Pinball Hall of Fame

Many think that pinball has gone by the wayside; however, it is still very alive in Las Vegas at the Pinball Hall of Fame. In fact, they just moved from their location on Tropicana Avenue to a 27,000 square foot location on the south side of the Las Vegas Strip, making it way easier to put the Pinball Hall of Fame on your to-do list for your next trip to Sin City. 

The new pinball hall was at risk last year due to the pandemic halting their fundraising for their new location. However, they are back and better than ever due to an anonymous donor who handed over a check for nearly $80,000 to support the cause. You’ll find hundreds of pinball games and plenty of fun nights at the Pinball Hall of Fame, just like many others have for the last couple of decades. 

The Pinball Hall of Fame was started after a member of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club, Tim Arnold, wanted to share his love of pinball with others. Tim Arnold is a veteran arcade operator who owned a large arcade, Pinball Pete’s, with his brother in Lansing, Michigan, in the 1970s. When he moved to Las Vegas in 1990, he decided to open the Pinball Hall of Fame. 

Still, today, all of the old pinball machines are kept in working condition, restored, and repaired by Tim Arnold himself and members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club, so they are continually working on bringing new machines into the museum. However, as Tim Arnold has stated in an interview, he can’t really hire anyone else to fix them because there aren’t many people with the skillset, so they can only be worked on at the rate they can do them. That hasn’t stopped them, though. In the old building on Tropicana Ave, there only about 200 games. In the new building, they have fixed up and introduced more than 200 more.

One thing is for sure, the Pinball Hall of Fame is a must-see in Las Vegas. Let’s go over all the information you’ll need before your trip. 

As we have mentioned, there are many games at the Pinball Hall of Fame. Despite the name, there is more than just pinball to entertain you. However, you won’t find any slot machines here. You’ll have to visit one of Vegas’ numerous casinos for that. What you will find are pinball machines, arcade games, and a whole lot of history. 

Pinball Machines

Pinball machines really embody what Las Vegas is all about. They exude bright lights, excitement, bells, buzzers, and all-around good entertainment, so it’s no wonder that this pinball hall is a well-loved favorite in Vegas. The Pinball Hall of Fame has hundreds of different pinball machines, including some really rare ones like “Pinball Circus” from 1994, of which there are only two in existence. There are also more recently built machines that are themed from pop culture like The Munsters, Guardians of the Galaxy, and Deadpool. The pinball games range from the 1950s and up, so there is one to interest any age group. Try them all, or beat the high score on your favorite; the choice is yours for hours of fun.

Arcade Games

In addition to their fantastic pinball collection, they have a vast number of video arcade games as well. They have popular favorites like Paperboy and Tron, but also more unique arcade machines like Computer Space and Wacko. There are even some weird ones like two Mold-A-Rama machines that, once they are done fixing them, will spit out Pluto and Donald Duck wax figurines.

You’ll be surprised to know that the pinball museum in Vegas is very affordable, unlike some of the other attractions on Las Vegas Blvd. 

Contributions to Salvation Army

The Pinball Hall of Fame is a registered non-profit. After they make enough to cover all of their expenses, the rest of the money gets donated to the Salvation Army and other non-denominational charities. They don’t spend a whole lot of money on fancy lighting or decor. They only spend what is necessary to keep the games running and the lights on. To them, it is all about the pinball, not business, and that is what makes them a great cause to support. 

Games, Parking, and Admission

The games cost anywhere from 25-50 cents and are paid for the old-fashion way with quarters. There are no machines to swipe cards or tickets to win. Simply bring your cash and hit up the quarter machine. They also have snacks, t-shirts, and a pinball repair video available for sale. There is no admission cost, just pinball fun. There is also free parking because Tim Arnold just wants you to enjoy the many games. 

The Pinball Hall of Fame is open from 11 am – 9 pm every day. 

Overall, the Pinball Hall of Fame is a no-fuss place to have some fun for all ages. Be sure to include it on your to-do list next time you’re in Las Vegas. 

Overall, the Pinball Hall of Fame is a no-fuss place to have some fun for all ages. Be sure to include it on your to-do list next time you’re in Las Vegas.