Celebrity Sports Center facts for kids

An early promotional illustration of the signature Celebrity Sports Center building and sign.

Celebrity Sports Center (also known as CSC or Celebrity's) was a popular place for families in the Denver area. It was located in Glendale, Colorado, at 888 South Colorado Boulevard. This fun center opened in 1960 and stayed open for 34 years, closing its doors in 1994.

Some very famous people helped start Celebrity's. The original investors included Walt Disney and his brother Roy. Other stars like Jack Benny, Bing Crosby, George Burns, and Art Linkletter also invested.

The Walt Disney Company might have even used Celebrity's. Some people believe it was a training spot for employees. These employees would then go to work at Disney World.

Walt Disney and the other investors spent $6 million to build Celebrity's. The bowling lanes opened first in 1960. The rest of the center was ready for visitors in 1961.

In 1979, new owners bought Celebrity's for $1.9 million. These owners were Bob Leavitt and Neil Griffin. They added the three big water slides that you could see from outside the building.

By the early 1990s, Celebrity's was losing money. It also needed a lot of repairs. In 1994, the property was sold for $10.8 million. The new owner tore down Celebrity's by March 1995. Today, a Home Depot store and other shops stand on the old site.

What Fun Things Could You Do at Celebrity's?

Celebrity's was packed with exciting activities for everyone. It had 80 bowling lanes, which is a lot! There were also more than 300 video games and pinball machines. These games were spread across three different arcades.

If you loved swimming, Celebrity's had a huge 50-meter pool. This pool also had three thrilling water slides. You could play billiards in the billiard room. There was even a full-service restaurant to grab a bite.

The "Fun Center" downstairs was a favorite spot. It had bumper-car rides and a shooting gallery. You could also play ticketed games like Skee-Ball. Winning these games meant you could get cool prizes. The basement also featured three complete slot car tracks.

Hosting Big Bowling Tournaments

A bowling T-shirt from 1983.

Celebrity Sports Center was so big it even hosted professional events. In the spring of 1991, it held a major bowling tournament. This was the $125,000 Celebrity Denver Open. It was part of the Professional Bowlers Association Tour.

The final rounds of the tournament were even shown live on ESPN. A bowler named John Mazza won the first-place prize of $18,000. He bowled incredibly well in the championship match.

Celebrity's Lasting Memories

Many people who grew up in Denver still have great memories of Celebrity's. The Denver Post newspaper called it a "huge indoor funland." They said it was a landmark "uniquely Denver." The newspaper also noted that its demolition left a "void" that couldn't be filled.

You can still find tributes to Celebrity's online. Some people even collect items from the center. Souvenirs and other things from Celebrity's sometimes appear on auction websites. They often sell for high prices because they are so special to people.

Many remember the tall, iconic sign outside Celebrity's. This sign had 14-point stars. At least one of these stars has been saved. Today, it is used as a winter holiday decoration. You can see it at the Lumber Baron Inn & Gardens in Denver.

The old bowling lanes from Celebrity's were also saved. They were used again during the restoration of the 19th-century Oxford Hotel in downtown Denver. Now, these lanes form the floor of the hotel's ballroom.

There were plans to put a special plaque at the new site. This plaque would remember Celebrity's as a great entertainment spot. It's not clear what happened to this proposed plaque.