Vintage Pinball Adventures
by Rebecca Peters
This week I visited the Arnolds Park Museum to try my luck at some of the newest additions, the vintage pinball machines. The museum is filled with items that will bring a smile to your face and remind you of great times in Arnolds Park.
I did a lap around the museum when I arrived. I surveyed each of the dozen plus pinball machines. I laughed at my reflect in the crazy mirrors. I took a closer look at the barrel and sugar bowl from the original Fun House. I event took a ride down the wooden slide! Then it was time to get to my real adventure for the day. I needed to sharpen my pinball skills in advance for the tournament taking place during the University of Okoboji Winter Games. The Pinball Tournament is one of many Winter Games events that will be taking place at Arnolds Park.
The first machine I played was Egg Head. It was clear I needed a little practice after my first ball ding, dinged it’s way through the game and then I lost it without the opportunity to flip it back once! Thankfully each round after that went much better. As I worked my way through 6 different machines, my hand-eye coordination got much better! Am I ready to win the tournament this weekend? No. Did I have a lot of fun “practicing?” Yes!
The museum is open Thursday-Saturday each week, with extended hours during Winter Games weekend. Participate in the pinball machine tournament this weekend, or stop by any weekend to challenge yourself. You’ll really enjoy the thrills of these machines. They’re a great addition to the museum, and I can’t wait to return for more practice!
Hear more about this adventure in the Vacation Okoboji podcast!
I hope you use this winter to become a tourist in our community. Our community is filled with great attractions that are sure to put a smile on your face! You can find more information about the Arnolds Park Museum and other fun adventures in the Iowa Great Lakes area at www.VacationOkoboji.com.