If you are stopping by Center in the Square this summer or early fall you should expect some dust.
What may be a bit of an eyesore to you is much overdue dust for us – as we expand the Roanoke Pinball Museum.
More Pinball
The Roanoke Pinball Museum has been bursting at the seams for several years. After celebrating its 10thAnniversary in June, it’s way beyond proof of concept. It’s plain that people like to come and pay one price and play pinball to their hearts’ content. And after expansion there will be even more machines from which to choose.
The current museum offers approximately 75 machines, while the new space will allow room for up to one hundred.
When will there be more pinball for us to play?
Crews have already torn down a few walls and are in the process of establishing a new footprint for the museum. There is no firm date as to when the new digs will be ready to welcome the public but look for an announcement in early fall of 2025.
What else will be there?
The additional space will also provide a private pinball service area so machines under repair can be handled out of public view – something that is long overdue.
Let’s face it, many of these machines are old, and they have a lot of wires and moving parts – a perfect recipe for the occasional glitch. Not to worry. Nic Schell and his staff of experts are among the few people who can realistically add “pinball mechanic” to their resumes.
As regulars already know there are pinball machines in the museum from every decade since pinball has been a thing. The new and improved museum will not only feature new machines, but it will lean into the “museum” aspect of the attraction by grouping pinball attractions by decade. So look for your favorite machines from the 50’s, 60’s 70’s 80’s all the way up to the recent Elton John machine featuring all the latest tech.
So get your reflexes ready, because the silver balls will be rolling more than ever as soon as we can hit start.
Pinball Expansion Blog
Carlin
7/30/25