Roxy Ann Lanes abruptly closed due to structural concerns

Published 1:00 pm Monday, June 3, 2024

Roxy Ann Lanes bowling alley abruptly closed its doors last week because of alleged structural concerns with its signature barrel-style, curved roof.

After conflicting initial reports about the permanency of the closure, representatives of the Coquille Indian Tribe, which owns the property, confirmed Monday that the bowling alley had closed its doors for good.

An emailed statement from the tribe, received by the Rogue Valley Times Monday, said that the “discovery of a serious issue with the roof area directly over the bowling lanes” was related to a decade’s worth of delays in a federal process to build a casino on the site.

“The difficult decision to close the bowling alley was made after examination of the financial realities facing the Coquille Indian Tribe’s business arm, which has operated Roxy Ann Lanes since late 2021. The Tribe has been suspended in a federal approval process since 2012, following its application to take the 2.4-acre property into trust in a plan that would renovate and modernize the building into a Class II gaming facility,” the statement said.

“For over a decade this proposal has languished before the U.S. Department of (the) Interior — an unprecedented and politically motivated delay that has deprived the Tribe and Medford of much-needed jobs and economic development. Interior’s inexplicable failure to act has fostered uncertainty regarding the future of this site and prevented new revenue needed for capital investments that would renovate the facility.”

Earlier on Monday, a notice was taped to the door that read “closed until further notice.” Work crews were on site, including at least one company with a vehicle bearing signage for “demolition, asbestos abatement and testing.”

Community members had taken to social media over the weekend. One post — later taken down — was on the bowling alley website:

“Roxy Ann Lanes may be closing its doors, but its community impact will endure (for) years to come. We are deeply saddened to announce the closure of Roxy Ann Lanes in Medford, Oregon after 50 years of dedicated service to the community. This iconic establishment has been a beloved destination for families, friends, and bowling enthusiasts, and its closure marks the end of an era.

“The decision to close Roxy Ann Lanes was not made lightly and was ultimately decided due to structural issues to the barrel roof over the lanes. Despite the best efforts of the dedicated staff and management, the financial realities could not be overcome. The necessary repairs have required the permanent closure of the bowling alley portion of the building. We want to express our deepest gratitude to the loyal patrons, hardworking staff and supportive community that have been a part of Roxy Ann Lanes story.”

A new post atop the website Monday read, “ROXY ANN LANES IS TEMPORARILY CLOSED FOR REPAIRS.”

Bowling alley employee Ellie Zunker of Medford said she was informed by other employees that a structural beam began to collapse, with material falling in the bowler seating area near score-keeping machines.

Other employees who spoke to the Times, but declined to give their names, said the building was evacuated suddenly when a loud sound came from the ceiling area of the building.

“Verbatim what I was told was: ‘Loud thud followed by noticeable cracks and we closed,’” Zunker said, adding that she and other employees were laid off and told to apply for unemployment, or apply for jobs at neighboring properties, because the closure would be “at least a couple months for repairs but probably longer.”

Calls from the Times to managers of the property and tribal officials were not immediately returned. The property includes a collection of structures that includes Compass Hotel Medford by Margaritaville, Bear Creek Golf Center and the shuttered Roller Odyssey skate rink.

Social media posts indicate the closure was unexpected. On May 21, the bowling alley announced extended summer hours on its Facebook page. Three days later, on May 24, the most recent post on the page declares, “Closed until further notice, due to unexpected roof repairs. We are sorry for any inconvenience!”

A standup comedy event was scheduled for June 7 inside the bowling alley’s Open Frame Bar. The event page for the show does not indicate a rescheduling or cancellation.

Coquille Indian Tribe Chair Brenda Meade voiced frustration in Monday’s news release.

In 2012, the Coquille Indian Tribe purchased the properties, including the bowling alley, skate rink, golf center and Kim’s Restaurant, which has since been demolished, and has been working for more than a decade to get federal approval to place 2.42 acres into a federal trust, with plans to eventually build a 30,000-square-foot casino. Named “The Cedars at Bear Creek,” the casino would be the second casino owned by the Coquille, which also operates The Mill Casino in North Bend.

“I have spoken of the absurdity of what is now a years-long (National Environmental Policy Act) process — an environmental review needed for the project to move forward — one that was started in 2015, unlawfully canceled in 2020, and resumed in 2021, yet remains unresolved,” Meade said in the written statement.

“None of us expected to be sitting here in 2024 waiting for bureaucracy to finally process a 2012 application. What is worse is that the NEPA review process is essentially complete but held up by politics. … I hope this serves as a wake-up call for the Biden Administration and the Department of (the) Interior — this is what happens when what should be a straightforward process turns into a decade of stonewalling, political influence and bureaucratic nightmares.”

The bowling alley property, according to its website, was built in 1959 by Herschel and Virgie Dixon who named the business after Roxy Ann Peak. The Dixon family operated the bowling alley for 45 years and sold the business in July 2004 to Lela and John Larkin.