The Pinball Hall of Fame was one of the best things we did on our last trip to Las Vegas. My husband spent his teen years playing pinball games in arcades. My two children (ages 11 and 14) loved trying Medieval Madness, Addams Family and other games that he played when he was their age. It was fun to play older games from the 1960's and new games created in recent years.
Pinball doesn't require a high degree of skill to enjoy the game, and it's fun to watch others play. Here's what you can expect at the Pinball Hall of Fame in Las Vegas.
Rare Games
If there is a hard-to-find pinball game you've wanted to play, the Pinball Hall of Fame probably has it. One of these is The Pinball Circus. It was a vertical pinball game built in 1993, but only two machines were ever made. You can play it at the Pinball Hall of Fame, and it's a lot of fun.
Another rare “game” is a 1921 photo flipper of a Jack Dempsey fight. It costs just a quarter.
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Pay to Play
The Pinball Hall of Fame is an inexpensive family activity. It cost nothing to walk in and look around. You can play one game or many – whatever your time and budget allow.
Individual games vary in price, depending on the age of the game. Prices range from about 25 cents to $2 per game. My family of four spent $30 for about 2 hours of games.
You'll find a few video games and other games, in addition to pinball. My kids spent some of their money on the “Winner Every Time” machine where they won some collectible patches.
Related: 9 Ways to Visit Las Vegas on a Budget
When to Go
We arrived just before opening time – 11 AM – on a Thursday in October. There were already several other people in the parking lot, just waiting for the pinball museum to open. A steady stream of visitors arrived after us, but the building is large, with many machines. We occasionally had to wait our turn for a popular game, but not often.
My family was the only group with kids for the duration of our visit. We probably would have seen more kids on afternoons and weekends. All minors must be accompanied by an adult.
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No Frills
The Pinball Hall of Fame is housed in what feels like an old grocery store. It's just a big empty space full of pinball machines in a less-glamorous section of Las Vegas. They don't sell any food or drinks, except a little candy. The bathroom is a clean single-seater.
This didn't bother us. As long as you know what to expect, you should have a great experience here. The pinball museum is easy to find. Parking is free and plentiful.
Proceeds Go to Charity
The Pinball Hall of Fame is a non-profit organization. They donate all profits to the Salvation Army. It's one more reason to like this Las Vegas destination.
My family loved visiting the Pinball Hall of Fame and we will probably go back next time we visit Las Vegas.
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Good to Know
Where: 1610 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas, Nevada
When: Opens at 11 AM every day. Closes at 11 PM on weekdays, midnight on weekends.
How Much: Free Admission. You pay only what you spend on individual games. About 25 cents to $2 per game.
How Long: 15 minutes to a few hours
Amenities: Bathrooms, change machines, candy machines
Website: http://www.pinballmuseum.org/
More Las Vegas Tips
The Pinball Hall of Fame is included in my 3-Day Las Vegas Itinerary for Families. This itinerary is based on what my family did on our last trip to Las Vegas. It includes
- 3 days of activities
- a family-friendly resort with a great pool
- Las Vegas Strip highlights
- Off-Strip activities
- Free activities and money-saving tips
Click the button below to learn more.
Need a place to stay? We have stayed in several Las Vegas resorts, but Tahiti Village – not far from the Pinball Hall of Fame – is my favorite so far. Click the button below to see rates and availability for Tahiti Village and other Las Vegas hotels on TripAdvisor.com.
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