It’s a Family Affair
Anchor Lanes, located on Lake Murray Boulevard, has been a beloved local bowling center for decades. Recently revitalized under new ownership, Anchor Lanes has undergone significant updates, transforming it into a modern entertainment hub that blends classic charm with contemporary, upscale amenities. Known for its welcoming family atmosphere, the venue offers more than just bowling, featuring a variety of activities for guests of all ages including indoor golf simulators, a restaurant and full bar, and a new high-end fitness club. Its renovation has sparked excitement in the community, making it a popular spot for everything from casual bowling games and bowling leagues to birthday parties, baby showers, and even a wedding.
Who’s behind the revitalization of this community staple? A family that has spent decades loving Anchor Lanes themselves before purchasing it from the previous owners in the fall of 2021. Scott and Missy Johnson, along with their family, have brought new life into Anchor Lanes. The previous owner didn’t want to sell Anchor Lanes to a developer and see it torn down. Missy and Scott vowed to keep it as a bowling center for the people of Irmo to enjoy.
“My mom and stepdad had a vision when they purchased it,” said Adam Feeney, son of owner Missy Feeney Johnson and stepson of owner Scott Johnson. “We wanted to bring it back to its former glory days of the 90s and early 2000s when everything was nice and when it was a place where everyone wanted to be. It was a great environment, and everyone knew each other. Everything we’ve done in the renovation is geared towards recreating that atmosphere.”
The family worked together to transform the space completely. “This is the Country Club of Bowling Centers,” said Ken Parlier, patron at Anchor Lanes. “We fixed the roof, fixed the AC, repaved and repainted the parking lot, put in all new flooring inside, had 32 brand new lanes installed, shipped in new couches for the lanes, and put in over 70 new TVs,” said Feeney. “We also have a TV that is a custom-built LED screen and spans the length of the lanes. It’s 32 lanes wide – 176 feet wide by 8 feet tall, making it the largest TV screen in South Carolina. We can have something displaying across all 32 lanes or we can have 1 TV per lane or 1 TV for 4 lanes. It has amazing resolution, perfect for watching sports, especially football. The athletes become life size.”
All of the renovations have brought back a full slate of active bowling leagues to Anchor Lanes, offering bowlers of all skill levels the chance to compete in a fun and friendly environment. The revival of leagues is just one thing that has helped the bowling center become a central hub for social gatherings in Irmo.
The restaurant and bar area also underwent significant upgrades, featuring more windows and doors that allow for a brighter, more open space. Then they added new TV’s, arcade games, 2 pool tables, and a beautiful custom wood bar. Along with fresh paint, the space now boasts an expanded menu offering a variety of food and appetizers, as well as a full bar selection including Garnet & Black Vodka, Patron, Buffalo Trace, and many more.
Adam’s favorite aspect of the renovation process has been the addition of Club Fitness, Columbia’s 1st luxury gym designed to elevate the fitness experience, opening soon in 2025. The facility offers indoor and outdoor workout spaces, including a roll-up garage door over a layer of turf to connect the two areas on nice days. In addition to a smoothie bar, Club Fitness features pre-packaged healthy and delicious meals, desserts, snacks, beverages, and energy drinks from Simple Plan Foods in Irmo. The Club also has private lockers available for VIP members, luxury showers, a new HVAC unit, air purification system, it is open 24/7, and boasts gorgeous hand-made lifting platforms made from maple and Brazilian cherry hardwood. The club has a line of Sorinex equipment, the #1 custom equipment maker in the US. Fully equipped with cardio, free weights, cables, machines, and certified personal trainers/nutritionists, the gym provides everything needed for an amazing workout, making it a standout feature of Anchor Lanes’ revitalization. They are currently offering a special founding member rate for pre-joining Club Fitness on their website, membership will be capped at 1,000 to provide members with the kind of Private Fitness Club experience they deserve.
“Everything in the gym is top-of-the-line – it’s first class all the way,” said Feeney. The interior designer for Club Fitness, Joshua Grice, owner of Little Mountain Home, luxury design and furniture store said, “Club Fitness is the nicest high-end gym I’ve seen.” Chris Griner, one of the founding members who recently pre-joined Club Fitness, said, “Club Fitness is the Ritz Carlton of gyms.”
Adam has always had a passion for fitness, when he was in college, he was the manager at New Life Fitness in Irmo and was their head certified personal trainer. While attending the Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina, where he majored in Accounting and Investment Finance, he also competed in the University of South Carolina Bodybuilding contest and was the overall winner, earning the title of Mr. USC. Around the same time, his younger sister, Jada Feeney, entered him into the WNOK Abuary contest in which he won and was named Best Abs in Columbia, SC. He also used to be the personal trainer for his stepbrothers, Austin and Dustin Johnson.
On top of adding Club Fitness, Anchor Lanes added Anchor Links, a golf simulator bar and lounge where golfers can play virtual rounds on over 140 courses and improve their swing. Every detail here mimics the thought and care put into the rest of the renovation, with brand new high-end “Full Swing” golf simulators and a custom wood bar, thanks to Jonas Waldner. Golf is a big part of Scott and Missy’s life, and they wanted to bring the simulators in to reflect another sport that their whole family loves.
Anchor Lanes is more than just an entertainment complex—It’s a family owned and operated business with strong roots in the Irmo community. After Hurricane Helene hit Irmo, they invited the first responders and lineman to eat at the restaurant free of charge for the whole week. They also recently hosted the Special Olympics bowling tournament. Scott and Missy’s personal connection to the bowling center runs back over 30 years and took on special meaning this past year when they held both their intimate family wedding and reception there. Their commitment to the center is a family affair with children from both of their previous marriages, helping drive the success of the business.
Scott’s son, PGA/LIV golfer and 2020 Master’s Champion Dustin Johnson, and his wife, Paulina Gretzky, daughter of Wayne Gretzky, also love Anchor Lanes. Dustin donated a signed Master’s hat to the 2024 Pawmetto Furball charity event on behalf of Anchor Lanes. Dustin, his younger brother, Austin Johnson, and younger sister, Laurie Johnson grew up bowling at Anchor Lanes as well. Scott’s daughter, Laurie Johnson, has her oldest son, Jaden Johnson, working at Anchor Lanes every weekend. Jaden’s younger brother, Carson Johnson, has also started working at Anchor Lanes. The walls are adorned with golf and hocky memorabilia, including signed jerseys, PGA tour checks, LIV golf bags, pro-grade TaylorMade golf clubs, Ryder Cup bags, Master’s football, photos and trophies. Memorabilia from Jada Feeney’s days of playing softball for Irmo High School and USC Sumter decorate the walls as well.
The strong family presence is a testament to the personal dedication behind the revitalization of the space, ensuring it remains a warm and welcoming place for visitors of all ages. Feeney recalls his childhood memories of the bowling center, giving him a unique perspective on how to authentically recreate what made Anchor Lanes so special.
“I grew up bowling here as a little kid,” Feeney said. His dad, Brian Feeney, who passed away in 2012, bowled at Anchor Lanes for years and had a 300 game under his belt. Scott has also bowled in leagues at Anchor Lanes for years to this day and has bowled a staggering ten 300 games.
It isn’t just the bowling leagues and tournaments nor the birthday parties that Feeney fondly remembers. His mom worked at Anchor Lanes when he was a kid and while he was in college. His dad, a U.S. Air Force veteran, also did some work on Anchor Lanes for the original owner and founder, Dick Ames. The family use to attend church with Dick Ames in the 1990’s.
“I used to power wash Anchor Lanes with my dad when I was kid, maybe 10 years old,” shared Feeney. “Now my family owns the place. It’s surreal. Only in America is an incredible story like this possible—It’s the American Dream. This is a great example of how the American Dream is still alive and well in the amazing town of Irmo, South Carolina. I’m proud to represent Irmo—It just may be the best small town in America.”
Visit Anchor Lanes this winter to see the Johnson and Feeney family’s transformation of this beloved community hub. Whether you’re here for bowling, fitness, or a round of golf, there’s something for everyone—and you’ll always feel like part of the family.
Club Fitness, Anchor Lanes, and Anchor Links
Pre-join Now to receive a special founding member rate
1057 Lake Murray Blvd
Irmo, SC 29063
(803) 237-9992