The parking lots are paved and more progress has been made, but when it comes to meeting its opening date of December the Ten Pin Fun Center is throwing a gutter ball.

Since construction began on the 52,000-square foot family entertainment center in July 2017, community members have watched in anticipation as its opening is delayed time after time. The bowling alley was originally expected to be completed in February 2018 at the latest, but then it was announced that August would be the month. From there, the opening date was pushed back to December.

Project investor Darrale Patrias now says that won’t happen, either.

“The opening is in a state of flux...we’re looking at the end of January or possibly as early as the middle of February,” Patrias said. “It’s progressing quite well, but I don’t want to commit to an opening date.”

Holdups on the center’s construction have included obtaining an occupancy permit from the City of Turlock, as well as the installation of the bowling lanes and their accompanying equipment — a tedious task, Patrias said.

“That part of construction just takes a little longer, but it’s the heart and soul of the whole thing,” he said.

The upcoming holidays will slow down progress too, he added, with contractors taking time off to be with their families.

“We’re at peoples’ mercy,” he said. “The guys installing the stuff tell me they want to have a four-, five-day weekend this week, then between Christmas and the New Year they’re not going to work and there’s nothing we can do about it.”

When finished, the Ten Pin Fun Center, which is located at 3700 Countryside Dr. across from Lowe’s, will include 34 bowling lanes, a 4,000-square foot laser tag room with attached staging and vesting rooms, an arcade with 75 games and a prize redemption center, a separate bar for bowlers and a sports bar and restaurant that will include billiards, shuffleboard, outdoor bocce ball courts and an outdoor dining patio. The facility will also have seven banquet rooms that can host small birthday parties or large events.

A Facebook contest was recently held by the Ten Pin Fun Center to name the location’s restaurant, and from nearly 500 entries a winner has been selected, Patrias said. But nothing is official yet.

“All of the investors have to agree on everything, so we’re going to have a meeting to finalize this thing,” he said.

The center is expected to provide over 100 jobs for the community, though the company has received so many applicants that they are no longer accepting any more. Bowling leagues for the facility are also already being formed, and over 280 bowlers have signed up for matches that are expected to begin shortly after opening.

To keep up with the Ten Pin Fun Center’s construction, visit its Facebook page, Ten Pin Fun Center.