Mystery Behind Abandoned Underground Bowling Alley in Arkansas

Every town has a story to tell, some are shrouded in mystery, and some more than others have a historical past that can't be rewritten. That's where the abandoned underground bowling alley comes into play in beautiful downtown Hot Springs, Arkansas.

According to the Hot Springs Broadcast Network, mobsters like Al Capone were well known to frequent the underground bowling alley located in the Dugan and Stuart building which was constructed in 1904.

During that period the building housed medical offices until the 1950s when it was remodeled and turned into the Wheatley Hotel. Gangsters from all over the U.S. loved coming to Hot Springs to escape their glitzy lifestyle and to escape from authorities looking to take them down.

Hot Springs was well known for having underground hidden tunnels all over the city that would allow the mob to lay low and escape if necessary including one in the bowling alley that spills out into the street.

As a matter a fact, the next time you're in Hot Springs and stroll past the old Wheatley Hotel look for a plaque that reads, "There is a Bowling Alley in the basement."

Back in those days, Hot Springs was the Las Vegas of Arkansas with gambling, slot machines, and bordellos all over the city.

Watch the video and see how many names you can spot on the walls of bowlers who used to keep score by writing them on the wall.

I mentioned the underground tunnels in this story, take a look for yourself.