Gone But Not Forgotten: Matt Markel’s Ranch Bowl

1600 S 72nd Street, Aksarben Track and Coliseum, Anchor Inn, Chop’s Bowling, Civic Auditorium, I.B. Ziegman, Jerome Milder, K-Rock, Larry Good, Matt Markel, Matthew’s Pub, Morris Brick, Ranch Bowl, Snooker’s, Sokol Auditorium, West Lanes, Westfair Amphiteater, Z-92

March 6, 2024

What started as a bowling alley in 1957 would eventually become the center of Omaha’s music scene before closing its doors in 2005.

Omaha was on its way to becoming the bowling capital of the world when three entrepreneurs, I. B. Ziegman, Jerome Milder, and Morris Brick, decided to open a new bowling alley near Aksarben Race Track and Coliseum. Located at 1600 S. 72nd Street, they called it Ranch Bowl. It was the 27th bowling alley in the area.

1957 Omaha World-Herald story announcing the construction of the Ranch Bowl.

Adorned with oak, brass, and mirrors, the ranch-style building featured 24 lanes and automatic pinsetters. The bowling alley also included a cocktail lounge with a fireplace, snack bar, party room, and nursery where parents could drop off their children while they bowled and enjoyed a couple of drinks. These amenities were not unusual for bowling alleys at the time, which faced fierce competition that eventually led to the addition of a full-service restaurant complete with cloth napkins and tablecloths.

1957 Omaha World-Herald advertisement for the Ranch Bowl.

By the mid-1970s, the Ranch Bowl was in need of new life. That is when Larry Good convinced his childhood friend, Matt Markel, to return to Omaha from Myrtle Beach, where he had been restructuring failing hotels for Hilton. Markel’s talent for fixing broken things made him the ideal business partner to reinvigorate the once-popular bowling alley.

1960 Durham Museum photo of Santa Claus at the Ranch Bowl.

During an extensive renovation in the summer of 1978, the Ranch Bowl auctioned off numerous items from its previous incarnation. The sale included a complete 22-seat snack bar, kitchen supplies, classroom-style school desks, and more than 100 liquor decanters and bottles from faraway places such as Uruguay, Mexico, France, Scotland, and Czechoslovakia, among other items.

Ranch Bowl photo promoting the 1972-1973 season. Courtesy of Ranch Bowl Facebook page.

Just days after reopening, burglars broke in through the roof and made off with $10,000 in cash. While business started slowly, it soon picked up steam. Within a year, reception bookings had increased by 80 percent, with the venue capable of hosting up to five receptions per day. To further diversify income, live weekend music was introduced, performed by Sweet Country. It was the start of something much bigger.

Photo of the Ranch Bowl courtesy of Ranch Bowl Documentary/Facebook.

After managing the business for two years, they purchased the bowling alley outright. Good focused on managing the bowling side, while Markel closed the kitchen and converted it into a dedicated music space. Drawing on connections he made in the hotel industry, Markel booked local acts and, by 1984, national performers as well. Rock bands began attracting large college crowds.

Narcotic Self performing at Ranch Bowl. Courtesy of Ranch Bowl, Omaha Facebook page.

The space continued to evolve with the 1983 opening of Matthew’s Pub, carved from former office space. Designed for a 25-and-older crowd, it featured low lighting, dark wood, brass rails, and maroon-upholstered booths for patrons who preferred conversation over live music. In 1987, Good sold his share of the business. Three years later, Markel converted the former nursery into Snooker’s, adding billiards tables, dartboards, video games, sand volleyball courts, and a dance floor. By this point, the Ranch Bowl Entertainment Complex was largely complete.

PhunkJunkez performing at Ranch Bowl. Courtesy of Ranch Bowl, Omaha Facebook page.

In 1991, Markel purchased radio frequency 93.3 and remodeled the building to include a studio and offices for his K-Rock radio station, which launched with a heavy metal format before shifting to alternative rock. It was in that format where the station established its identity and found itself competing in the same market as Z-92.

1993 list of upcoming national acts at the Ranch Bowl courtesy of Ron Bosworth.

Already traveling to meet with agents for up-and-coming acts such as Pearl Jam, Markel’s promotional reach expanded dramatically with the launch of the radio station. As both venue owner and promoter, he could advertise shows freely on his own station. This led to the Ranch Bowl hosting acts such as 311, Joan Jett, Nirvana, Green Day, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and LL Cool J. Some concerts packed more than 1,000 fans into a space designed for just 350. He continued booking local bands as openers, along with artists that reflected his personal musical tastes, including B.B. King and Buddy Guy.

Heavy Metal band GWAR bowling at the Ranch Bowl in 1996. Courtesy of GWAR Facebook page.

Beyond the Ranch Bowl, Markel held exclusive booking rights for Sokol Auditorium, Westfair Amphitheater, and the Anchor Inn, while also booking shows at the Aksarben Coliseum and Civic Auditorium. While the venue became famous for live music, much of its early success depended on the bowling alley, which helped pay the bills and later provided performers a place to unwind after long stretches on tour buses and in hotels. Bands such as the Red Hot Chili Peppers even brought their own bowling shoes when they played there.

The more recent Ranch Bowl sign along 72nd St.

In 2003, amid declining health, Markel sold the business to Mike Brannan. The new owner announced plans to remodel and expand the aging music venue, but two years later revealed that the Ranch Bowl would instead close permanently. Not long after, Walmart constructed a midtown store on the site that once is said to have hosted John F. Kennedy, along with decades of bowling tournaments, weddings, dinners, and concerts.

The Ranch Bowl prior to its demolition in 2005.

Upon selling the Ranch Bowl, Markel reflected, “It was a good time while it lasted. I’m not sad about it, because it was in terrible shape. Everything has to come to an end. I had my time.” The godfather of Omaha’s local music scene received the Omaha Entertainment and Arts Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010. He was working on a book titled Ranch Bowl: A Party Every Night when he passed away in 2014.

Destruction of Ranch Bowl to make way for Wal Mart.

The Ranch Bowl started as just one of more than two dozen bowling alleys. It aimed to capitalize on the city’s westward expansion and its proximity to Aksarben. Matt Markel turned it into a destination that put the city’s music scene on the map.

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