The Ankeny Brief
Yes, one: B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 with B-Roll Bowling, at 1580 SW Market St in the District at Prairie Trail. It opened December 13, 2018, and the older B&B Springwood 9 closed at the same time, which is why you may still hear people mention that one. BigScreen's report on the project called it B&B's first location to combine a theater, bowling and a restaurant, and its first in Iowa.
These are the upgraded rooms, and it helps to know what you are clicking on when you buy a ticket. B&B lists four named formats at Ankeny on top of standard shows, with heated electric recliners reported when the theater opened.
screenPLAY! is the one parents should know. It is a room for families with small children, with a screen-side toddler play area and a full-size climbing playground with a slide. B&B asks you to arrive 30 minutes before showtime to play, then everyone takes their seats. The play areas are for children 11 and younger. On the other end, B&B warns that MX4D may not suit people who are pregnant or have heart, back, head, leg or neck conditions.
Showtimes and ticket prices live on the B&B Ankeny 12 page. We couldn't read a stable Ankeny ticket price list, so check before you assume a matinee rate.
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At B-Roll Bowling you rent by the lane, not per game, and up to 6 people fit on a lane. That makes it cheap for a group and pricey for two.
You can reserve a lane online. Do the math before Friday: six people for an hour at the weekend rate runs $30 plus about $24 in adult shoes, around $9 a head. Monday evening with a Backstage Pass cuts the lane to $12.50.
The Outtakes Arcade needs no reservation, and Tuesdays are Double Play Days. Sterling's is the sit-down restaurant and bar, with a separate food and cocktail menu; the $15 jumbo wings are marinated in hot sauce for 24 hours and come with house-made buffalo, dry rub or Cherry Coke BBQ. B&B also hosts trivia and bingo nights, with the schedule on its events page. Kids' options in town are on our things to do with kids page.
Packages are priced per guest and every package needs at least 10 guests. You get a private party room and tableware, and you can add pizza, drink pitchers or kids' combos when you book online.
Those are before tax and fees. Your paid guest count is locked in, so tell B&B at least 48 hours ahead if it changes. Full refunds need 7 or more days notice. Cheapest slot: a Sunday through Thursday arcade party.
For a weeknight family outing, go Monday or Tuesday and book a lane first, then a movie. For a party of 10 kids, compare the $12 bowling package against plain lane rental before you commit.
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Yes. B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 with B-Roll Bowling is at 1580 SW Market St in the District at Prairie Trail. The phone number is 515-423-0979. It has 12 screens with formats including MX4D, ScreenX, Grand Screen and screenPLAY!, plus bowling, an arcade and Sterling's restaurant and bar.
Yes. B-Roll Bowling is inside B&B Theatres Ankeny 12 at 1580 SW Market St. Lanes are $25 an hour from Monday open to Thursday 4:55 p.m. and $30 an hour after that through Sunday close, with up to 6 guests per lane. Shoes are $4 for adults and $3 for youth.
Yes. Heated recliner seating was reported when the theater opened, and B&B lists premium formats at Ankeny: MX4D, ScreenX, Grand Screen and screenPLAY!.
Yes. The screenPLAY! auditorium has a screen-side toddler play area and a full-size climbing playground with a slide, for children 11 and younger, and B&B asks guests to arrive 30 minutes early to play. Bowling, the Outtakes Arcade and party rooms are in the same building.
Yes, for Backstage Pass members. Lanes are 50% off Mondays from 4 to 8 p.m., and $2 off all day Tuesdays on reservations made in person. Tuesdays are also Double Play Days in the arcade.
Yes. Every package needs at least 10 guests. Bowling is $12 a guest, arcade runs $10 to $20 a guest, and the combo runs $19.50 to $39 a guest, before taxes and fees. Full refunds need 7 or more days notice.
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