If you’ve driven past Valley Fair Mall in West Valley City and wondered what’s behind those bright doors near the food court, the answer is 70,000 square feet of bowling lanes, laser tag, bumper cars, and an arcade that could eat up an entire Saturday. All Star Bowling & Entertainment – Valley Fair has quietly become one of the go-to spots for family outings, birthday parties, and after-work leagues on the west side of Salt Lake County. This guide walks through what’s actually there, what it costs, and what tends to trip people up on a first visit.
What You’ll Find Inside
The Valley Fair location is one of five All Star centers scattered across Utah (Draper, Sandy, Tooele, and West Jordan round out the list), and it leans heavily into the “more than bowling” identity the brand has built. Beyond the lanes, you’ve got laser tag, bumper cars, and a sizeable arcade with everything from classic Pac-Man cabinets to newer shoot-em-up games like Halo: Fireteam Raven. There’s also a redemption counter where arcade points convert into prizes, which is either a highlight or a headache depending on how competitive your kids get.
What sets this location apart from a typical strip-mall bowling alley is the scale. Most of the standalone bowling centers around the valley max out at one or two extra attractions. Here, you’re looking at four or five under one roof, plus the official location page lists axe throwing at the attached Pins & Ales as a newer addition for the 21-and-up crowd.
Cosmic Bowling Sets the Mood
The lanes themselves use black lights, fog, and music for what the venue calls Cosmic Bowling, and honestly, it’s a solid way to make a mediocre bowling night feel like an event. In my experience, family entertainment centers that lean into the sensory stuff (lighting, sound, a bit of theater) tend to get repeat visits more than those that just have plain lanes and a snack bar. This isn’t a five-star assumption, just a pattern that holds up across a lot of these venues.
Hours and When to Actually Go
As of July 2026, the West Valley location’s posted hours are:
- Monday through Thursday: 11:00am to 11:00pm
- Friday: 11:00am to midnight
- Saturday: 10:00am to midnight
- Sunday: 10:00am to 11:00pm
Weekday mornings and early afternoons are noticeably quieter, which matters if you’re bringing younger kids or just don’t want to wait for a lane. Friday and Saturday nights get loud and busy fast, especially once high school groups and league bowlers show up. If you’re planning a birthday party, aim for a Saturday or Sunday daytime slot instead of evening, since pricing and crowd levels both shift once the sun goes down.
Bowling Pricing (And Why Timing Matters a Lot Here)
This situation is where a lot of first-time visitors get caught off guard. All Star doesn’t charge per game; it charges per lane, per block of time, and the rate depends heavily on the day and hour. Based on the venue’s posted pricing:
Sunday through Friday, before 5:00pm:
- $29.99 per lane for 1 hour
- $39.99 per lane for 1.5 hours
- $54.99 per lane for 2 hours
Sunday through Thursday, after 5:00pm:
- $44.99 per lane for 1 hour
- $59.99 per lane for 1.5 hours
- $79.99 per lane for 2 hours
Friday after 5pm, Saturday, and holidays:
- $49.99 per lane for 1 hour
- $64.99 per lane for 1.5 hours
- $84.99 per lane for 2 hours
Shoe rental is included in the lane price, so you’re not getting hit with a separate fee at the counter, though sock purchases run $2.50 if you show up without your own pair (a detail that catches more people than you’d think).
Because pricing is per lane rather than per person, this setup rewards bigger groups. A lane typically accommodates up to six bowlers comfortably, so splitting a $29.99 morning rate six ways results in about five dollars per person. Show up solo or as a pair on a Saturday night, though, and you’re paying full lane price for far fewer players. Worth planning around if budget matters.
Kids Bowl Free and Other Ways to Save
The Kids Bowl Free program is a useful perk at this location, but it’s easy to miss if you’re not already familiar with it. Registered kids get free bowling during designated hours through the Kids Bowl Free national program, though a few caveats apply: it’s not valid for birthday parties, camps, or business outings, and lanes are limited on a first-come basis once the daily allotment fills up. Guests can also upgrade to what the program calls SPARK experience lanes for a couple of extra dollars per game.
Beyond that, the VIP eClub (sign-up available on the main site) sends out promotions and discount codes periodically, which is a low-effort way to shave a few dollars off a visit if you’re a regular.
Other Attractions Worth Knowing About
Laser Tag and Bumper Cars
Both laser tag and bumper cars are priced separately from bowling, at $6.00 per person Monday through Thursday (24 credits) and $7.00 Friday through Sunday and holidays (28 credits). Bumper cars have a 44-inch height requirement, which is worth checking before you promise a younger kid a ride. Laser tag doesn’t have the same restriction, though very young children may find the arena a little overwhelming given how quickly games move.
Axe Throwing at Pins & Ales
For the adults in the group, Pins & Ales sits attached to the Valley Fair location and offers axe throwing alongside craft beer from Bonneville Brewery, another sister brand under the same ownership. It’s 21-and-up only, and it’s become a popular pick for date nights or team-building outings that want something with a bit more edge than standard bowling. One thing worth flagging: axe-throwing bays book up on weekends, so reserving ahead through the site beats walking in and hoping.
Food and Drinks
The food menu leans toward the usual entertainment-center lineup, pizza, burgers, nachos, and appetizer platters built for sharing rather than fine dining. Reviews of the location consistently mention the food as a genuine plus rather than an afterthought, which isn’t always the case at bowling centers where the kitchen is clearly secondary to the lanes. Beer is available on-site as well, a detail some visitors don’t expect walking in given the family-center branding.
Booking a Party or Group Event
All Star handles birthday parties and corporate or group events at this location, with packages that typically bundle bowling time, food, and sometimes arcade credits. If you’re planning something with more than a handful of people, it’s worth calling ahead (801-572-1122) or booking through the site directly rather than trying to walk in, since weekend lane availability shrinks fast once regular bowlers and other parties are factored in. Party bookings tend to fill up two to three weeks out for Saturday afternoon slots, so don’t wait until the week of if that’s your target time.
Common Mistakes People Make on a First Visit
A few patterns show up again and again in reviews and general feedback about this location:
Showing up on a Friday or Saturday night without a reservation and expecting an open lane is probably the single most common frustration. The venue does get genuinely packed during peak hours, and walk-ins aren’t guaranteed a spot.
Another common issue is misunderstanding the per-lane pricing structure and assuming it’s per-person, then being surprised at checkout. Bring a bigger group if you want the best per-person value.
And a smaller but real issue mentioned in reviews: equipment inconsistency, meaning the occasional jammed pinsetter or arcade machine out of order. This problem isn’t unique to this venue (it’s common across the entertainment-center industry), but it’s worth setting expectations that not every machine will be in perfect working order on any given visit.
FAQs
Is All Star Bowling & Entertainment – Valley Is Fair good for young kids? Yes, with some caveats. Bumper cars require riders to be at least 44 inches tall, and laser tag can feel intense for very young children given the pace of play. Bowling itself, especially with bumpers up, works well for almost any age.
Do I need a reservation to bowl? Not strictly, but it’s strongly recommended for evenings and weekends. Walk-ins are accepted based on lane availability, and that availability disappears quickly during peak hours.
Can I bring outside food? No. Like most venues of this type, outside food and drinks aren’t permitted, since the on-site kitchen and bar are part of the business model.
How much do bumper cars or laser tag cost separately from bowling? $6.00 per person on weekdays (Monday through Thursday) and $7.00 on Friday through Sunday and holidays, each covering a set number of credits rather than unlimited time.
Is there an age minimum for axe throwing at Pins & Ales? Yes, it’s restricted to guests 21 and older, in line with the venue serving alcohol in that section.
For the latest pricing, hours, and seasonal specials, check the venue’s social channels, as entertainment-center pricing changes frequently with holidays and promotions.
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