Kona Lanes
Former bowling center in Costa Mesa, California / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Kona Lanes was a bowling center in Costa Mesa, California, that operated from 1958 to 2003. Known for its futuristic design, it featured 40 wood-floor bowling lanes, a game room, a lounge, and a coffee shop that eventually became a Mexican diner. Built during the advent of Googie architecture, its Polynesian-inspired Tiki styling extended from the large roadside sign to the building's neon lights and exaggerated rooflines.
Former names | New Kona Lanes (1980s) |
---|---|
Address | 2699 Harbor Blvd. Costa Mesa, California, U.S. |
Coordinates | 33.671083°N 117.920306°W / 33.671083; -117.920306 |
Owner | Jack Mann Jr. (last) |
Type | Bowling center |
Construction | |
Built | 1958 |
Opened | 1958 (66 years ago) (1958) |
Renovated | 1981 |
Closed | 2003 (21 years ago) (2003) |
Demolished | 2003 |
Architect | Powers, Daly, & DeRosa |
Builder | Quigley & Clark |
When Kona Lanes was demolished in 2003, it was one of the last remaining examples of the Googie style in the region; its sister center, Java Lanes in Long Beach, was razed in 2004. Much of Kona's equipment was sold prior to the demolition, but the distinctive sign was saved and sent to Cincinnati, where a portion is on permanent display in the American Sign Museum. Costa Mesa's planning commission approved a proposal to build a department store on the site, but those plans were scrapped following public outcry. In 2010, the still-vacant land was rezoned for senior citizens' apartments and commercial development. Construction on the apartments began ten years after Kona Lanes was demolished.