We just moved into a bigger house earlier this year. Our original goal was to buy a house on some acreage and then put up a 600-800 sq ft (or more) building for my arcade and home office. I liked the idea of having to "leave" the house to go to work. A little bit of separation from the house seemed like a great idea. But it was cheaper for us to buy a bigger house close to where we were already living so we didn't go through with it. After living in our new house for nine months, I'm kind of regretting not trying harder to find a house on some land so I could do that dedicated gaming space. I'm still going to end up with a 600 sq ft arcade/office once I start my renovation project but it won't be separate from the house.

I too looked into the bowling lane thing. It's extremely cost prohibitive. Like $60,000-$100,000 per lane cost prohibitive. I think the big expense is the pin reset and ball return mechs. I'm pretty sure there is a thread or two on Pinside about that if you search around. I was thinking about doing a puck bowler to get a little of the bowling feel but I think my wife is more interested in a shuffle board table.

Good luck with your decision!

This sound have some useful information for you
https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/advice-from-large-collectors-please

I think the bowling alley thing can be done much cheaper if your timing is right finding a used pair of lanes at an auction as bowling alleys seem to be closing up every where these days. You can probably get them for $1,000 per lane but the big problem is shipping costs which will probably be several times your $1,000 per lane. I've seen smaller bowling alleys in the past giving them away but you need to get the lanes out by a certain date. Space is also an issue as you need like 85 to 90 feet for the 60 foot lane bed. Twenty feet for the approach and room for a pin setter. There is a house in my sub divusion that was built by a family that owned Pontiac dealerships...built adout 15 years ago. They put a new pair of lanes in the basement and the alleys stick twenty feet out of the side of the house. They put a slightly raised patio there where the basement juts past the house

Of course there is another option, a big ball bowler.

Here's another thread with some good info

https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/pinball-garage-anyone-built-one

you could always get a big ball bowler with some lane extensions much more cose efficient!

Getting a full apckage of real pinsetters etc, is not expensive. They are a dime a dozen here in Mich.