1st Friday · 7 PM
Moonlight Jackpot Bowling
Three games in the dark with only the pins lit, and prize money on the line all night.
$32$40 with extras · shoes incl.
Milaca, Minnesota · 8 lanes
Bowling, the way a small town does it best.
Open bowling, monthly Friday night events, leagues for every schedule, and Specto ball tracking on every lane. Reserve online and pay less than walk-in.
Fall & winter hours
Season runs Sept 8 – May 31. Evening lanes are limited on league nights, so reserve ahead.
Friday, October 23 · 6–10 PM
Oktoberfest at Back Alley Bowl
German specials, Oktoberfest beers, contests, and $1 off drinks when you dress the part.
Every month
Friday nights at the alley
2nd Friday · 7–9 PM
Cosmic Bowling
Black light, music, lights and fog. Bowl as much as you want.
$25per lane / hour, shoes incl.
3rd Friday · 7–9 PM
$1 Mania
$1 shoes, $3 games, and cheap eats and drinks all night.
$3games · $1 shoes
4th Friday · 6–9 PM
Back Alley After Dark
Blacklight unlimited bowling, plus food and drink specials. Shoes included.
$25per person · shoes incl.
On every lane
See what your ball actually did.
Specto tracks every shot: your release, the path down the lane, and where it hit the pocket. Compare one shot to the next and practice with a goal instead of guessing.
Release
Launch
where the ball leaves your hand
Down lane
Path
its line to the breakpoint
Pocket
Entry
where it hit the pocket
$35 per hour. Download the free Specto Bowling app before you come.
Free to join
Join the Back Alley Birthday Club
Sign up and we'll send you a birthday wish and a gift to come in and bowl. Must be 18 or older to join.
“Chad, I am so glad you talked us into a bowling league, we are having such a good time. We look forward to it every week.”Jeremy C. · League bowler
75%
of league bowlers come back next season
8
lanes, with free-fall pinsetters
Open bowling
Bowl & Rates
We charge by the lane, by the hour, so everyone on the lane bowls for one price. Reserving online saves $5 to $7 an hour over walking in, every day.
| Day | Reserve online | Walk-in | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuesday – Thursday | $17 | $22 | $5 / hr |
| Friday | $23 | $29 | $6 / hr |
| Saturday | $25 | $32 | $7 / hr |
| Sunday | $21 | $26 | $5 / hr |
Prices are per lane, per hour. Shoe rental is $2.75 a pair. Walk-in time has a half-hour minimum and is billed by the minute after that.
How reservations work
- Book up to 4 months ahead, sometimes even same day.
- Choose 1 to 4 hours, the number of bowlers, and shoe rentals.
- A 25% deposit holds the lane, or pay in full when you book. The $3.25 reservation fee is non-refundable.
- If you paid a deposit, pay the balance when you finish. Food and drinks are paid at the alley.
- Your lane time starts and stops at your reserved time, even if you're mid-game.
- Cancel at least 48 hours ahead and we'll credit what you paid, minus the reservation fee, as a gift card for a future visit. Cancellations within 48 hours are not refunded.
Hours
Friday: open bowling 12–5, very limited 5–7, then the evening event.
Food & drinks
Pizza, appetizers, hot dogs and brats, fountain drinks and slushies, plus beer on tap and a full bar for the grown-ups.
Friday nights, September through May
Events
No leagues on Fridays. Friday nights belong to families, friends, and anyone who wants to bowl in the dark.
Friday, October 23 · 6–10 PM
Oktoberfest at Back Alley Bowl
Food, beer, bowling and contests during regular Friday bowling. No reservation needed. Just come out and join the fun.
Dress the part: come in your best Oktoberfest outfit and get $1 off your drinks all night.
- German-inspired specials: pretzels with beer cheese, bratwurst and knockwurst, sauerkraut
- Seasonal Oktoberfest beers, plus our regular taps
- 7:00 PM: Oktoberfest group toast
- 7:15–8:00 PM: stein-holding contest
- 8:00–9:00 PM: themed bowling mini-contest
- Photo backdrop, plus oompah and polka music early in the night
Last call on everything at 9:30 PM.
1st Friday · 7 PM
Moonlight Jackpot Bowling
M is for Moonlight. M is for Money. Three games in the dark with only the pins lit, and prize money paid out all night.
- $32 entry, or $40 with extra strike pot tickets and high game pots
- Side games: Red Pin Frames, Sledgehammer, Lucky Train
- Shoe rental included
Call to reserve: 320-983-3809
2nd Friday · 7–9 PM
Cosmic Bowling
Black light, music, specialty lighting and fog. Bowl as much or as little as you want.
- $25 per lane, per hour, shoes included, when you reserve
- Walk-ins welcome if lanes are open: $4 a game, $2 shoes
3rd Friday · 7–9 PM
$1 Mania
Eat, drink and bowl for less. Grab your crew.
- $3 games, $1 shoe rental
- Hot dogs $2, brats $3, pizza slices $3
- 12 oz Coors Light tap $3
- Fountain drinks $1 (12 oz) or $2 (16 oz), slushies $2 (16 oz)
4th Friday · 6–9 PM
Back Alley After Dark
Blacklight unlimited bowling. Bowl as many games as you want. Grab a group and reserve a lane.
- $25 per person, shoe rental included
- 3 to 6 bowlers per lane
- Reserve 1 to 3 hours, between 6 and 9 PM
- $25 bucket of 6 bottled beers
- $1 off food, pizza and appetizers
- $1 off all taps and mixed drinks
Tournaments
Our annual No Tap tournament runs March through April. New tournaments are coming this fall. Follow us on Facebook for dates and entry details.
2026–27 season
Leagues
One night a week, the same friends, something to look forward to. All skill levels are welcome, and we're looking for full teams, individuals, and subs.
Monday night
6:45 PM
Mixed, 5-person teams
FullTuesday morning
9:30 AM
Ladies, 4-person teams
OpeningsTuesday night
6:45 PM
Men's, 3-person teams
OpeningsWednesday night
6:30 PM
Ladies, 4-person teams
OpeningsThursday morning
9:00 AM
Seniors 50+, mixed 4-person teams
OpeningsThursday night
6:45 PM
Mixed, 4-person teams
FullSaturday morning
10:00 AM · Session 1 starts Oct 3 · Session 2 starts Jan 9
Youth league with instruction. Individual, handicapped. $13 a week including shoes, plus $6 USBC sanction.
Lots of roomEvery other Saturday
7:00 PM · starts November
Mixed, 4-person teams. Two leagues, 10 weeks.
1 open · 1 fullSunday night
6:30 PM · starts Jan 3
Express 8 fun league. 8 pins count as a strike. Teams of 4, women, men and kids. 10 weeks, $12 per person a week.
New · openingsWhat it costs
Adult leagues are $15 a week for linage, plus a prize fund set by each league. Most seasons run 28 to 30 weeks, with a break at Christmas.
Join or sub
No team? No problem. Call and we'll place you on a team or add you to the sub list.
Birthdays · teams · work outings
Parties & Groups
Two hours of unlimited bowling, shoes, pizza and pop, all in one price. Book online for the lowest price.
Up to 5 guests
Small birthday
$89.95 save $15 online
- 2 hours of unlimited bowling
- Shoe rental included
- 1 large pizza
- 1 pitcher of pop
6 to 10 guests
Medium birthday
$164.95 save $40 online
- 2 hours of unlimited bowling
- Shoe rental included
- 2 large pizzas
- 2 pitchers of pop
11 to 15 guests
Large birthday
$239.95 save $70 online
- 2 hours of unlimited bowling
- Shoe rental included
- 3 large pizzas
- 3 pitchers of pop
Package prices are online only. Booking by phone or in person costs more. Pizzas are cheese, pepperoni or sausage; pop is Pepsi products. Extra food and drinks can be added for an additional cost, and extra time may be added at the manager's discretion.
Cancellations: cancel at least 48 hours before your party and we'll credit what you paid, minus the $3.25 reservation fee, as a gift card for a future visit. Cancellations within 48 hours are not refunded.
Not a birthday?
- Reserve 1 to 4 hours on as many lanes as you need.
- Add shoe rentals for your group at checkout.
- Reserving saves $5 to $7 per lane, per hour over walk-in.
- Order pizza and appetizers when you arrive.
More than 15 guests?
For big groups, work outings or whole-house bookings, call and we'll build it with you.
Or email bowl@backalleybowl.com
Free to join
Back Alley Birthday Club
Sign up and we'll send you a birthday wish and a gift to come in and bowl. Must be 18 or older to join.
Back Alley Bowl Bowling Academy
Know what to practice.
Digital guides and practice workbooks built around your average. Pick your level, follow the sessions, and track your progress on Specto.
Average under 100
Bowling Basics
Scoring, ball choice, where to stand, how to aim, the approach, spares and etiquette.
$9.99
Average 101–130
Practice With A Purpose, Vol. 1
12 sessions for consistency, accuracy, balance and spares.
$12.99
Average 131–170
Practice With A Purpose, Vol. 2
Corner pins, lane adjustments, league warm-up, mental resets and Specto feedback.
$15.99
Average 171+
Practice With A Purpose, Vol. 3
Advanced lane play, ball motion, transition, pocket control and competition planning.
$18.99
Best value
The complete series
Bowling Basics plus Volumes 1, 2 and 3.
$47.99save $9.97
Equipment
Equipment With A Purpose
Your first ball, layouts and drilling, reading your Specto data, care, shoes, and the most common buying mistakes.
$14.99
Local bowler? Volumes 1–3 each include a discounted Specto credit to use here at the alley.
Pro shop & store
Pro Shop
Balls, bags, gloves, tape and accessories in stock, plus drilling, grips and resurfacing from someone who bowls here every week.
By appointment
Time with Tim
Tim is our pro shop guy. Book a time and he'll get your equipment dialed in.
- Drilling and layouts for new balls
- New grips and finger inserts
- Resurfacing and ball cleaning
- A straight answer on what ball to buy next
Online store
Gear & gift cards
Back Alley Bowl mugs, tumblers, hats, shirts and league gear, plus gift cards.
Also sold here
Blackout Coffee
Small-batch specialty coffee. Every bag helps keep the lanes running.
Serving Milaca, Princeton & Mille Lacs County
Visit
Call or email
bowl@backalleybowl.com
Call anytime. When we're closed or busy on the lanes, our automated phone assistant answers. It can tell you hours, prices and events, text you a link to reserve a lane, help book a party, or take a message for the staff.