Sacramento bowling alley could be saved as historic landmark

The Preservation Commission was set to discuss the historic designation in March, but tabled the item until its May 21 meeting.

SOUTH LAND PARK, Calif. — A decades-old bowling alley in Sacramento’s South Land Park, AMF Land Park Lanes, may be saved from demolition after a fire led to its closure.

City officials will discuss designating it a local historic landmark at the Preservation Commission’s meeting.

The alley, which closed in March 2024 after a fire in February, was initially set for demolition but may be rehabilitated if designated historic.

The fire, ruled accidental, caused no injuries.

Built in 1960 by Gonzo Sakai, the alley was a community hub for Japanese American and LGBTQ+ groups and is the last intact bowling alley from its era in Sacramento.

If designated historic, demolition would require city council approval.