Chances are you’ve heard of the Pinball Hall of Fame, but you might not know exactly what it is. A Hall of Fame for pinball? Is it the silver-ball version of Cooperstown?
Not really.
But it’s still pretty cool.
The Pinball Hall of Fame, sometimes referred to as the Pinball Museum, isn’t really either in the strictest sense. Technically, it’s a nonprofit organization and showroom dedicated to the repair and restoration, and playing pleasure, of vintage pinball machines. But the best description for it is a retro arcade. There are no plaques for Hall members, no gift shop, and no admission charge. But there are about 200 old-school working pinball games, along with some more recent machines and some other older arcade games.
All you have to do is show up with a few bucks in your pocket and steady flipper hands at 1610 E. Tropicana, about two miles east of the MGM Grand. It’s an easy cab or Uber ride from the Strip, or you can take the 201 bus from in front of the Tropicana.
Don’t be afraid to venture off the Strip! One of the great things about Las Vegas is that you can visit dozens of times and never have to leave the tourist corridor. But don’t be intimidated by the unknown. The valley is mostly laid out in a grid that’s easy to follow, the bus system is decent, and ridesharing makes getting anywhere a breeze—and inexpensive.
You don’t even need to bring quarters. Of course, the Pinball H of F has change machines.
The selection of games varies, as machines are taken off the floor when they need to be serviced. But everything that’s out there works. Get some 25-cent pieces, drop ’em in your favorite old machine, or discover a new (old) favorite, and have a blast for an hour or two.
Scope out a new local restaurant on that side of town for lunch and combine the two for a half-day adventure. You’ll still have plenty of time to nap and recharge for your night out on the town.
Best of all, the Pinball Hall of Fame is in the process of building a big new facility on the south Strip just south of Russell Road across from the Bali Hai Golf Club. It purchased the 1.76-acre vacant lot for $4.6 million in August 2018. The 27,000-square-foot pinball-shaped building will allow the Hall of Fame to expand from 250 machines in its E. Tropicana location to more than 1,000 machines, 800 of which are in storage. The pandemic has set construction back by about six months, but the new completion date is set for early next year.
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My family and I went to the Pinball Hall of Fame a few years ago. I was looking up things to do in Vegas and it came up on the internet. My son was and still is a big video game guy and i knew he would love it. We spent about two hours playing the machines and only spent $20 between the three of us. It definitely was a great time and we can’t wait until they open the new location. Although, by then my son will be 21 and will probably want to play some other types of “machines and games”. Anyway, you can’t go wrong if you are looking for a cheap way to spend a couple hours having fun.
Been there many times over the years. Love that place!
Wish they would bring the bingo screen pinball machine back to the HALL OF FAME WITH TALL THE HOLES IN THEM.
Crown n anchor is near by and a solid choice for a beer and food
The PHOF is on my bucket list. Been there for 5 years running. Seems like we never get there. Crown n anchor will be a must-do place, also.
It will be fun!
A great place. An area in the back, they’re always fixing or restoring machines. Several years since I’ve been there. Not mentioned in this post, but IIRC, the guy who runs it is motivated by charity.
To play a game for a quarter, the coin accepter requires ~two~ quarters. For every game you play, a quarter goes to charity.
This is my go to Vegas place for some old school fun. I’ve brought many friends here and they all have a blast. Plus the fact that all proceeds go to charity is fantastic. Try it Mikey, you’ll like it!