by Devin Fuentes
A core memory of my childhood is playing arcade games, especially the pinball machines. I used to go over to my mom’s best friend’s house and spend plenty of time in the O’Brien’s basement playing pinball. Bill O’Brien had two different pinball machines, and it made babysitting their kids all worth it. My father used to take us to Sluggers in Chicago where they had batting cages and arcade games. Now that I’m in my 30s and arcades seem like a thing of the past, I’ve finally found a place where I can relive some of those core memories surrounding pinball machines.
There’s a place that’s a literal museum for arcade games and pinball machines, where only coins are accepted as the only way to play their games. It’s whole building dedicated to pinball machines of all varieties. I’ve been to Galloping Ghost in Brookfield where there are hundreds of modern arcade games to play for an unlimited amount of time. However, Arcadia: America’s Playable Arcade Museum in Mclean, Illinois, has just under 200 playable classic arcade games.
From my time spent in Mclean, I would advise that you eat before you go or have plans to eat after, and bring cash. It’s a very small town, and I’m pretty sure the only thing to do in Mclean is Arcadia. There are two separate buildings, with one dedicated to their museum of playable pinball machines. Those pinball machines are some of the best and well-kept pinball machines I’ve played on.
One memorable theme is the bowling-themed pinball machines; it really felt and looked like we were bowling! Of course, Arcadia sticks to the classics, so expect to play on pinball machines themed like Star Wars, Gilligan’s Island, and Indiana Jones. Some of the classic arcade games worth mentioning include Donkey Kong, Dance Dance Revolution, skee-ball, and a Lamborghini racing game. If that wasn’t enough, there’s also lodging offered directly above their main location.
In my time at WONC, I’ve come to find a new love for the classics. I hadn’t realized how much of my core memories in life are related to nostalgia and the classics. FM89 plays a lot of music I grew up with, and the community and listeners have instilled in me a gratefulness for community. This is just a place where I think I would love to see more community take part in history and enjoy some of the classics.
Arcadia is a cool place to escape from the all too serious world. It was very family friendly, clean, and a real blast from the past. I could offer more of my favorite moments, but my hope is to leave it a mystery to be found out. This cozy little piece of nostalgia should be added to everyone’s bucket list.
