For the past couple years I've been trying to access the abandoned underground bowling alley and underground tunnels/passageways that supposedly lie beneath the city. So for I've learned that the bowling alley, formally known as The Bowlodrome, was in operation from 1915 until 1976 when it was last listed in the towns directory. I've also learned that a news reporter in 1996 tried to do a story about all the rumored underground areas. Both of my parents have been in the passageways and bowling alley as of the 90s. The old entrance to the bowling alley, which is located behind empire kitchen, used to be a trapdoor in what used to be a parking booth in the parking lot at the top of forest ave, but they have paved over it since then. There are supposedly other entrances than the one that was paved over through back doors of surrounding buildings. From what I’ve heard tunnels lead from the Eastland hotel the the state theater and beyond. I have accessed what seems to be the closest thing I've found an entrance but I'm still missing what I need to get where I want. Any sort of additional information on this topic would be greatly appreciated please let me know.
Comments
corbin-bernsen t1_iyf76op wrote
Notes From the Underground downloadable copy of the Casco Bay Weekly issue with the article.
freeski919 t1_iyf40iz wrote
I assure you, those tunnels are sealed up tight. With the huge spike in unsheltered homelessness, those tunnels would become encampments instantly.
Darth_Quaider t1_iyf5in0 wrote
You're really overestimating the competency of the city of Portland
LaChanz t1_iyf711w wrote
It's been many years so I don't remember the streets but it was downtown. I was doing renovations in one of the old buildings and we found and opened a door in the basement. We followed the tunnel to a closed and locked door. From the direction and length it was obvious it went to the house across the street which were offices at the time.
iglidante t1_iyf6wv5 wrote
I've seen photos of the bowling alley before, but I can't recall where. If what I saw was accurate, the place is nearly completely destroyed at this point.
JohnProof t1_iyf80x9 wrote
u/HorrendousHobo2GF uncovered it a few years ago, and it was just as destroyed as you remember.
carrot_in_butt t1_iyf5uwt wrote
Just a heads up, many of the tunnels exist still and are accessible, but they just finished digging up and filling in the old bowling alley behind Empire. You could see into it for a while while they were excavating. Gone now though.