Pinball Hall of Fame

The Pinball Hall of Fame

An in-depth LA Times article on the Hall of Fame and its owner, Tim Arnold who owns 1000 pinball machines (including one each of all 384 produced by his favorite manufacturer, Gottlieb).

Las Vegas is known for the unusual and offbeat. Places like the Liberace Museum, the Neon Museum, the Clown Factory, The Elvis Museum, the Barry Manilow Store, the Pinball Hall of Fame... Wait a second. The Pinball Hall of Fame? What exactly is that? Or more importantly, why is there a Pinball Hall of Fame?

The Pinball Hall of Fame is an attempt by the members of the Las Vegas Pinball Collectors Club to house and display the world's largest pinball collection, open to the public. A not-for-profit corporation was established to further this cause. The games belong to one club member (Tim Arnold), and range from 1950s up to 1990s pinball machines. Since it is a non-profit museum, older games from the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s are the prevelant, as this was the 'heyday' of pinball. There are no 'ticket spitters' here (aka kiddie casinos or redemption). It's all pure pinball (and a few arcade novelty games) from the past. And since it's a non-profit, excess revenues go to non-denominational charities.

10,000 square feet is dedicated to the Pinball Hall of Fame, where the entire family can enjoy non-violent pinball arcade games for small dinero. All machines are available for play, so not only can you see them, you can actually play your old favorites. The pinball machines are all restored to like-new playing condition by people that love pinball and understand how a machine should work. All older pinballs are set to 25 cents per play, and newer 1990s models are set to 50 cents per play.

Entrance to the Pinball Hall of Fame is FREE -- games cost.
Hours: 11am till 11pm, Sunday to Thursday.
11am till Midnight, Friday and Saturday.
Email: pinballhalloffame@msn.com

1610 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas NV 89119
(new location, opened 11/3/2009)
The new location is on the north side of Tropicana between
S. Maryland Pkwy and S. Eastern Ave, about 12 blocks (1.5 miles)
from the 'strip' straight down Tropicana. (About a 10 dollar taxi ride, within walking distance for those with good legs.)
Right across the street from the Liberace Museum.