Kegelbahn GDR / Nine-Pin Bowling Alley, Germany

GDR Kegelbahn is an abandoned nine-pin bowling alley in the former East Germany. Nestled within the now-overgrown grounds of a culture house and tavern, the bowling alley once offered a place for community recreation for workers from the nearby factory.

I explored this location during my 2023 Germany Tour.

History of the abandoned East German Bowling Alley

In the early 1950s the alley became home ground for a fledgeling local bowling community, founded by the workers of a nearby factory. This factory was a Volkseigener Betrieb (VEB). These “publicly owned enterprises” were the main legal form of industrial enterprise in East Germany in the aftermath of World War 2. These state-owned enterprises usually fund leisure activities for workers, building factory sports communities. In this case, a bowling team.

An upgrade to a two-lane system came soon after, as the bowling community’s popularity grew in the following years. Electric scoreboards, which were novel at the time, were among the updates that received funding. Subsequently, automatic cone-setting machines were fitted. The establishment of junior teams invited in a new generation of bowling fans.

Over the years, the bowling team thrived, and by the 1970s, they were competing in higher leagues. With the community increasing in prestige and membership continuing to grow, it was once again time to expand. At this time bowling alley was starting to look shabby, and it was decided it was time to move premises. A new section of pine forest was cleared to make way for a brand new construction, housing a four-lane alley. A significant expansion and an exciting new chapter for the team and township.

However, the old bowling alley wasn’t entirely abandoned. At least not right away. It continued to serve the town for another 12 years as a casual bowling space, open to all. But by the late 1980s, the doors closed. A once lively venue, fell into disrepair.

End of an era: the abandoned bowling alley

Today, the forgotten alley is a beautiful abandoned place that is quietly decaying. The wooden floor is splintered and rotting, cracking underfoot as you wall the lanes. Sapling trees sprout forth, adding a splendid touch of green to the photography.

Kegalbahn – A venue in East Germany where Kegel (Nine-pin bowling) was played

Kegel (or kegeln) is a nine-pin bowling game, a German cousin to ten-pin bowling. That is the in-a-nutshell definition, but there are some key differences beyond the pin number.

• Lanes are 19.5m long by 1.3m wide, and there are no gutters.
• Kegel uses nine pins set in a diamond formation, versus the triangle formation used in ten-pin bowling. This diamond configuration makes strikes more challenging!
• Unlike ten-pin bowling balls, which have finger holes, kegel balls are typically smooth. There are balls with one or two finger holes, but these are only used by beginners.
• The foul line is a rope stretched across the lane. This rope is 22cm off the floor, and the ball must pass cleaning under this rope in order for the score to count.
• The scoring system is very different