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Final Goodbye to Kona Lanes~Costa Mesa, CA |
RadioKirk
Member
Joined: Mar 27, 2007
Posts: 9 |  Posted: 2007-07-16 12:58 pm Permalink
I was in Orange County last week on vacation and checked out the site of the late Kona Lanes, and took a few snaps (click for larger image):
About the only thing that's changed in the four years since the building was unnecessarily razed is the weeds since raised.
The mounts that used to hold the giant street sign remain.
Finally, as if to mock us, the one remaining structure is the stone wall that sat underneath the other end of the overhang from the building's main entrance (according to my memory, anyway—the more recent pics of the building show no overhang, but it may have come down at the same time as the more garish red extensions over the former coffee shop).
This represents progress from what, exactly?
[ This Message was edited by: RadioKirk 2007-07-20 20:08 ]
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years) 
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-06 7:35 pm Permalink
ANyone in here have any good pics of Kona Lanes ?
All the photo links are dead here.
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Big Kahuna
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Apr 11, 2007
Posts: 1908
From: SoMass
| Posted: 2009-01-06 8:07 pm Permalink
What a frickin' crime!
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2401
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2009-01-06 8:19 pm Permalink
Here, here and the best ones are here!
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Tipsy McStagger
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Nov 21, 2004
Posts: 3388
From: HELL
| Posted: 2009-01-06 9:08 pm Permalink
..judging from the pictures of the karaoke nights, it becomes clear why the kona lanes had to be destroyed.....the madness had to be stopped and that was the only way to stop it.
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-06 10:15 pm Permalink
Thanx Boris....
I was lucky enough to have gone to Java Lanes one time. Me and a buddy had lunch in that amazing Coffee Shop. Never got To Kona Lanes tho 
Bowling architecture and aesthetics have always been some of my favorite Mid Century Modern-isms, besides Tiki of course. Put them together and it's Pure heaven.
Luckily I moved to LA while some of these great places on PCH were still around, and did some of those great "I got nothin to do, I think I'll just go explore" driving trips through the South Bay.
One of those trips led me to Sam's Seafood, tho', I had a matchbook with address on it.
 
Someone needs to put together a list of cool stuff that's left, like say The Hot n' Tot in Lomita. Definitely worth the trip.
Other places I got to a few times, but miss dearly....Ben Franks, Ships, Hollywood Star Lanes....I still have a bowling pin signed by the owner when they closed.
[ This Message was edited by: tikiyaki 2009-01-06 22:25 ]
[ This Message was edited by: tikiyaki 2009-01-06 22:31 ]
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Luckydesigns
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 15, 2002
Posts: 1892
From: Costa Mesa
| Posted: 2009-01-07 09:38 am Permalink
....and the Kona lanes site is still undeveloped. Thank you very much Segerstrom family.....
That picture of the rock wall that is still standing was not part of the actual structure... It was across a small, one car lane from the front entrance, in the parking lot. I remember it vividly. Still bums me out that that lot is vacant...
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-07 10:07 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-01-07 09:38, Luckydesigns wrote:
....and the Kona lanes site is still undeveloped. Thank you very much Segerstrom family.....
That picture of the rock wall that is still standing was not part of the actual structure... It was across a small, one car lane from the front entrance, in the parking lot. I remember it vividly. Still bums me out that that lot is vacant...
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Wow, really ? What a god damn waste. I started thinking about Bowling alleys and how great their designs were...architecturally, as well as decor and signage.
Does anyone know of any other Tiki Bowling Alleys besides Kona, Java and the Kapu Kai ? Any pics ?
Sven ?
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congawa
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Aug 11, 2008
Posts: 340
From: Long Beach, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-07 10:23 am Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-01-07 10:07, tikiyaki wrote:
Does anyone know of any other Tiki Bowling Alleys besides Kona, Java and the Kapu Kai ? Any pics ?
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Covina Bowl is still there in all its Googie/Tiki glory:
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-trw-0518-googie-pg,0,4985265.photogallery?index=09
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tikiyaki
Grand Member (5 years)
Joined: May 18, 2004
Posts: 2677
From: The Exotic Port of REDONDO BEACH, CA
| Posted: 2009-01-07 10:37 am Permalink
Hot Damn ! TC Bowling/Tiki Event ?
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lucas vigor
Tiki Socialite
Joined: May 12, 2004
Posts: 3453
From: "I've chopped my way through real jungle
| Posted: 2009-01-07 10:51 am Permalink
I am proud to say that Kevin Bullat (Tiki Bong) who is our steel player, was interviewed by the Times when Kona shut down! Kevin has a LOT of memorabilia from closed tiki places in his possesion!
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LOL Tiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Sep 06, 2007
Posts: 932
From: San Diegoish
| Posted: 2009-01-07 12:06 pm Permalink
My father-in-law was married there several years ago. It was a crazy biker wedding; he wore a braided Willy Nelson wig.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10562
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-01-07 6:54 pm Permalink
Quote:
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On 2009-01-07 10:07, tikiyaki wrote:
Wow, really ? What a god damn waste. I started thinking about Bowling alleys and how great their designs were...architecturally, as well as decor and signage. Does anyone know of any other Tiki Bowling Alleys besides Kona, Java and the Kapu Kai ? Any pics ?
Sven ?
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You are so right. Bowling alleys are the most under-documented Googie icons so far.
There is the Mar Vista Bowl and the Lucky Lanes Bowl in TIKI MODERN...the latter not being Tiki, but, like the Covina Bowl, an A-frame. Somehow, even more than Motels, 60s bowling alleys really took a shine to the A-frame concept. There even was one in Waikiki. How about the Willow Grove Lanes in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania?:
My favorite mid-century modern non-Tiki bowling alley is the Rose Bowl Lanes in Tulsa, Oklahoma:
Check out that interior! There were dozens of such amazing examples across the United States. Someone should make a book about them.
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Bora Boris
Mr. Unreasonable
Joined: Mar 25, 2005
Posts: 2401
From: Boogie Wonderland
| Posted: 2009-01-07 9:40 pm Permalink
From OC Historical Blog Spot .com Oct. 28, 2008 ~
"At Costa Mesa's recent City Council candidate forum, everyone agreed on only one thing: Tearing down Kona Lanes in 2003 was a big mistake and a significant loss to the community. Where were these people five years ago? Not only did they Costa Mesa lose one of its most popular entertainment venues and landmarks, but Southern California lost yet another of its nearly-extinct classic Googie buildings. Worse yet, it has been replaced only with a vacant lot full of weeds. I was there on closing day, and watched the constant procession of people paying their last respects to this nostalgic landmark. Some had tears in their eyes, including married couples who had met while bowling there. Costa Mesa may someday get another bowling center, but it will never replace Kona Lanes."
and The OC Register article it was linked too. Oct. 23, 2008 ~
"The vacant lot on in Mesa Verde where Kona Lanes used to stand was also addressed. Sneen, using a line McEvoy said at a previous debate, said it best: "They should have never torn down the bowling alley!"
The room erupted in applause. Candidates had different ideas for that property, which is privately owned by the Segerstrom family. Some suggested having a bowling alley brought back to the site, while others said it would be a perfect location for senior living."
It’s nice that people realize it was a mistake to tear it down but Tipsy’s also right, if only they could have just demolished the Karaoke Machine.
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bigbrotiki
Tiki Socialite
Joined: Mar 25, 2002
Posts: 10562
From: Tiki Island, above the Silverlake
| Posted: 2009-01-07 11:17 pm Permalink
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