Leno and Rose Anaya are shown at the counter built from the actual lanes in bowling alley they have renovated for the Tama Ballroom and Events Center. News-Herald photos/John Speer

Just in time for New Year’s Eve the new Tama Ballroom and Events Center is throwing open its doors to the public. Open from 4 p.m.- 2 a.m. Dec. 31, guests will ring in the new year to music provided by DJ Karma Productions which features all types of music from country western to rock and roll and Mexican tunes.

Located in the former Venture Lanes on Business Highway 30 on Tama’s east side the property has undergone a nine-month-long renovation from top to bottom. The bowling alley had closed previously.

It features a 5,000 sq. ft. dance floor which can be converted for banquet seating for up to as many as 1,000 persons. Full bar service is available.

Owners Leno and Rose Anaya said they have literally spent almost every waking hour since March on the mechanical end of the work and now are turning their attention to the decor.

The centerpiece of the 10,000-plus sq. ft. building is the service area with a 25 ft/ x 14 ft. bar built entirely from the wooden lanes of the bowling alley. Leno, with help from another carpenter, spent a good portion of four months crafting the counter.

The expanse of dance floor and banquet seating area is shown.

Rose said they were able to salvage some other items from the former bowling alley and she hopes to work into the decor of their new business.

Some three months of work went into a new roof and installing 2 1/2 inch cell ceiling insulation, Rose said.

The building has new electrical wiring throughout and is illuminated entirely by LED lighting inside and on the exterior. A new walk-in cooler and bar equipment is in place.

The bowling lanes area has an expansive new smooth cement surface and stage. Entirely new restrooms have been built which include handicap access and a ramp is being built.

Leno and Rose said they expect to add kitchen and dressing room to the east side this spring.

Leno and Rose are no strangers to business in Tama. They owned Leno’s Tavern in downtown Tama from 1992-95. They then relocated to the former Lincoln Highway Inn on East 5th Street and ran Leno’s Saloon from 1995-2011 when the building burned.

They own and operate the 23-unit Plantation apartments at Toledo Heights and Leno also works as a carpenter and Rose is a real estate sales person.

With their new business set to go, the Anayas said The Tama Ballroom and Events Center is ready for weddings, wedding and anniversary receptions, family reunions, company parties and, events, graduation and holiday parties or any event they can provide accommodations for.They plan to have the Tama Ballroom and Events Center available seven days a week and encourage everyone to check out their new venue by stopping in or calling.

In addition, they expect to offer some line-dancing and teen parties as a part of the activities available.

The address is Business Highway 30 (1411 East 5th St.), Tama; ph. 641-484-6068 – Tama Ballroom and Event Center; Leno- 641-481-0322; Rose- 641-750-1824.