Barring a miracle, Whitehorse’s only bowling alley will close up shop this spring.

Mad Trapper Alleys, located in the Riverdale neighbourhood, has been losing money for years and the lane equipment is reportedly nearing the end of its lifespan.

Stephen Kwok began managing the bowling alley in 2002, shortly after his son, Harrison, had earned a silver medal at nationals.

“I asked my son: ‘Do you still want bowling?’ And he said yes,” the 59-year-old recalled today. “I looked at the community and somebody had to step up and take over the bowling alley – otherwise they planned to shut it down. It’s been a long time coming.

“After I took over, my son told me: ‘Dad, can I change my mind?’” Kwok chuckled. “He had picked up another favourite sport – soccer. He did very well at soccer and then I got stuck with the bowling alley.”

Regardless of his son’s involvement, Kwok and his wife, Irene, have worked hard since 2002 to preserve the sport in the community.

“It’s a passion of love. It is,” he said.

Kwok said his run at the bowling alley was decided by fate. He and Irene’s first date was at a bowling alley in Hong Kong about 40 years ago.

“We never dreamed of owning a bowling alley,” he said. “It is funny.”

The couple has enjoyed many more “dates” at Mad Trappers over the past decade. Much enjoyment and memories with the community have resulted from the busy winter seasons.

During a typical Yukon winter, between 300 and 500 people use the facility each week, Kwok said.

The facility also hosts a handful of leagues with bowlers of all ages.

Alas, the business has never been a money-maker and the only way the Kwoks stayed afloat was thanks to the neighbouring pub and video store, which they also manage.

“If I just owned the bowling alley itself, I don’t think I would have lasted 12 months,” Kwok admitted.

In recent years, the lane equipment and machinery has been a headache for Kwok and plaza owner Chris Sorg.

“It’s a decision that we came to over the summer,” said Sorg, who noted the operation has been losing thousands of dollars for the past 15 years.

He said the Kwoks have been “some of the best” operators the facility has seen.

“It’s a total labour of love,” he added. “I think sometimes these things – just by sheer momentum – continue on, and now we’re starting to face more equipment issues.”

Sorg estimated a complete overhaul of the 10-lane five-pin alley to be in the range of at least six figures.

In lieu of that, he said if the City was interested in adding a few lanes to the Canada Games Centre, they could do so at no charge.

However, Kwok isn’t sure that’s a viable solution.

“I don’t know if it’s a good idea to move the lanes,” he said. “They’re getting really, really old ... But if the community really wants a bowling alley, miracles can happen.”

A new grandfather, Kwok said he has thought about retaining one lane as a memory for his grandson.