Crossroads Social House — Attraction in Wytheville

This place sounded amazing considering all the available activities, but unfortunately it was a giant, EXPENSIVE, disappointment. I almost don’t know where to begin…we could have gotten a day-pass to Disney for less than we spent here in 2.5 hours time. Bowling was $45 for 1 hour in the VIP lanes (note: shoe rental is NOT included in that price). We chose VIP so we could get sit and get a bite to eat while we bowled, and waiter came to take our drink orders; quickly brought them, told us he’d be right back to take our food order…he came back 50 minutes later. Menu looked good, typical bar apps and “Wagyu” burgers. Well the fries were good, as were the fried chips…but the burgers are alllllll looks and zero flavors. Definitely frozen beef patties, tasted freezer burnt and undercooked yet looked done through, which is a hallmark for frozen, cheap meat. One look at the inside told us they were full of fillers….yum…NOT. Alas, raw meat and dirty grill were about the only flavors we were getting because the meat, cheese, and toppings were totally flavorless. I’ve never had anything look so delicious, but taste so unimpressive. Two burgers, 1 order of cheese fries, 1 order of regular fries, 3 glasses of water = $50. After dinner, our son wanted to jump on the trampolines. He can be a bit unsure of himself, so I asked if I could go up on the platform to get him started…nope, I had to pay if I wanted to get up there…so then came another $30. We ended up cutting that $30 hour short because there were several kids under 8 with NO parents in sight (none of them related or in the same party). They decided I was the house mother, which I didn’t mind one bit because I love kids…but I couldn’t help but think, I could’ve been ANYONE, and these kids didn’t get checked on once. We only ever saw one parent, when her daughter ran to tell her something, and she was across the building, drinking at the bar with her back toward the jump zone. Even worse, there was NO staff there to police such situations…ANYONE could’ve taken off with those kids…we live in a scary world people!!!!! Our son has high functioning autism, and all the other kiddos monopolizing mom started to wear on him a bit, so we had to say our goodbyes and leave. Overall, just a super disappointing, overpriced experience. Staff was so-so…the waiter was really nice despite waiting so long to take our order. This place has the potential to be a blast, but cheap equipment and high prices, coupled with what appears to be mundane management, made it a super-dud for us.

P.S. For the hard-core bowlers out there, this isn’t a place to practice your skills lol! There is no traditional pin setting equipment…the pins are on ropes which sucks, and ball returns are cheap so I strongly advise using their house balls so you don’t destroy your personal one! Lanes aren’t properly oiled at all, so expect a lot of gutter balls, even from seasoned bowlers LOL! But hey, it’s not a pro-center, so it’s all in fun really…our son had a blast bowling, so these weren’t issues for us really, but I can see an avid bowler being pretty...

I was really wanting to like this place. I am an avid bowler and have played on my fair share of lanes over the years. The bowling is great for kids I guess, but if you're a serious bowler, look elsewhere. The pins are on ropes. The price is by the hour, which is one of the worst things ever. I went by myself, brought my own bowling equipment, and it still cost $25 + tax. Water from the vending machine was $3.00. No pinball machines in the arcade really disappointed me. The place was clean, and the staff were helpful whenever the ball return would get stuck. I knew it wasn't going to be a PBA-style set up, but come on Crossroads - you could have done much better by spending a bit more money on your lane setup. Also, have a pay-per-game option like normal alleys do to give those of us who like to kill some time throwing a few frames a more affordable option. Needless to say, I won't be going back up there too much even if it is here in town.

Bowlers beware: their return equipment WILL mark up your...

Met with friends. Make a decent "Holy Water". The bartender "Keaton" (sp?) is the epitome of service!

For the most part, it seems it would be lovely to bring children to on occasion. The cost is out of many folks price range. This area has a majority of its citizens, at or below the poverty line, many are excluded from this venue. Including myself.

Outdoor seating needs improvement. Perhaps some outdoor furniture (outdoor sectionals), tables etc, ambient fairy lights/mini lanterns?

Lounge furniture as a whole would bring a more relaxed, inviting tone. No one wants to spent hours on a hard surface to bowl, eat, etc.

Bathrooms need work. While cleaner than many similar restrooms, I expect better considering the cost of the construction, venue wares, food etc. Also, a handbag shelf, hooks for coats etc are needed.

Crossroads has a lot of potential. I hope to see their potential...