Roanoke Pinball Museum

The Roanoke Pinball Museum is a treasure trove of these arcade games, some of which you may play when visiting. The museum is more than just a collection of pinball machines. It also documents the science and art behind the industry. It even includes a lengthy history of pinball. While you may come from a nostalgic perspective, you will learn something about the industry while you are here, and it is well worth the exploration.

This attraction is jam-packed with pinball machines to explore. They span nearly a full 100 years of production, as some of them date back to the 1930s. Others are very modern games that you may not know are still produced today. The museum first opened its doors in 2015, and it features approximately 60 playable pinball machines on display.

The Roanoke Pinball Museum is located on Market Square SE. It is located across from Three Notch’d Craft Kitchen and near Table 50. It is extremely easy to access right off Campbell Avenue SW.

For first-time visitors, plan a few things in advance. First, they are not open on Mondays. From Tuesday through Saturday, the location is open from 11:00 to 8:00, and it is open from 1:00 to 6:00 on Sundays. The location is on the second floor of the Center in the Square. This location comprises a group of museums situated in the city's downtown area.

There is an admission fee to get in. For most people, it was $13.50 when we visited in 2022. For those who are under 10, the price was $10, while children under the age of 2 are free of charge. If you plan to be in the area for a while, consider becoming a Pinball Patron to support the organization. You pay a bit more per month, but you can visit as often as you want. They also give you free swag each month and, over time, even your own pinball machine at the location. There are some great opportunities here. Be sure to check out this offer if you plan to visit the area on a regular basis.

You can buy tickets to the museum online. I recommend doing this because they can be busy, and it can take some time away from exploring the museum to wait in line.

Also, if you or your kids love the location, you can also set up a birthday party or a special event at the location. This is great – we did not know this was an option, but while visiting, we saw a group of tweens enjoying pinball machines and a party.

Roanoke Pinball Museum: Fun Facts & Cool Features

As you visit the location, you will find one pinball machine after another. We highly recommend taking the time to work through several of them and try them out. It is quite interesting to see the evolution of the pinball machine over time. For those who are older, you may even find some of your favorite pinball machines from when you were younger.

There are a lot of fantastic options out there, like the 300 from 1975, Eight Ball from 1977, and the Skill Score that dates back to 1932. There are tons here – even dozens, to check out.

With your ticket, you can play as many of the pinball machines as often as you want. You'll learn about the science behind the way the pinball machines work. Some are open, allowing you to see their inner workings. While the game has evolved over time, many of its mechanics, which have been around for nearly 100 years, remain unchanged.

Additionally, you'll learn about how they are marketed, the colors used, and the reason for their design. For those who really want to learn a great deal about pinball machines, the team is happy to talk to you. They can discuss the design process with you, the use of backglasses, and why play fields are selected. We learned so much about not just the older versions of the pinball machines but also the new generation of them and how they continue to be so popular.

Plan on taking a few hours to explore the location on your Smith Mountain Lake getaway.