A dramatic fire had destroyed the Terrace Bowling Centre this morning. No injuries had been reported, but the building had become completely engulfed in flames and is considered a total loss.
The fire broke out early this morning, Thursday, May 21st, with both the Terrace and Thornhill fire departments responding by 4:30am. Most of the building and everything within now lies in ruins, with only a small portion of the galvanized steel storefront still standing.
Remains of the Terrace Bowling ally after a devastating fire on May 21st, 2026 // Photo Credit: CFNR’s Kobie Smith
With the buildings destruction, Terrace has lost it’s only bowling ally and one that’s served generations of bowlers in the region for decades.
Watching from the sidewalk as the rubble still smoldered, Theresa Moffat, one of the bowling alley’s owners , explained to CFNR’s Kobie Smith just how devastating this loss is.
‘It’s gonna leave a big hole. A lot of people use us as their recreation. When it’s a yucky rainy day we’re always at our busiest, and today… is a yucky rainy day’ – Theresa Moffat, Terrace Bowling Centre LTD
An investigation into the fire is now ongoing with the Terrace RCMP and the Terrace Fire Chief. The City of Terrace has asked residents to avoid the cordoned off area around the bowling alley while that work is underway.
How the fire started is not yet known, but it has been a costly. While the value of the damage hasn’t been officially tallied yet, Theresa Moffat shared some details about just how extensive their operation was, but said right now they don’t have plans to rebuild.
‘It costs a lot to start a bowling ally up, and everything is totally destroyed. Just the system to run it is over $100,000, each lane used is over $10,000, and that’s not including all the machinery and the pins and the bowling balls and everything you have to have to run it.’ – Theresa Moffat, Terrace Bowling Centre LTD
The galvanized steel building that housed the Bowling Centre was actually constructed using a surplus war-era facility, and was built at the same time and by the same architect as the Tillicum Twin Theatre in the early 1950s.
Ironically, back in 2019, the City of Terrace had purchased the building that was home to the bowling alley in anticipation of one day of needing the property to expand city hall – and the fire department.
Both the Terrace Fire Department and the City of Terrace have offered their condolences to the local bowling community with the loss of the bowling alley. They’ve also thanked all those who assisted during the emergency response, including the members of the neighboring Thornhill Fire Department who were quick to assist with the call.
Comments