Kobau Lanes in Osoyoos is back in business more than 21 months after a devastating fire gutted the building on Canada Day, 2015. The bowling alley opened just in time for the annual Osoyoos Golden Age Jamboree. Owner Dan Tarasewich (centre) is joined by Golden Age Jamboree organizer Betty Sarazin and assistant manager Ron Ihloff. (Keith Lacey photo)
Kobau Lanes is back in business and that’s very good news for avid bowlers not only in Osoyoos, but across large parts of the South Okanagan and thousands who flock here for the annual Osoyoos Golden Age Jamboree bowling tournament.
After a devastating Canada Day fire that gutted the building back in 2015 – and months of renovations – Kobau Lanes officially reopened for business this past weekend.
That’s very good news for owner Dan Tarasewich and his staff as the annual Osoyoos Jamboree – one of Canada’s oldest and largest annual bowling tournament – commencing Saturday morning. The Golden Age Jamboree used to draw more than 4,000 senior bowlers to Osoyoos over three weeks in late April and early May and more than 2,200 are expected this year.
“We finally got our occupancy permit on Friday afternoon and we opened the doors Saturday morning for the Jamboree,” said Tarasewich, who owns Kobau Lanes and Vengeance Fitness, the 4,000 square foot fitness centre he built 15 years ago.
Tarasewich is leasing Vengeance Fitness to Peter and Tina Kozma, who moved to town from the Lower Mainland last year to take over management of the fitness centre.
The Osoyoos Golden Age Jamboree bowling tournament attracts senior bowlers from across B.C. as well as hundreds from Alberta and a few from as far away as Saskatchewan every spring for the past 41 years.
It’s the largest seniors bowling tournament for any eight-lane facility in Canada.
“This is a huge event for this facility and I really wanted to be open for the jamboree,” said Tarasewich. “I really want to thank the town, contractors and workers who put in extra work to ensure we would be able to open for this past weekend.”
There was frustration many times over the past 21 months since the fire gutted Kobau Lanes and Vengeance Fitness, but Tarasewich is thrilled the bowling alley is back in business and providing fitness and recreation opportunities for thousands of customers.
“At the end of the day, we have a brand new and improved facility,” he said. “With the new lanes and new paint, the place looks much cleaner and so much bigger. We have things like a big-screen TV to watch sports and every lane has a TV so bowlers can watch sports while they’re playing. I’ve heard nothing but great comments about the improvements.”
He’s also installed a lazer lighting system and quality sound system so popular customers can book events like “midnight bowling”, birthday and anniversary parties, he said.
His mother Annette has been hired as a manager and will be assisted by Ron Ihloff.
For more information, contact Kobau Lanes at 250-495-6112.
KEITH LACEY
Osoyoos Times
