Above courtesy of Land of America. Right courtesy of Google Map. I missed chance to see what it was like before they kind of painted over the final sign. It was quite different looking sign for sure. You sure this is same one, realtor? I can tell because of the high where and pole right by the sign above but the Google Map showed it was not. They must have replaced in early 2010s just before they closed then painted over that new sign. Whatever happened to the original above which is much nicer in my judgement as I can see than the one on the right. Originally things were nicer looking than the new modern looking things in fact. Ie- 57 Chevy is a lot nicer than a Echo. 1977 Arctic Cat Pentera is a lot nicer than the 2020 Pentera. You get the idea.
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Courtesy of Google Map. Taken in April 2008 when it was in for business. Strange seeing all the vehicles parked by the sign and even that pickup truck without the bed is parked on the street! Plenty of parking in the parking lot! Haha. And Google Mapper blurred the wheel rims off of that Silver and Black pickup truck!? Google is one goo goo! haha. Sorry it is blurred. The sign on the wall where Skating is had a sign with some advertising. And three something on the wall at the far left of the skating building. On Right is the bowling.
Two photo courtesy of Realtor.
Photo courtesy of Land of America. Noticed a huge difference in photography but it is the same place after all. No changes but it was the lights fully turned on and this you get Royal Blue on the wall rather than black like the one in the above photograph above this one. Same with the ball lanes are purple in this one, black in the other. It is the amount of exposure of light, how much lights turned on, and camera light exposure. And the filter but also the exposure time.
The blue background and purple colors.. this is more realistic photo than the dark one. The dark one is true also when dimmed.
The blue background and purple colors.. this is more realistic photo than the dark one. The dark one is true also when dimmed.
All except for top, courtesy of Realtor. The carpet has torn out of the old rink section. The floor is still pretty good shape but the carpeted area, all were concrete slab. They built a stage on where the rink was. Perhaps it was going to be a concert venue or wedding venue. Something like that.
Bottom 3 Photos courtesy of Land of America. More on the rink. They did not take any photos of the snack bar and skate rental for the skating. The bottom I believe it is the eating era for the bowling section, not the rink.
Bowie Land Skating & Bowling Arena 308 Howell Drive, Morrilton, AR
Playland 308 Howell Dr., Morrilton, AR
Playland Roller Rink 308 Howell Dr., Morrilton, AR
Playland 308 Howell Dr., Morrilton, AR
Playland Roller Rink 308 Howell Dr., Morrilton, AR
The name Bowie Land Skating & Bowling Arena may not be true but Playland was true. It was also known as Playland Roller Rink next door to the Playland Bowling. It was as one complex but two direct entrance for patrons to enter to enjoy one or the other. It was very basic design (see Exterior section below).
It was listed for sale in Oct 26, 2015 but Google Map said it was for sale in 2014. Likely they were trying to sell by themselves then listed with real estate. Who knows.
I have no information on when they first opened but because the buildings were built in 1972, likely that is when they first opened thanks to the floor titles. You would not want to skate on those! I know how it sounds! AWFUL! I recalled one of the rinks with that style of tiles and I hated it. Thump, thump, thump as you roll by. Wrong material to use!
Anyway, the tiles are were common in 1970s and so were those chairs. It looked very basic for both the rink and bowling. Why? They just do not look right for those places. Those tiles are perfect for kitchens only. Bathrooms too (NOT at Skating/bowling places but FAST food restaurants). Yes, they still have those at fast food restaurants, restaurants, etc.
Those chairs look like it belongs to a basic church bingo hall.
The Interior.
Being a multi-entertainment complex, they had a West side of building was 80' X150' or 12,000 SF of space overall with the rink and rest of skating business, where the skating rink was located. They had new bathrooms and a new stage on the side of the rink They installed a new PA system on balcony, and White coated Polyurethane Maple floor. The East side where the bowling was located had 63' X104' or 6,552 SF. It had 10 lane bowling alley in place with full service kitchen, tables, and chairs, with all commercial appliances in place. Across the front you have 93' X 40' or 3,720 SF area for access from one side to other. (Heavily modified from Realtor.)
The Tera Cotta titles seen in the photos everywhere above, other than just kitchen, even eating areas. Terrible because it would not do well for skates. Can crack tiles, the thumping all the time. Worse than those metal skate wheels on wood back then!
Decor was very basic. Very bingo hall look. Very basic with no actual investments that rinks and even bowling alleys has today or even since 1970s.
The decoration and design of the alleys are beautiful really. Well lighted, clean floor, colorful
The Exterior.
Being a 22,982 SF facility, the building was actually 2.5 of Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Buildings that are adjoined together as one but separated by a single wall between the skating rink and the bowling complex. They are only joined up front inside. The separation was those two full Gabled roof building yet, joint by the "hip" and the .5 is where the bowling lanes were located.
Looking at the photos, you can see clearly where they are divided by the color.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 80' X150' . Floor: White coated Polyurethane Maple. Floor Layout: N/A- standard.
Building Size: 22,982 SF (combined). Built: 1972. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Buildings (adjointed and common).
Roof: 2 Gable and a half
Acres: 1.263 Acres.
Lanes: 10
Type of Bowling: Ten Pins.
Operated: Possible 1972 to c. 2014.
Reason for Closure: Possible decline number of patrons but I can tell owners in the photos are seniors (you can see them more clearly on real estate websites, not posted in here).
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of open, closed, why closed. Also photos of rink before it was closed and before renovated.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Google Map, Realtor, Trulia, Land of America, Realty Trac, Bowieland website, Yelp,
Updated: 26 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.
It was listed for sale in Oct 26, 2015 but Google Map said it was for sale in 2014. Likely they were trying to sell by themselves then listed with real estate. Who knows.
I have no information on when they first opened but because the buildings were built in 1972, likely that is when they first opened thanks to the floor titles. You would not want to skate on those! I know how it sounds! AWFUL! I recalled one of the rinks with that style of tiles and I hated it. Thump, thump, thump as you roll by. Wrong material to use!
Anyway, the tiles are were common in 1970s and so were those chairs. It looked very basic for both the rink and bowling. Why? They just do not look right for those places. Those tiles are perfect for kitchens only. Bathrooms too (NOT at Skating/bowling places but FAST food restaurants). Yes, they still have those at fast food restaurants, restaurants, etc.
Those chairs look like it belongs to a basic church bingo hall.
The Interior.
Being a multi-entertainment complex, they had a West side of building was 80' X150' or 12,000 SF of space overall with the rink and rest of skating business, where the skating rink was located. They had new bathrooms and a new stage on the side of the rink They installed a new PA system on balcony, and White coated Polyurethane Maple floor. The East side where the bowling was located had 63' X104' or 6,552 SF. It had 10 lane bowling alley in place with full service kitchen, tables, and chairs, with all commercial appliances in place. Across the front you have 93' X 40' or 3,720 SF area for access from one side to other. (Heavily modified from Realtor.)
The Tera Cotta titles seen in the photos everywhere above, other than just kitchen, even eating areas. Terrible because it would not do well for skates. Can crack tiles, the thumping all the time. Worse than those metal skate wheels on wood back then!
Decor was very basic. Very bingo hall look. Very basic with no actual investments that rinks and even bowling alleys has today or even since 1970s.
The decoration and design of the alleys are beautiful really. Well lighted, clean floor, colorful
The Exterior.
Being a 22,982 SF facility, the building was actually 2.5 of Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Buildings that are adjoined together as one but separated by a single wall between the skating rink and the bowling complex. They are only joined up front inside. The separation was those two full Gabled roof building yet, joint by the "hip" and the .5 is where the bowling lanes were located.
Looking at the photos, you can see clearly where they are divided by the color.
The Stats:
Rink Size: 80' X150' . Floor: White coated Polyurethane Maple. Floor Layout: N/A- standard.
Building Size: 22,982 SF (combined). Built: 1972. Demolished: Still standing.
Type of Building: Free-Span Steel Truss Steel-Walled Warehouse - like Buildings (adjointed and common).
Roof: 2 Gable and a half
Acres: 1.263 Acres.
Lanes: 10
Type of Bowling: Ten Pins.
Operated: Possible 1972 to c. 2014.
Reason for Closure: Possible decline number of patrons but I can tell owners in the photos are seniors (you can see them more clearly on real estate websites, not posted in here).
Wanted: Information regarding actual date of open, closed, why closed. Also photos of rink before it was closed and before renovated.
Anyone has pictures and/or information please let me know at [email protected]. Thank you.
Sources: Google Map, Realtor, Trulia, Land of America, Realty Trac, Bowieland website, Yelp,
Updated: 26 January 2021.
© Copyrighted by Dead-Rinks. All Rights Reserved. God Matters. Jn 3:16.