Wells County Chamber of Commerce staff and Ambassadors are proud to recognize EZ Bowl, located at 1231 South Scott Street in Bluffton, as the September Member of the Month. Owned by brothers EJ and Zac Tackett, with Natalie Tackett and Kayla Crawford serving as General Managers and Event Coordinators, EZ Bowl is more than a place to bowl. It is a gathering place built on tradition, community, and a shared love for the sport.
Bowling has been part of the Tackett family’s story for years. EJ and Zac both grew up around the sport and have gone on to pursue careers as professional bowlers on the PBA Tour. That passion for the game has naturally been carried into their work at EZ Bowl.
The family’s connection to the Bluffton center began in 2018, when EJ and Zac’s parents purchased the business and renamed it EZ Bowl. In 2024, the brothers took ownership, carrying on their parents’ legacy while bringing new ideas and energy to the center. Today, EJ and Zac work alongside Natalie and Kayla to create a welcoming space where families can enjoy the sport they love.
Guests can see that vision the moment they walk through the doors. Over the last several years, the Tackett’s have reinvested in the facility with updates that include new string pinsetters, automatic bumpers, carpet, tables, chairs, house balls, bowling shoes, arcade games, lane lighting, masking units, and exterior improvements.
Together, these improvements have created a brighter, more modern space while preserving the welcoming atmosphere that generations of Wells County residents have enjoyed. “We’ve done a lot of work in here just to try to make this place somewhere that everyone that comes in from our community feels at home and has a nice space to come, get away from the real world and hang out for a couple of hours,” the Tackett’s shared.
Just as important as the upgrades is the family’s commitment to the people who walk through the doors, especially children and young families discovering bowling for the first time.
Over the past two summers, EZ Bowl has offered the Kids Bowl Free program, allowing children to bowl two free games each day throughout the season. The response has been remarkable, with approximately 1,300 children participating during the program’s first summer, along with nearly 100 family passes.
For the Tackett’s, the program is about more than filling lanes. It gives kids a place to stay active, build friendships, and experience the same kind of lasting connection to bowling that shaped EJ and Zac’s lives.
That impact can already be seen in the children who have made EZ Bowl part of their summer routine, riding their bikes to the center, arriving when the doors open, and spending a few hours bowling with friends in a safe, welcoming place to simply be kids.
Looking ahead, the Tackett’s hope to continue growing the next generation of bowlers while strengthening the league community that has long supported the center. Their goal is to show families that bowling is a sport they can enjoy together at any age and through every stage of life.
“We want to continue to grow as much as possible,” EJ shared. “Our goal is to be able to grab their attention with their kids and say, look, no matter how old you get, this is something that you can always do with your kids.”
Beyond open bowling, EZ Bowl continues to be a hub for leagues, tournaments, birthday parties, family outings, and the annual PBA Family Ford of Bluffton EZ Bowl Open presented by Yergy’s BBQ, which brings professional bowlers and spectators to Bluffton. With Zac’s continued participation on the PBA Tour, the event also provides a meaningful connection between the local bowling community and the professional side of the sport.
Through thoughtful improvements, youth programming, community events, and a genuine desire to share bowling with more families, the Tackett’s are honoring their family’s legacy while creating an inviting future for EZ Bowl and the community it serves.
To learn more, stop by during business hours, call 824-9966, email ezbowlbluffton@gmail.com, or message EZ Bowl through their Facebook page. Current fall hours may vary on weekdays because of league schedules, with afternoon openings around noon or 3 p.m.; weekends open at noon, and glow bowling is offered Friday and Saturday evenings until 11:00 p.m.
Pictured holding the Member of the Month sign are Natalie Tackett, EJ Tackett, and his finance’ Kayla Crawford, along with Chamber Ambassadors, and friends.
Please view more photos from the event on our Facebook page.