STEAMBOAT SPRINGS — The brand new owners of Steamboat Springs’ bowling center are planning to roll out Snow Bowl’s biggest renovation since the lanes opened in the late-1970s.

But the new owners say the beloved dollar PBRs and cheap bowling nights that locals are accustomed to won’t be disappearing from the complex anytime soon.

Instead, bowlers will first start to see some subtle changes, such as new bowling balls and shoes.

The old scoring displays will also be updated.

Longer term, the new owners say they have plans to invest around $1 million in the facility to improve the food service and add on about 1,500 square feet of new space.

The expansion could allow the bowling center to accommodate such things as new arcade games, a brewery concept, along with a full-service kitchen.

“We’re trying to bring it into the new era,” said Joel Meranski, who along with his sister Meryl put together an investment group to purchase the bowling center for $852,000.

The Meranskis grew up in Steamboat.

“I’ve been going to Snow Bowl since I was in elementary school,” Meranski said. “Field trips. Work parties. It has not changed at all. It’s still set back in the ’70s when it was built.”

Meranski said he saw the purchase of the bowling center as an opportunity to get back involved in the community.

Meranski’s investment group is a subsidiary of Western Centers, a real estate investment group based in Denver that owns and manages more than 1 million square feet of retail and office space.

Corey Wagner, the company’s vice president, said his group saw an opportunity to take Snow Bowl to the next level.

“We could go in there and put a real nice upgraded restaurant, and drive traffic through that,” he said. “Maybe it becomes a brewery or brewery concept.”

Wagner said the new owners also hope to utilize the space outside of the bowling center. He floated new amenities ranging from corn hole games to horseshoes.

The exterior of the bowling center will also be renovated, Wagner said.

The expansion of the facility and the more significant renovations could start as early as the spring.

Snow Bowl was built in 1977 in west Steamboat.

Local real estate agents Bart Kounovsky and Nick Metzler helped complete the sale from former owners Wayne and Jayne Garrison and operators Julie and Dewey Whitecotton.

Wagner said current Snow Bowl employees are continuing to work at the business.

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210, email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com or follow him on Twitter @ScottFranz10.