Mondee Tilley/The News

Darrin Casstevens and his mother, Tammy, purchased Mt. Airy Lanes on July 6. They plan to revamp the lanes to make it a Mount Airy hot spot.

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While there aren’t many 25-year-olds who can say they have owned a bowling alley, Darrin Casstevens just got a chance to make that claim after he purchased Mt. Airy Lanes on July 6.

Casstevens began bowling at the tender age of 5. He bowled his first 300, a perfect score, when he was 15. All in all, he has bowled 27 sanctioned 300 games.

He began working at Northside bowling lanes that his father, Rocky Casstevens, co-owns with Tracy Golding when he was 13 or 14 years old.

“Bowling is what I know,” said the Casstevens about his purchase of the only bowling alley in Mount Airy.

He said he’s had his eye on it for three or four years.

The previous owner, Johnny Solomon, was looking to get out the business, Casstevens said. He waited until he could negotiate a better price and on July 6, he did just that.

The facility needs a new roof and lane resurfacing. Casstevens said those are the top two items on his “To-Do” list.

Right now, he’s also replacing lights and fixing a couple of lanes that weren’t functional when he purchased the building and bowling equipment.

“It’s looking pretty darned good,” Casstevens said.

He also will be replacing the black ceiling tiles in the lobby with white ones to brighten the place up. He also will be replacing the ball returns and making sure every lane has a flat-screen scoreboard.

There’s painting and landscaping that needs to be done,and Casstevens said he will put money back into the business as it grows.

Casstevens wants to run a family-friendly, Christian business, so no alcohol will be served. He and his mom, Tammy, who is the co-owner, are still trying to decide what will be served at the grill/snack bar.

One of the most important things about purchasing the lanes to Casstevens is to have the lanes sanctioned. He said no matter what, the bowling alley will be sanctioned in time for the fall bowling leagues.

The bowling alley will be closed July 29-31 for lane resurfacing, he said.

He said he was pleased with the bowling prices already in place, so those won’t change.

He would like to see more leagues start up. He is welcoming church groups, businesses and schools to come out and participate.

Down the road, Casstevens said, he would like to add laser bowling that would be held later on Friday and Saturday nights.

“I’d love to have a big crowd on Friday and Saturday nights just like at Northside. We have a lot of fun down there,” said Casstevens.

Reach Mondee Tilley at mtilley@heartlandpublications.com or at 719-1930.