Historic Sites of Manitoba: Thunderbird Bowl (149 Tenth Street, Brandon)

This concrete below-ground structure at the northeast corner of the intersection of Princess Avenue and Tenth Street in Brandon, measuring 110 feet by 120 feet, was designed by the Winnipeg architectural firm of Smith, Carter, Searle Associates. It was constructed in 1962 by the Pearson Construction Company for owner Guy Marcel Savoie as the city’s first ten-pin bowling alley, called Thunderbird Bowl.

In 1973, Savoie sold the business to employee Alex Peters who operated it until moving in early 2001 to a new, larger facility in south Brandon.

The former Thunderbird Bowl (June 2023) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Entrance to fhe former Thunderbird Bowl (June 2023) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The former Thunderbird Bowl (June 2023) Source: Gordon Goldsborough The former Thunderbird Bowl (June 2023) Source: Gordon Goldsborough Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84715, W99.95109 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Manitoba Business: Smith Carter and Katelnikoff / Smith Carter Architects and Engineers / Architecture49

Manitoba Business: Pearson-Burleigh Construction Company / Pearson Brothers Construction / Pearson Construction Company

Memorable Manitobans: Guy Marcel Savoie (1934-2023)

Manitoba Business: Salisbury House

Sources:

“Work gets underway on new city alleys,” Brandon Sun, 25 April 1962, page 1.

[advertisement for Thunderbird Salisbury House], Brandon Sun, 25 October 1968, page 15.

“Thunderbird Bowl is sold,” Brandon Sun, 27 June 1973, page 14.

We thank Shaun Cameron and Graham Street for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 12 August 2023

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