Andy Meucci is celebrating his 40th year working at the Family Fun Bowling Center in Bangor, the 10-pin facility his parents (William and Betty) have owned since 1967.

He began managing it after he graduated from Bangor High School in 1972.

Despite putting in 60 hours a week, seven days a week, Meucci said it is still a labor of love for him and retirement is “20 years away.

“It’s a fun business to be in,” said Meucci. “It’s exciting. Every day you meet new people.”

The industry has had its ups and downs but Meucci said the last two seasons have been banner years.

“This is going to be our best year ever and last year had been our best year in 39 years,” said Meucci.

Part of the reason, he explained, has been a lack of snow which has forced the snowmobilers, cross country skiers, snow-shoers and skiers inside.

“When the mountains are hurting, we pick up. Our piece of the pie is a little bit bigger,” said Meucci.

It’s easy to see why bowling is so popular.

It is for all ages, all sizes and both sexes and you don’t have to be athletic.

It is relatively inexpensive. It costs $1.75 per game during the day and $2.75 after 5 p.m. It costs $1.75 to rent shoes and the balls are provided.

They have 20 lanes and 13 leagues including a youth league for bowlers from ages 6-21. They also have a high school league and Meucci is hoping to establish a college league.

The sport has evolved dramatically over 40 years, said Meucci. It is much more technical these days.

Bowling balls were $18.95 in 1967.

“Now they can be anywhere from $200 to $230 apiece,” said Meucci. “They’ll also have a $50 plastic ball to pick up the 10 pin. The corner pins are the hardest to pick up and these plastic balls are designed to go straight.”

The outer shells of bowling balls are coated with a “reactive resin” these days and Meucci said some of them can be “drilled 15 different ways” to meet the bowler’s needs.

“If you drill it one way, the ball could start rolling early. If you drill if another way, you could make it go long [and straight] down the lane and then snap at the back end,” said Meucci.

The technology has also extended to the lanes.

“The urethane we used to use on the lanes would break down a lot. The oil would penetrate through the urethane and the wood. The lanes would dry out. Now we have a water-based urethane and everything is computerized. The oil is distributed on the lane so it doesn’t dry out,” explained Meucci.

The Family Fun Bowling Center is the only one in the state that still uses wooden lanes. Everyone else has gone to a synthetic material, he said.

“Wooden lanes are high maintenance. But we’ve always kept our lanes in good condition. We screen and coat them every year and, every three years, they’re completely resurfaced,” said Meucci whose daughters, 18-year-old Angelina and 14-year-old Katrina, are avid bowlers.

Angelina placed 13th in the nation in her age group in a national tournament in Texas in 2004 and Katrina recently qualified for the state tourney.

Meucci said the technological advances in bowling have resulted in higher scores.

“When I started out, you’d have a 300 game every third year. Last year we set a record with 24 and we’ve already had seven this year,” said Meucci.

Larry Mahoney can be reached at 990-8231, 1-800-310-8600 or by email at lmahoney@bangordailynews.net.