Inside Carolina Arcade Museum - rows of classic arcade cabinets and colorful banners
105+
Playable
Machines
$13
All Day
Pass
Google
4.9
Google
Rating
2
Floors of
Gaming
2018
Est. Forest
City, NC
PBS
As Seen
on PBS
Carolina Arcade Museum

100+ classics. Two floors. Zero quarters.

Press Start Plan Your Visit

The Collection

105+ Machines.
All Playable.

From Pac-Man to pinball, every cabinet is powered up and waiting. Classics from the '70s, '80s, and '90s. Plus a downstairs room with blacklights and vintage 80s arcade carpet.

Star Wars pinball machine with someone playing at Carolina Arcade Museum
Bad Dudes vs Dragon Ninja arcade cabinet
The Munsters pinball machine

Admission

Insert Coin.
Just Kidding.

No tokens. No quarters. Just grab a wristband and play everything.

Hourly Pass

$8

One hour of unlimited play on every machine in the museum.

Get Pass

Most Popular

All-Day Pass

$13

Play all day long. Come and go as you please with your wristband.

Get Pass

Group Rate

$10

Per person for groups of 15 or more. All-day admission included.

Get Pass
Pac-Man • Donkey Kong • Double Dragon • Street Fighter II • Galaga • Ms. Pac-Man • Star Wars • The Munsters • Centipede • Mortal Kombat • Whirlwind • NBA Jam • Frogger • Bad Dudes • Mars Attacks! Pac-Man • Donkey Kong • Double Dragon • Street Fighter II • Galaga • Ms. Pac-Man • Star Wars • The Munsters • Centipede • Mortal Kombat • Whirlwind • NBA Jam • Frogger • Bad Dudes • Mars Attacks!

105+

Playable Machines

Cabinets and pinball, all powered up

80+

In Rotation

New games swapped in regularly

$0

Per Play

One price, no quarters required

2

Floors

Main floor plus blacklight basement

Private Events

Birthday
Parties

🎉

Your Own Party Room

Two hours, fully private. Bring decorations, cake, food, drinks. Make it yours.

🎮

All-Day Arcade Access

Every guest plays unlimited games on 105+ machines, both floors, all day long.

💡

The Blacklight Basement

Neon carpet, glowing screens, a whole floor of cabinets under blacklights. Kids go wild for it.

➕

Invite More People

Extra wristbands just $8 each. Only guests playing games need one.

$150

15 guests included
all-day play

Party room 2 hours
Wristbands 15 included
Extra guests $8 each
Game access All day
Per kid $10
Book a Party

$25 deposit to reserve your date

Our Story

More Than Just a Screen

Carolina Arcade Museum storefront

Est.2018

Where It All Started

145 East Main Street in Forest City, NC used to be just another empty building on a quiet downtown strip. Dave Walker filled it with the machines he grew up playing and opened the doors to everyone.

Dave Walker with family at pinball

The Founder

Dave Walker

Collector turned curator. Dave built this place because he believed playing side by side beats playing alone. Every machine is freeplay. No quarters, no tokens, no timers. Just walk in and play.

Blacklight basement arcade

PBS

Small Town, National Spotlight

PBS came to Forest City to tell the story of a small-town arcade preserving gaming history. Two floors, 105+ machines, and a blacklight basement that feels like stepping into 1985.

"It's more than just a screen you're looking at."
Dave Walker, Founder

What People Say

Player Reviews

★★★★★ 4.9 stars on Google • 40+ reviews

★★★★★

"We were there for almost 9 hours! The children had a blast playing all the retro games. They didn't want to leave!"

Amos Famous

GGoogle Review

★★★★★

"Our kids (10 & 13) had a blast, and their grandparents (64 & 74) found some old favorites."

Stephanie Girard

GGoogle Review

★★★★★

"By far the best way to spend an evening downtown. The downstairs room has blacklights and 80s arcade carpet."

Alex J

GGoogle Review

★★★★★

"We never had to wait for a game and could have spent all day here. Worth the drive from Charlotte!"

Jill B.

GGoogle Review

★★★★★

"Best arcade museum in the region! The owners are fantastic people. Machines maintained well and very clean!"

James Donaldson

GGoogle Review

★★★★★

"Good selection of games, especially pinball including classics like The Munsters and Mars Attacks!"

Christian Mabe

GGoogle Review

Plan Your Visit

Come Play

145 East Main St, Forest City Directions →

Hours

  • Monday12:00 - 8:00 PM
  • Tuesday12:00 - 8:00 PM
  • Wednesday12:00 - 8:00 PM
  • Thursday12:00 - 8:00 PM
  • Friday12:00 - 10:00 PM
  • Saturday12:00 - 10:00 PM
  • SundayClosed

Connect

(828) 229-3089 Tap to call Carolina Arcade Museum Follow on Facebook 4.9 Stars on Google Leave a review