A bright beacon of amusement since 1995, Sun Mountain Fun Center in Bend has entertained generations of Central Oregonians with its enticing offerings of bowling, go-carts, batting cages, arcade games and miniature golf, all meant to lure fun-loving guests into its leisure-time lair.
Thousands of locals and visitors have made the routine trek to Sun Mountain over the years to celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, first-dates and family reunions in this local oasis of entertainment.
Amid the comforting sounds of clashing pins and arcade bells, co-owners Scott and Gitta Ramsay detailed the rich history of Sun Mountain and its evolution over the past two decades.
“My parents, Ed and Cathy Ramsay, bought a bowling alley in Springfield in the early ‘80s because they owned a restaurant next door and needed the parking,” said Scott. “They ran it for four years before it burned down in 1984. To meet insurance requirements they had to reinvest that claim money into a similar business and they found Greenwood Bowl in Bend, the area’s main bowling center. They expanded it and remodeled it and ran it until 1994.”
With Bend’s rapid growth, Bank of the Cascades came to them with an investment proposal to build a larger establishment.
“So my parents built Sun Mountain in 1995 as just a 24-lane bowling facility with leagues and all the traditional stuff you’d have in a bowling center. But two years later, Lava Lanes was built by serious bowlers and they took all the leagues away from Sun Mountain. My parents took a deep breath and made it only the second non-smoking bowling alley in the U.S. and at the same time they researched family fun centers and settled upon a new plan to build the golf course, battling cages and go-carts and transform it into a family destination instead of just a bowling alley with a small arcade.
“Gitta and I had just been married in New York City and they called to ask if we’d come out to Bend to help with this new concept,” he added. “We arrived here in September of 1998 to assist them in running the facility. 18 months in we had a huge family fight over differences of management style and we left.”
For the next four years Sun Mountain continued on until Scott’s parents decided to become alfalfa ranchers and revisited the notion of having them become full partners in the business.
“We returned in 2004 and during the next four-five years we went through another major restoration and expansion, installing a full-service restaurant and kitchen, doubled the size of the arcade and added indoor bumper cars.”
Sun Mountain’s most recent acquisition is a colorful, vintage carnival ride from 1948.
“We discovered this old kiddie-ride back in Jonesboro, Arkansas that we‘ve just finished restoring and put into operation. It’s something for the young kids and they love it.”
Though down 57 percent in attendance during the recessionary years, they’ve weathered that turbulent storm and emerged into the sunny economic climate of a mild but steady recovery.
“This year my parents sold their ranch and have moved back to Bend and are working in the business again because they don’t know how to relax,” Scott joked. “We’re now at the point where some of the kids who grew up in Sun Mountain as customers are now employees. I think it’s more meaningful today to have a place like Sun Mountain because families don’t interact with each other anymore. It’s a place where friends and families can put down the electronic devices and spend time playing for a couple hours. We’re different than movie theaters and other attractions where interaction is minimal.”
For the Ramsays, most of the daily operational challenges come from staffing issues and perpetual upkeep.
“A place this size requires constant cleaning and maintenance,” said Gitta. “There’s a stigma around bowling alleys that they’re dark and dirty and smoky and we constantly ensure customers of our cleanliness. We’re very lucky to have a great core staff, including an assistant manager who has been with us for 15 years. Guests need to leave here so happy they want to return.”
Pride and satisfaction for Sun Mountain management and crew comes from the beaming faces of their young patrons.
“I love to see kids happy and running around excited and watch their first reactions when they come inside,” she said. “I think Scott’s parents did a great thing when they started this business. We love this community and are proud that we have a locally-owned family business that we hope to pass on to the next generation. Our involvement in the community comes from that amazing reciprocal relationship we’ve established.”’
Sun Mountain Fun Center, 300 NE River Mall Drive, Bend, 541-382-6161, www.sunmountainfun.com
(Photo above: Sun Mountain Fun Center Co-Owners Gitta and Scott Ramsay | Photo by Jeff Spry)
