Here is another Las Vegas secret, it has the largest collection of pinball machines in the world. The Pinball Hall of Fame Museum is located in a whitewashed nondescript-looking building on Tropicana Blvd. (a mile and half off the Las Vegas Strip). The black and white vinyl sign on the plain building is the only evidence that this place exists. Upon entering the darkened museum, after your eyes have adjusted from the bright light outside, you come upon row after row of vintage pinball machines from the 1940’s to the present.
Outside of the Pinball Hall of Fame, it looks like a thrift store.
These pinball machines aren’t just for looking at you can actually play each and every one of them. There are the old mechanical types, the ones with the analog numbers that rotate behind the glass as you score goes up to the modern day multi-ball, multi-layer digital ones you can find from time to time. This place does not charge any admission fee, and most machines cost only a quarter, yes, I said 25 cents! The old bill changers from the hotels have been rescued and given a new life dispensing quarters not tokens.
Rows and rows of vintage pinball machines from the 40's-80's
This place will take you on a memory road trip from games of the past. I remember back in the 70’s the old MGM Grand Hotel (currently Bally’s) used to have a great arcade in the shopping retail area, before the fire. They had quite a collection of pinball machines like Dozer and Home Run, which are now located at the pinball museum. I even found the games that were my favorites from my local neighborhood arcade and stores like the Black Knight, Night Rider and other non-pinball classics like, Tron, Astroids, Defender, Space Invaders and Missile Command. All of these are present and accounted for at the pinball museum.
This is a hi-res 360° Virtual Tour of the Pinball Hame of Fame Museum.
Click here to take a 360° Virtual Tour
The games belong to one club member, Tim Arnold, and the pinball machines date from the 1950s up to 1990s. Since it is a non-profit museum, older games from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are the most prevalent, as this was the ‘heyday’ of pinball. They also include some of the early classic video games too. All profits from the museum are donated to local charities.
More modern pinball machines
Most visitors to the museum seem to be in their 40’s-50’s and they bring their kids with them to show them how we use to kick it old style. This was gaming in the analog world of a magic silver ball, clicky buttons, flippers, a sharp eye and a good sense of timing.
Bring your quarters, grab the kids and plan to stay for a few hours, enjoying a blast from the past. No tokens, no tickets, no redemption booth, and no life size plush characters walking around. Enjoy!
Located at 1610 E. Tropicana on the north side of Tropicana between S. Maryland Parkway and S. Eastern Ave, about 12 blocks (1.5 miles) from the ‘strip’ straight down Tropicana. They are open daily 11am-11pm Sunday through Thursday and 11am till Midnight on Friday and Saturday.
Drag you mouse to see a 360° view of the Pinball Hall of Fame Museum
Click here for more 360°panoramic views of the Pinball Hall of Fame
Click for hi-res 360 views
Notice the detail in the glasswork, I wonder why men love pinball?
(Click the images hi-res views)
Visit their web site http://www.pinballmuseum.org/
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