Tim Arnold's Pinball Hall of Fame.

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 exactly 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 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 video games or "ticket spitters" (aka kiddie casinos) here. It's all pure pinball from the past. And since it's a non-profit, excess revenues go to non-denominational charities.

4500 square feet is dedicated to the Pinball Hall of Fame, where the entire family can enjoy non-violent 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 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. A far better return on fun than any Las Vegas casino environment, and the PHoF actually has windows and a clock in the room! It takes more than slot machines to keep tourists happy, and the Pinball Hall of Fame is trying its best to do just that.

The Pinball Hall of Fame is a registered 501c3 non-profit. It relies on visitors stopping by to play these games, restored pinball machine sales, and 'This Old Pinball' repair dvd videos (available for sale at the museum). The PHoF has also helped out with fundraising for the local Salvation Army, accepting donations to benefit them. There is a candy vending stand, where the entire $.25 of each quarter goes directly to the Salvation Army. Local busineses that have just a few square feet of floor space that would like to help with this project, or anyone interested in available machine sales are encouraged to contact Tim Arnold at the PHoF for more information.

Location

3330 E. Tropicana, Las Vegas NV 8910x

North West corner of Tropicana and Pecos.

About 10 blocks from the "strip" straight down Tropicana, about a $10 taxi ride.

Next to the Tropicana Cinema $2 movie theatre. If you somehow miss the machines staring at you through the window, its just around the corner from the movie theater, between the comic shop and Putters bar.

 

Hours & Contact Info

Hours: 11am till 11pm, 7 days a week.

Telephone: N/A

Email: pinballhalloffame@msn.com

 

Directions

From the airport:
Follow signs to Tropicana/Swenson exit. Take Swenson north (its one-way) and turn right on Tropicana. After crossing the McLeod intersection, look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left.

From the Strip:
Easy! Turn east towards the Tropicana/MGM Grand side of the Strip. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left just past the Pecos stoplight.

From I-15 South:
Take Tropicana East exit (towards the Strip). After crossing the McLeod intersection, look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left. Or to avoid the Strip, take the I-215 Henderson exit, then take the Pecos exit and turn left. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left just past the Tropicana stoplight.

From I-15 North:
Take Tropicana East exit (towards the Strip). After crossing the McLeod intersection, look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your left. Or to avoid the Strip, take the 95 South exit, then take the Tropicana exit and turn right. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your right just past the Pecos stoplight.

From US 95 North or South:
Take Tropicana exit and turn left (if coming from the south) or right (if coming from the north). Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your right just past the Pecos stoplight.

From Downtown (Fremont Street Experience area):
Go to Las Vegas Blvd North and turn right onto 95 South. Take Tropicana exit and turn right. Look for the Tropicana Cinemas sign on your right just past the Pecos stoplight.

 

Pinball Game List

A listing of the games available for play at the PHoF is online. They are adding or changing games at the PHoF a lot, but this list is fairly up to date.