Bowling alley entertains, feeds,
and builds community.
About five years ago, Casey McCoy stopped his lawn mower one afternoon to pick up trash he spotted in a ditch. A woman driving by stopped, thinking he was having trouble with the mower. After a quick chat, Casey had scheduled a meeting to buy the Dell Rapids bowling alley, PINZ.
“I saw that the bowling alley was looking for a buyer on Facebook, but it was completely out of my mind,” Casey says. “But it seemed like everything was telling me I needed to be the buyer. Six months later, the deal is finalized and I’ve been living this dream ever since.”
Since his conversation with Carla Schmidt, mother of the previous owners, Casey has crafted countless menu items customers have enjoyed between rolling strikes on the lanes.
Rolling forward with events
Casey bought and renovated PINZ in 2022 to become a community hub where he can provide local fun, give back to people, and offer high-quality food. The original wooden eight-lane bowling alley hosts tournaments, fundraisers, and private events.
PINZ hosts the Bowling for Zander Scholarship Tournament giving out more than $20,000 in scholarship funds to students each year. The bowling alley also held a sensory-friendly prom night for students and a wedding in 2025.
“The wedding felt like a true celebration for the young couple, and it was a ton of fun,” Casey says. “They transformed this place into the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. A lot of people don’t think about having their wedding in a bowling alley, but we have another wedding scheduled in 2026.”
Opening opportunities
The bowling alley employs high school students from the area. It provides a first job to many and gives them an opportunity to learn new skills.
“I love working with these kids to give them a place to learn, grow, and make friends,” Casey says. “In big cities, a lot of places want people with experience but never give students the opportunity to have that experience.”
Honored in new home
Originally from Minnesota, Casey graduated from high school in 2007 and worked as a door-to-door insurance salesman for Globe Life Family Heritage. After his girlfriend, Lacie, bought her childhood home in 2020, Casey moved to Dell Rapids, where they now raise their two children.
In late 2021, Casey traveled to Africa for a wedding but encountered trouble when he tested positive for COVID right before flying home. He was forced to remain in Africa for over a month without many necessities. With help from family, the community, and U.S. Embassy and Representative Dusty Johnson, Casey returned to Dell Rapids in January 2022.
“A lot of people from Dell Rapids donated money to help get me home,” Casey says. “I really appreciate the tightknit community for everything they do, because it’s the type of place that always has your back and doesn’t keep a tally. I want to make sure I show that appreciation every day.”
Casey calls Dell Rapids his home and loves his community. He regularly gives back by donating food to residents, catering community events, and advocating
for other local businesses.
His efforts have been recognized by the town, and he was named Dell Rapids Citizen of the Year in 2024. The chamber of commerce designated June 22 as Casey McCoy day that year, citing his devotion and care for the community.
Connection that knocks down pins
PINZ relies on its Golden West connection for every event and day-to-day business. The bowling scoring system, POS system, and to-go orders require the internet to keep business rolling. When PINZ hosted the Bowling for Zander tournament, the event was live streamed online for others to watch.
“The out-of-town TV crew tested our connection and said they’d never seen an upload/download speed that high ever,” Casey says. “Golden West is a great company, and I never have another need for internet or cable. They’re regular customers and great supporters of us, as well.”
