Mad Trapper Alleys, Whitehorse's only bowling alley, closes

Thedisco ball has stopped turning atWhitehorse's only bowling alley.

After almost 40 years in business, Mad Trapper Alleys closed its doors for good Sunday.

Over the decades, the Mad Trapper's10 lanes for five-pin bowling hosted countless league games,family get-togethersandfirst dates.

Owner ChrisSorgsays the business had beenlosing money for a number of years.

He says the alley's machinery is outdated and would require an investment of about $100,000 to upgrade. This includes a system to automatically reset pins, whichSorgsays is hard to repair.

The doors may belocked for nowbut thelanes won't betorn down. Sorgsays he's still considering whether the lanes could one dayreopen.

Those lanes have been a popular venue for Special Olympics athletes and fundraisersfor groups such asBig Brothers and Big Sisters of Yukon, whoseannual Bowl for Kids Sake fundraiser once provided 20 per cent of its annual budget.

A representative of theBig Brothers Big Sisters Yukon approached Whitehorse City Council last November to ask thecouncil to consider subsidizing the alley. Mayor and council declined.

The alley,in Whitehorse'sRiverdale neighbourhood,is locatednext to another business that is seeing pressure from changing tastes and technologies one of Whitehorse's only remaining video-rental stores.