Asheville Pinball Museum
Asheville Pinball Museum
4.5
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  • hfritzinger
    Newark, Delaware531 contributions
    Great way to spend the afternoon!
    This was a really fun stop in Asheville, especially on a stormy afternoon. We arrived at about 1:45pm on a Friday afternoon in July and there were already about 20 people in line. Note they let in 70 people and then you go onto a waiting list. Prior to the opening at 2pm, we were given information and instructions by the owner and then proceeded inside and to pay (there were two lines - one for credit card and one for cash). We then received a wristband and were entitled to free play on nearly all machines. Note you can leave and come back later in the day and you are moved to the top of the wait list which is pretty neat. Admittedly this stop was more on the list for my husband, but I had such a blast too! Playing all the old machines and even the more recent ones were a total blast. Since there is a cap on people allowed we never had to wait for a machine. This was a really well-run experience and one we'd highly recommend!
    Visited July 2021
    Written July 14, 2021
  • TravelMaven42
    Chicago, Illinois181 contributions
    So much fun!
    If you grew up playing pinball or are a kid today, either way this is fun way to spend an afternoon. The "museum" has two rooms of pinball plus other games. They even have snacks and drinks which no one seemed to be buying as everyone needed two hands for the games. This is a great stop for kids of all ages - well worth the $15 entrance fee.
    Visited January 2020
    Written January 11, 2020
  • pgb520
    Mount Kisco, New York51 contributions
    Take A Trip Back In Time
    This place is a blast from the past. About 75 machines in all, from old fashioned pinball to classic video games. It costs about $15 to get in, but once inside, all but two of the games are unlimited free play. These machines get a lot of play, so some of them could use a little TLC, but this was a great activity on a rainy day during our vacation in Asheville. Be prepared to wait to get in, as it's a popular place and they do limit the number of people allowed in at any one time. We had about an hour wait after we signed in, so we meandered around the neighborhood stores to kill the time. Took me a few games to get my flipper coordination going again, but after a while it all came back to me. FUN! The only reason it's not a 5 star rating is that some of the games that say you get 5 balls only give you 3, and some of the machines do need some repairs.
    Visited July 2021
    Written July 22, 2021
  • Ann H
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida1,581 contributions
    Pinball machine
    1/26/2020- Many pinball new and old . Some just for Display. Every employee in there was very friendly very nice and Sophia from where you check in and pay couldn’t have been any kinder. All really nice games for only $15.00 dollars. Ms Pac-Man, PAC man able to Pac-Man also Elvira it so many it was some that had three bowls and had five balls , it was very exciting lots of people coming in there. I was told they also have a bar there that’s very nice I didn’t see it and I wasn’t drinking I enjoyed myself a lot.
    Visited January 2020
    Traveled solo
    Written January 26, 2020
  • William S
    Kobe, Japan1,261 contributions
    If you like pinball this is a MUST DO!
    The “museum” is a cozy place with 50-70 machines, helpful staff and a bar serving beer and non-alcohol drinks. You pay a reasonable flat fee and can play almost all of the machines as long as you like. The offer a wide range of machines most of which you haven’t seen in decades. The patrons, when I was there, are about 50/50 male/female and mostly 20-30 years of age. It’s very comfortable for most anyone. It is a little noisy when crowded but not deafening. Masks are required, thankfully.
    Visited October 2021
    Traveled solo
    Written October 27, 2021
  • Arleen F
    17 contributions
    Best $15 I've spent in a long time!
    We had a wonderful afternoon here! They have not only pinball machines, but video games as well. They limit the number of people inside at one time so that there are always machines to play. I learned after the visit that they have a sister location in Hendersonville (the Appalachian Pinball Museum) - we'll definitely check that one out next time!
    Visited June 2021
    Written July 3, 2021
  • MITraveler60
    103 contributions
    Retro Fun!
    The Ashevile Pinball Museum, located in the central downtown area, is a fun place to spend some time. The small space is filled with vintage pinball machines. For a reasonable fee ($15 at this writing) one can play from opening to closing (with return privileges if one decides to step out for something to eat, etc.). Lots of fun for pinball lovers of all ages.
    Visited March 2022
    Written March 13, 2022
  • JBH7212014
    Manchester, Georgia97 contributions
    Fun But Neware a Parking Ticket
    We enjoyed our visit to this active museum even though our pinball history was in the 50's and they did not have too many working that were from that era. Loved a baseball one we remembered where the metal players run around the bases for the hits you get. We were amazed the place was full of people paying $15 for unlimited play. Definetely recommend. However, we are in our 80's and I use a power wheelcchaiir. There were no handicapped spaces on the main street. There was one, occupied, around the corner and a ramp to reach the level of the pinball museum. Someone pulled out of the parking lot across the street and we took the corner spot. An hour later we camed out and had a $20 parking ticket for parking in a permit only lot. The sign was very obvious we just did not see it. We live in a tiny Georgia town so permit lots are not something we are accustomed to. My GA handdicapped card was in the windshield and a manual wheelchair and walker plainly visible in our backseat. I don't know what wheelchair visitors are supposed to do in that area. Be careful
    Visited October 2022
    Written October 28, 2022
  • LondonLee
    187 contributions
    Okay
    If you love old time pinball and have a few hours to play it is fun. I really enjoyed playing one of the video games from the 80's so it was a fun hour. The reason for 3 stars is that I don't know how clean this place can possibly be during covid - it is dark, everyone is touching the same buttons and pulls and you are crammed in a relatively small space. Masks required but I never saw anyone wiping down the machines between players. Perhaps I was too engrossed in Centipede tough.
    Visited August 2021
    Written August 6, 2021
  • cushybear1
    Jacksonville, Florida10 contributions
    So much fun for everyone!
    My wife and I took our 3 kids (ages 9, 7,, and 4) to the Pinball Museum, and we all had a great time. As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, the games were nostalgic as was the decor inside the museum. It was nice to pay a flat price and play as much as we wanted to. For my 4 year old, it was nice for him to gain experience and understanding of arcade games. It didn’t take long for him to understand pinball too. I would tell anyone 50 or younger that visiting this place is at the top of the must do list in Asheville.
    Visited June 2021
    Traveled with family
    Written June 17, 2021
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
933 reviews
Excellent
692
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3

hfritzinger
Newark, DE531 contributions
Jul 2021
This was a really fun stop in Asheville, especially on a stormy afternoon. We arrived at about 1:45pm on a Friday afternoon in July and there were already about 20 people in line. Note they let in 70 people and then you go onto a waiting list. Prior to the opening at 2pm, we were given information and instructions by the owner and then proceeded inside and to pay (there were two lines - one for credit card and one for cash). We then received a wristband and were entitled to free play on nearly all machines. Note you can leave and come back later in the day and you are moved to the top of the wait list which is pretty neat. Admittedly this stop was more on the list for my husband, but I had such a blast too! Playing all the old machines and even the more recent ones were a total blast. Since there is a cap on people allowed we never had to wait for a machine. This was a really well-run experience and one we'd highly recommend!
Written July 14, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

TravelMaven42
Chicago, IL181 contributions
Jan 2020
If you grew up playing pinball or are a kid today, either way this is fun way to spend an afternoon. The "museum" has two rooms of pinball plus other games. They even have snacks and drinks which no one seemed to be buying as everyone needed two hands for the games. This is a great stop for kids of all ages - well worth the $15 entrance fee.
Written January 11, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

pgb520
Mount Kisco, NY51 contributions
Jul 2021
This place is a blast from the past. About 75 machines in all, from old fashioned pinball to classic video games. It costs about $15 to get in, but once inside, all but two of the games are unlimited free play. These machines get a lot of play, so some of them could use a little TLC, but this was a great activity on a rainy day during our vacation in Asheville. Be prepared to wait to get in, as it's a popular place and they do limit the number of people allowed in at any one time. We had about an hour wait after we signed in, so we meandered around the neighborhood stores to kill the time. Took me a few games to get my flipper coordination going again, but after a while it all came back to me. FUN! The only reason it's not a 5 star rating is that some of the games that say you get 5 balls only give you 3, and some of the machines do need some repairs.
Written July 22, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Ann H
Fort Lauderdale, FL1,581 contributions
Jan 2020 • Solo
1/26/2020- Many pinball new and old . Some just for Display. Every employee in there was very friendly very nice and Sophia from where you check in and pay couldn’t have been any kinder.
All really nice games for only $15.00 dollars.
Ms Pac-Man, PAC man able to Pac-Man also Elvira it so many it was some that had three bowls and had five balls , it was very exciting lots of people coming in there.
I was told they also have a bar there that’s very nice I didn’t see it and I wasn’t drinking I enjoyed myself a lot.
Written January 26, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

William S
Kobe, Japan1,261 contributions
Oct 2021 • Solo
The “museum” is a cozy place with 50-70 machines, helpful staff and a bar serving beer and non-alcohol drinks. You pay a reasonable flat fee and can play almost all of the machines as long as you like. The offer a wide range of machines most of which you haven’t seen in decades. The patrons, when I was there, are about 50/50 male/female and mostly 20-30 years of age. It’s very comfortable for most anyone. It is a little noisy when crowded but not deafening. Masks are required, thankfully.
Written October 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

Arleen F
Fayetteville17 contributions
Jun 2021
We had a wonderful afternoon here! They have not only pinball machines, but video games as well. They limit the number of people inside at one time so that there are always machines to play. I learned after the visit that they have a sister location in Hendersonville (the Appalachian Pinball Museum) - we'll definitely check that one out next time!
Written July 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

MITraveler60
Michigan103 contributions
Mar 2022
The Ashevile Pinball Museum, located in the central downtown area, is a fun place to spend some time. The small space is filled with vintage pinball machines. For a reasonable fee ($15 at this writing) one can play from opening to closing (with return privileges if one decides to step out for something to eat, etc.). Lots of fun for pinball lovers of all ages.
Written March 13, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

JBH7212014
Manchester, GA97 contributions
Oct 2022
We enjoyed our visit to this active museum even though our pinball history was in the 50's and they did not have too many working that were from that era. Loved a baseball one we remembered where the metal players run around the bases for the hits you get. We were amazed the place was full of people paying $15 for unlimited play. Definetely recommend.

However, we are in our 80's and I use a power wheelcchaiir. There were no handicapped spaces on the main street. There was one, occupied, around the corner and a ramp to reach the level of the pinball museum. Someone pulled out of the parking lot across the street and we took the corner spot. An hour later we camed out and had a $20 parking ticket for parking in a permit only lot. The sign was very obvious we just did not see it. We live in a tiny Georgia town so permit lots are not something we are accustomed to. My GA handdicapped card was in the windshield and a manual wheelchair and walker plainly visible in our backseat. I don't know what wheelchair visitors are supposed to do in that area. Be careful
Written October 28, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

LondonLee
Peoria, Illinois187 contributions
Aug 2021
If you love old time pinball and have a few hours to play it is fun. I really enjoyed playing one of the video games from the 80's so it was a fun hour. The reason for 3 stars is that I don't know how clean this place can possibly be during covid - it is dark, everyone is touching the same buttons and pulls and you are crammed in a relatively small space. Masks required but I never saw anyone wiping down the machines between players. Perhaps I was too engrossed in Centipede tough.
Written August 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

cushybear1
Jacksonville, FL10 contributions
Jun 2021 • Family
My wife and I took our 3 kids (ages 9, 7,, and 4) to the Pinball Museum, and we all had a great time. As a child of the 80’s and 90’s, the games were nostalgic as was the decor inside the museum. It was nice to pay a flat price and play as much as we wanted to. For my 4 year old, it was nice for him to gain experience and understanding of arcade games. It didn’t take long for him to understand pinball too. I would tell anyone 50 or younger that visiting this place is at the top of the must do list in Asheville.
Written June 17, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.

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