Academy Lanes was established in 1973 by Rex and Peanny Baird.  They were, at that time, the proprietors of Mercury Lanes, a bowling alley which was located where the Brownwood City Hall is currently located.  Wanting to expand to twelve lanes, the Bairds moved the bowling center to 1101 Austin Avenue and renamed the center Academy Lanes.

    When Academy Lanes opened, it was one of four bowling alleys in the state to have automatic scoring.  The Baird family has kept up with new advances in bowling equipment, updating the center several times with new lanes, new scoring equipment, and other modernizations.

     Sanctioned leagues and tournaments have been conducted at the center since its opening.  For more information concerning leagues and how to join, please visit our league page.

     This year, 2010, marks the forty-sixth year that Academy Lanes will host the Annual Poor Boy Doubles Tournament.  For more information about the Poor Boy Tournament and how to join, please visit our tournament page.