was no water,” Carol Nelson said. “He went to use the lavatory, and there was 6 inches of water.”

The leak is believed to have occurred from the 1 1/2-inch main waterline to the building, John Nelson said. Pumps and Shop Vacs were used to remove water, and the Nelsons purchased the six available electric heaters from Boundary Electric to dry up the area.

“We had to strip out all the carpets and had to take all the gutters and ball returns out,” Carol Nelson said.

There was about a foot of water underneath the lanes.

“The moisture was so bad that even the ceiling tiles were starting to droop,” John Nelson said. “If we have to pull the lanes up, it would be a substantial remodel.

The bowling alley was built in 1954 and remodeled when Jeppesen purchased it 17 years ago.