Pinball In Portland - That Silver Ball Is Calling!

 What's especially groovy is knowing that pinball in Portland Oregon is huge and it's popularity is continuing to grow! It's no secret that I'm a retro arcade gamer.

Portland leads the nation with over 500 pinball machines in close to 250 locations, all in the city of Portland! Wow! Check the Pinball Portland Map and tell me if I'm lying. ;)

Ever since the days of Pong, I've been infatuated with arcades and the game of pinball. When I was in high school, my friends and I would frequent a place called Electric Castle Wunderland in Milwaukie.

This place was a large arcade in a strip mall along SE McLoughlin Blvd. In those good old days, everything was a quarter per play and we would save up our allowances or work pay in anticipation of a weekend filled with Pacman, Dragon's Lair, and Asteroids. The special thing about Wunderland, though, is that you paid a small admission fee and then everything only cost you a nickel!

The Wunderland that was located at Jantzen Beach Center charged a larger admission to get in, but all the games were free. I would spend hours there!

Arcade games are ultra-cool, but pinball is something really special to me. There is something about it that says, "community."

Once I moved out to Tigard, Malibu Grand Prix was my location of choice for some shiny, silver ball action. I was so into it, I was often called the Tilt King by my friends. I didn't  have to be good, I just had to have fun. Superman, an oversized pinball machine there at one time, was the one you'd tend to find me at.

My favorites pinball machines of all time? Cyclone and Funhouse. What's yours? Tell me at the bottom of the page.

Portland is the Mecca of the game of pinball, not only boasting all those large numbers of lovely, pinging and ponging machines, but there are Portland pinball leagues, clubs, groups, and tournaments throughout the year. Pro players and novices alike come from around the country to show off their skill in order to rake in cash and prizes.

If you love the game as I do, there are still Wunderland locations throughout the Portland area. One of favorite places to play is Ground Kontrol down on NW Couch, in the heart of the city. Their entire upper level is dedicated to pinball. I even brought along one of my friends and shot an episode of VIDBLOGGER NATION there (the Xfinity On-Demand TV show I was on) called, "Gone With the Games."

Even though Stern is the only remaining manufacturer of pinball machines in the nation, it doesn't mean that the machines from every other maker aren't somewhere out there, just waiting to be played. And who knows? If the game continues to grow in popularity again, introducing younger people to what we know is classic and fun, maybe there will be additional manufactures popping up to meet the demand. Wouldn't THAT be something?;)

So, with that information in your noggin, it's time for some action! It doesn't matter if you're the Pinball Wizard himself or not. Just go have some fun playing some pinball in Portland!

Below, you'll find some places to get hooked up with fellow players and lovers of pinball in Portland Oregon. You thought your childhood was dead, eh? Not at all! If you're a player, fan, owner of machines, Portland has places just for you to relive your past over and over again.

Places to play Pinball in Portland, Oregon

Ground Kontrol
511 NW Couch St
Portland, OR 97209

Electric Castle Wunderland

Pinball Clubs in Portland

Other Pinball Goodies

Do you have fond memories of your pinball days? Tell about your favorite arcades and machines. How about the most amazing game you played or score you racked up? If the game of pinball brings a smile to your face, share those good times with everyone here!

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