Pinball art at Add-A-Ball Amusements, competitors in the Classics tournament at the Ice Box Arcade, and a pinball tech bringing a game back to life. Amy Attas/West Coast Traveller photo.

Pinball art at Add-A-Ball Amusements, competitors in the Classics tournament at the Ice Box Arcade, and a pinball tech bringing a game back to life. Amy Attas/West Coast Traveller photo.

Flipping for pinball: Why pro players love travelling the west coast

It’s a Thursday night in Seattle’s trendy Fremont neighbourhood. Inside Add-A-Ball Amusements, women, nonbinary and trans competitors are hunched over the blinking lights and ringing chimes of new and vintage pinball machines.

It’s the monthly meet-up for Babes in Pinland, where players give their all — both playing the games and dressing up to the month’s costume theme. There’s a cash prize on the line, plus “whopper points” (World Pinball Player Rankings), so the mood is serious. But not so serious that competitors lob insults or dirty looks — quite the opposite in fact, when the tournament pauses between rounds for a group photo.

Pinball is having a renaissance, and many of its best players and key tournaments are on the West Coast.

How can an arcade game grow such a passionate sub-culture? It requires two skillsets — the physics of manoeuvring the ball on the playfield, plus the gaming knowledge of what shots to hit when — so if you want to fall down the rabbit hole, you can dive pretty deep.

It’s lively and loud, key for engaging the sleep-deprived after-work crowd. It encourages socialization without being too intimidating. It’s a game of both chance and skill, meaning that even the best players sometimes drain their ball right off the plunge, so even beginners have a hope of winning.

I got into pinball thanks to Victoria’s Karrie Hill, who hosts pinball leagues and tournaments at her restaurant, Deadbeetz Burgers. In that league, Hill consistently ranks in the top four, while I’m fighting for eighth or tenth.

Down in Seattle, the competition is a little stiffer. Women there have been playing for decades, practice on machines in their homes, and play in multiple tournaments every week. In the three competitions I entered over a weekend of South Sound Pinball at Add-A-Ball and the nearby Ice Box Arcade, I finished in the bottom half in all of them. As they say, “That’s pinball, baby.”

Pinball art at Add-A-Ball Amusements, competitors in the Classics tournament at the Ice Box Arcade, and a pinball tech bringing a game back to life. Amy Attas/West Coast Traveller photo.

Pinball art at Add-A-Ball Amusements, competitors in the Classics tournament at the Ice Box Arcade, and a pinball tech bringing a game back to life. Amy Attas/West Coast Traveller photo.

So finding stiffer competition is one of the reasons Hill travels to play. Every city has its own pinball culture, and its own mix of rare and vintage games. She’s talked pinball with millionaire collectors and celebrity Twitch streamers, and played her share of one-of-a-kind machines you have to travel to see.

As vacations go, pinball tournaments are a complete escape — it’s nearly impossible to think about work and home stress when you’re immersed in a three-strikes knock-out tournament, scrambling to start your Frankenstein multi-ball.

Want to see what all the fuss is about? Here are a few of the best places to play pinball along the West Coast:

California

  • INDISC (It Never Drains in Southern California): A well-run annual tournament that attracts many of the world’s best players.
  • AYCE Gogi: At both of this restaurant’s LA locations, serving up Korean BBQ and a great selection of pinball games.

Oregon

  • Next Level Pinball Museum: One of the world’s largest arcades with over 475 games set to ‘free play.’ Pay a flat rate admission fee to enjoy unlimited pinball for the day.

Washington

  • Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show: An annual tournament and expo featuring custom, one-of-a-kind games built by amateur enthusiasts, plus other rarities.
  • Northwest Pinball Championships: Held every year at the Lynnwood Bowl & Skate, when you’re not competing against the PNW’s best, you can rent rollerskates for a lap around the rink.

British Columbia

  • Vancouver Island Pinball Expo: The inaugural VIPE took place in 2023, a competition-packed weekend that also offered a selection of free play games.

Alberta

  • YEGPIN: An annual tournament and expo with more than 30,000 square feet of pinball.

Plan your adventures throughout the West Coast at westcoasttraveller.com and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @thewestcoasttraveller. And for the top West Coast Travel stories of the week delivered right to your inbox, sign up for our weekly Armchair Traveller newsletter!

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Travel

The M/V Puyallup docks at the Edmonds waterfront on Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2020 in Edmonds. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Show off your city: The best places to take a visitor

From iconic landmarks to hidden gems, here’s where to impress your guests!

Christmas Lighting Festival, Leavenworth, Washington, the Christmas capital of the Pacific Northwest.
How one village became the Christmas capital of Washington state

Leavenworth, in central Washington, calls itself the Christmas capital of the Pacific Northwest

Amtrak Cascades train 517 to Portland departs from Everett Station on Saturday, Sep. 2, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
U.S. federal money moves Pacific Northwest high-speed rail forward

Planning for an ambitious high-speed rail system in the Pacific Northwest will… Continue reading

People take photos of the lights surrounding the the fountain at the the entrance to the Tulalip Resort & Casino in Tulalip, Washington. Olivia Vanni / The Herald
Record Tulalip holiday display lights up the night

The largest light display in Washington is free of charge and open through Jan. 12.

Enchant Christmas returns to T-Mobile Park in Seattle! Enchant Christmas photo / Courtesy Visit Seattle
Why Seattle is a favourite holiday season destination

No matter the time of year, Seattle offers endless opportunities for adventure,… Continue reading

Tourists crowd the Snoqualmie Falls viewpoint to get photos of the falls and the adjacent Salish Lodge & Spa, in Snoqualmie, Washington. Ryan Berry / The Herald
Twin Peaks fans may know this Snoqualmie, WA retreat as the Great Northern Hotel

Salish Lodge Spa is a perfect mix of romance and relaxation – and suspense, if you’re a Twin Peaks fan

The award-winning and locally owned Magnolia Hotel is perfectly located for those wanting to enjoy downtown Victoria. Courtesy The Magnolia Hotel
City lights, cosy nights: ​​A weekend escape to downtown Victoria

“We need to get away,” I said to my husband after the… Continue reading

Mountains in the Spokane area are eying opening day as they start piling up snow.
Let it snow: Spokane-area ski hills ready for winter

It’s always a good sign when a chairlift starts running before the… Continue reading

A rainy day is no match for a city like Seattle, which offers an abundance of wet-weather activities, including a visit to the famed Space Needle. AdobeStock
12 great things to do in Seattle when it rains

An iconic city synonymous with rainy weather, Seattle brilliantly showcases that drizzle… Continue reading

Twede’s Cafe is pictured at the corner of Bendigo Boulevard and North Bend Way on Sunday, June 9, 2024, in North Bend, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Relive ‘Twin Peaks’ with cherry pie and damn fine coffee at Twede’s Cafe

The North Bend cafe, known as Double R Diner on the campy cult-classic, serves up nostalgia and a damn good breakfast.

Avoid being taken in by a fraudster by knowing some of the tell-tale signs. Photo courtesy Canva
Don’t fall prey to a vacation scam: 7 tips to safeguard your holiday travels

It’s a nightmare scenario: you’ve made all the arrangements for an exciting… Continue reading

People enjoy the grand opening of the new Heritage Distillery tasting room at Angel of the Winds Casino on Friday, Oct. 25, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Heritage, Stillaguamish partner on new Angel of the Winds distillery

Until 2018, it was illegal for tribes to distill on their land. Now, the casino near Arlington has its own tasting room.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.