Flooded with trouble: Vandals cause havoc at West Valley City’s All Star Bowling
Jan 15, 2025, 8:00 PM
(Eric Cabrera/KSL NewsRadio)
(Eric Cabrera/KSL NewsRadio)
WEST VALLEY CITY — It was supposed to be a fun Friday night at All Star Bowling at Valley Fair Mall. Manager Lidia Hernandez was off the clock, enjoying a night out with visiting family, when disaster struck. Water—and lots of it—came rushing out of the bathroom.
“All of a sudden we hear a lot of water… like a fire hydrant,” Hernandez recalled, still in disbelief.
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What they found wasn’t just a simple plumbing issue. A toilet had been deliberately vandalized, with its piping ripped off, causing water to shoot out of the wall with incredible force—like a fire hose gone rogue.
The team scrambled to shut off the water, but the damage was already starting to pile up.
“We closed off about 20 water lines, but it wasn’t enough,” Hernandez said. “It took us 15 minutes to find the main line. And, by then, the damage was done.”
Water had surged across the floor, flooding everything in its path. Inches of water spread from one wall to the other, soaking through to the 21+ Pins and Ales area, where it seeped onto the lanes. The team had no choice but to close early for the safety of their customers.
“The flood shut off water for the entire mall,” she explained. “Thankfully, most of the mall was already closed, so we were the only ones affected.”
Despite the setback, Hernandez is quick to point out that All Star Bowling isn’t just another chain. It’s a locally-owned business. Team members sent home early was a blow for everyone.
A police report was made with the West Valley Police Department, and Hernandez took to Facebook, sharing images of the suspected teenage vandals in the hope of finding leads.
“From what I know, we did get some tips that were given to West Valley PD. We haven’t gotten any names or information on those people.”
For now, the business is focused on cleaning up and recovering from the incident, but Hernandez is determined to keep the focus on the people responsible for the damage.
If you have any information, please reach out to the West Valley Police Department.
