Six Flags Atlantis was a 65-acre water park in Hollywood, Florida, that featured popular 1980s video arcades alongside a wave pool, a seven-story slide tower, and a water-ski lake. Opened in May 1983, the park operated until severe damage from Hurricane Andrew forced its final closure in 1992.
What games can you ID from this blurry picture?
Found this incredible shot of a couple of games in a 7-Eleven in Selkirk, Manitoba Canada as shared on YouTube. The video was filmed in 1990 according to the OP. Unfortunately, he can't identify the game cabinet to the left of MERCS, but it looks like a Bally/Midway cab. Any idea? Check out the video for a quick glimpse of the store and some great narration!
Connecticut Golfland originally opened in 1958 at 95 Hartford Turnpike in Vernon [this vintage commercial gives the address as Route 83, however], featuring a pitch-and-putt golf course, miniature golf, go-karts, and an arcade. After over five decades of operation, the venue closed its doors in 2014. The site has since been redeveloped and operates as Connecticut Golf Land (two words), with the new Fossil Falls Miniature Golf and ConeHeads Creamery currently open for the season. Additional attractions, including an arcade, bumper boats, and a restaurant, are part of the ongoing phased revitalization of the property.
We came across this cool, never-before-seen photo of an Aladdin's Castle storefront in our archives (probably in the early '90s post-renovation) but are unable to confirm what location this is from. Does this trigger any memories from anyone? Would love to add this to the Atlas, but don't know where to post it. Regardless, at least there's another cool, new, high quality image of an Aladdin's Castle in existence online.
Back in the 1980s, arcade games were everywhere: bars, convenience stores, bowling alleys, restaurants, amusement parks, college dorms, laundromats, grocery stores, hotel lobbies, ferry boats…
I experienced many of these firsthand, but it got me thinking: What are some other interesting places that arcade games showed up? Stadiums/arenas, airports, zoos, office buildings, hot air balloons, ski lodges, marinas, high schools…? For some reason, this idea is fascinating to me, so I’d love to hear your stories. Bonus points for pictures!
Ok, here's one just for fun!
The Dixie Boy Truck Stop is the fictional main setting of Stephen King's 1986 sci-fi horror film 'Maximum Overdrive.' In the movie, a group of survivors is trapped inside this isolated North Carolina stop by a fleet of homicidal, sentient semi-trucks. The fake truck stop was built from scratch in 1985 in an industrial area of Leland, North Carolina (near the intersection of Andrew Jackson Highway/US-74 and Popular Street NE), outside of what is now Fire Station 51. The set looked so authentic during production that confused motorists actually pulled in expecting a working gas station and diner, forcing the crew to post local notices. The original movie set structure was eventually torn down in 2008, though select surrounding industrial buildings from the area remain.
Note: I randomly watched Maximum Overdrive last night and was enamored with the Game Room. It felt so authentic to 1985/85 when you could find a random assortment of older games in the back of random spaces like truck stops, convenience stores, and more. It has it all: great games (Star Castle, Tempest cocktail, Night Driver pinball, Time Pilot '84), a snack machine, payphones, a cigarette machine...and future Breaking Bad villain, Gus Fring (Giancarlo Esposito). What more could you want?
Blockbuster Golf and Games was a 25-acre family entertainment center in Sunrise, Florida. It opened in 1994 near the intersection of Interstate 595, State Road 84, and 136th Avenue (at the site where the city's IKEA store now stands). Backed by Blockbuster co-founder H. Wayne Huizenga, it served as an experimental prototype for a nationwide chain of interactive amusement complexes. It closed in 2000.
Ok, I used to manage a Blockbuster Video in college, but even I never knew that Blockbuster tried their hand at operating an amusement complex. Check out that cool arcade! Thanks to Atlas Arcadia user Don Panetta for uploading this one and blowing my mind.
Aladdin's Castle storefront in Orange Park Mall after an early '90s remodel in Orange Park, Florida. Exclusive photo from the personal collection of former Namco EVP, David Bishop.
Check out our first-ever user-supplied location with photos. Voyager 1 was a locally family-owned arcade dating back to the early 1980s by the Duane Family. The original site opened a year earlier at 4604 Monona Drive, but relocated to the larger space the next year, holding 44 games. Thanks to user XX21 for sharing their memories.
The first picture was taken in 2001 after the remodel and comes from the personal collection of former NAMCO COO, David Bishop. The rest of the photos I personally took in 2008 as the arcade was nearing end of life. That half of the mall which contained the food court and movie theater were demolished a few years later and a Dick's Sporting Good erected. That same Dick's and the remaining portion of the mall are now slated for demolition in 2027 to make way for a mixed-use, live-work-play development.
The Fun Terminal arcade was located at 120 1st Street in the South of Market (SoMa) neighborhood of San Francisco, California, near the Transbay Bus Terminal. This particular image was taken somewhere around 1982 and used as the album cover for the album of the same name by The Mutants.
I'm not exactly sure what this was used for, but I came across this image online years ago and saved it because I thought it was cool. Anyone have any more details about what things like this were used for? Free play entry?
Bally's Aladdin's Castle Open House admission ticket for:
Bally's Lemans Family Fun Center #427
University Mall Shopping Center
2217 S. College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO
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Hey all, I just started getting into collecting tokens of old school arcades and bought a pound of bulk tokens on eBay. I was able to identify most of them, but have no clue on these. Any idea?
#1 - Rim Rock Arcade (no cash value back)
#2 - Game World (family electronic game room back)
#3 - 1984 The Corner Fun Center (slotted back)
#4 - Games People Play ("bullseye" style circle design back)
Grand Prix Race-O-Rama had one of the largest arcades in the area to complement its Nascart track, batting cages, mini-golf course and long go-kart track off the highway.
The family entertainment park would come to be owned by Palace Entertainment around 2000 and branded as Boomers, like its sister park further north in Palm Beach. It closed in 2015 and became part of a mixed-use development within 3 years.
The famous Broadway Arcade, known as the "Pinball Capital of the World", was located at 1657 Broadway (between West 51st and 52nd Streets) in Manhattan. The historic establishment was a beloved destination for pinball and video game enthusiasts before closing its doors in 1996.
Central Park arcade as it appeared in a December 1982 article of 'Electronic Games' magazine. Thanks to Neon Rocketship for archiving this.
Barrel of Fun in the RiverGate mall back in the glory days. This one converted to a Namco CyberStation at some point before closing down sometime in the mid-2000s. The mall itself closed in 2026 and demolition has already begun. RIP Barrel of Fun #11.
[Original image exclusive to Atlas Arcadia from the personal collection of David Bishop]