The events of the last year have caused a lot of changes to local businesses, including some unfortunate temporary closures. And while that’s obviously led to financial losses and other difficulties, the staff of one time-honored bowling alley is experiencing a different kind of dilemma. It seems that all the recent silence has led them to wonder if their building has a resident ghost.
You’ll find Daffodil Bowl on East Main Street in Puyallup, where it has been since the 1950s.
Kurt Vandenberg / Google The memories made here span multiple generations of Washingtonians.
Under normal circumstances, this place is always bustling with families, groups of friends, or amateur bowlers looking to improve.
Jay Jung / Google The amenities have been renovated recently, so everything feels nice and new – but the place still has its retro, classic vibe.
Daffodil Bowl hosts theme nights, school outings, birthday parties, and private events.
Jesse James / Google The arcade is popular with both the children who visit at the young at heart.
Hungry bowlers love to take a break for a meal at Rockin’ Bowl Cafe, which serves classic American comfort food and fun cocktails.
Rockin Bowl Cafe’ at Daffodil Bowl / Facebook · As you can imagine, this place is almost never quiet.
But over the past year, the bowling alley has been silent for the first time in its history due to pandemic-related closures. And that’s when the owner, Brad Swartz, started to notice a few things.
Paul Immeke / Google Swartz works alongside his daughter Ashley, who has also experienced some unexplainable things. It seems that, as often as every 15 minutes, they can hear the distinct sound of a bowling ball being thrown down the lane.
When Brad and Ashley discussed their mystery bowler with some other employees, they realized they weren’t the only one having paranormal experiences.
Guy LaTurner / Google Nearly every Daffodil Bowl employee has a story about bowling shoes flying off the shelves, utensils mysteriously dropping in the kitchen, or the unmistakable sound of bowling in Lane 1. One employee even says the spirit knows her name.
Brad took over ownership of the bowling alley three years ago, and the previous owner never mentioned any ghosts.
Rockin Bowl Cafe’ at Daffodil Bowl / Facebook · Some claim it’s the spirit of a former loyal customer who died of a heart attack and died on Lane 1, others say it’s a former mechanic who worked there for years before his passing. But whoever it is, it appears to be a very friendly ghost, so there’s no need to steer clear of Daffodil Bowl when the time comes to re-open.
Do you think Daffodil Bowl is haunted, or are the employees here just a bit spirited?
Kurt Vandenberg / Google
The memories made here span multiple generations of Washingtonians.
Jay Jung / Google
The amenities have been renovated recently, so everything feels nice and new – but the place still has its retro, classic vibe.
Jesse James / Google
The arcade is popular with both the children who visit at the young at heart.
Rockin Bowl Cafe’ at Daffodil Bowl / Facebook ·
As you can imagine, this place is almost never quiet.
Paul Immeke / Google
Swartz works alongside his daughter Ashley, who has also experienced some unexplainable things. It seems that, as often as every 15 minutes, they can hear the distinct sound of a bowling ball being thrown down the lane.
Guy LaTurner / Google
Nearly every Daffodil Bowl employee has a story about bowling shoes flying off the shelves, utensils mysteriously dropping in the kitchen, or the unmistakable sound of bowling in Lane 1. One employee even says the spirit knows her name.
Some claim it’s the spirit of a former loyal customer who died of a heart attack and died on Lane 1, others say it’s a former mechanic who worked there for years before his passing. But whoever it is, it appears to be a very friendly ghost, so there’s no need to steer clear of Daffodil Bowl when the time comes to re-open.
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Address: 1624 E. Main Street, Puyallup, WA 98372, USA
