Villa Lanes LLC, Decatur

Ever since the first bowling alley opened, players have paid for their chance to roll. But every Friday night from 9–11 p.m., Villa Lanes LLC flips the script. During the alley's "orange pin night," staff hides prize-winning pins throughout its 20 lanes, and any bowler who rolls a strike on sets with the colored pins wins themselves a handful of cash.

Of course, winning some extra dough isn't the only thing that's kept players swarming to Villa Lanes. Neon hues cast their luminescence over the alley during weekend cosmic bowls, while frequent league and tournament games up the competitive ante. In addition to a 105-seat banquet hall, the center cordons off four lanes in a private suite for events such as birthday parties and gatherings of pirates relearning the game with their hook hands. After the final frame, guests can play rounds of skeeball and air hockey in the arcade or nab a table at Molly's Place, which specializes in American and Mexican classics.