I go out to the Penny Arcade in Manitou Springs a couple of times a year, and it’s the old pinball that pulls me back. They still have machines I played as a kid, and standing in front of one takes me right back. It’s free to walk in and look around, you only pay for what you play.
They call it a penny arcade, and there are a few real penny machines left, but the pinball and most of the games run on quarters now. You can wander through the whole place and not spend a dime until something grabs you.
It’s at 930 Manitou Avenue, downtown Manitou Springs, a short hop west of Colorado Springs. Their own site lists more than 400 coin-operated machines spread across a cluster of buildings: pinball, video games, skee-ball, kiddie rides, photo booths, and a horse racing game where you roll a ball into scoring holes. I didn’t play the horse racing game my last time through. I went for the cabinets I grew up on.
What I actually play
Last time was an evening in late July, out there with friends. We played Asteroids, Space Invaders, and Defender. If you grew up on those, you’ll want them, plus the pinball.
Bring cash. There’s an ATM on site that hands out $10 bills, and they’ll break cash into quarters, dimes, and pennies. I’m not going to invent a per-person budget for you. Walk in, look around, then feed the machines you actually care about.
Hours (check before you go)
Open seven days a week. Closed Christmas Day.
As of August 31, 2026, the arcade’s own site still had the summer block posted, Friday May 15 through Monday September 7: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. After that window I don’t know the fall hours yet, and I’m not going to guess. Check their site or call (719) 685-9815 before you drive over, especially around a holiday. The horse racing game is old and goes down for maintenance from time to time, so call or text ahead if that’s the one you’re after.
How I’d make an evening of it
Right next door is Border Burger, at 934 Manitou Avenue. After you play, walk over and eat. I had the Coloradan, a green chili cheeseburger with avocado. Really good. Their menu lists it as a hatch green chile burger with Swiss and avocado.
Afterward we got ice cream at the gift shop next to the arcade. I think they call it a Creamery. The ice cream is Scoops, and it’s good.
That’s the night: play, burger, ice cream. Not a mineral-springs tasting loop I never walked, and not a ranked list of restaurants I haven’t eaten at.
What this page is not
This isn’t a Manitou Springs day-trip dump. I live on the west side of Colorado Springs, and I come over here for the arcade.
If you want shops on the west side, that’s Old Colorado City, a few minutes back toward town. I walk that stretch for the little shops and La Baguette. If you want the train up Pikes Peak, you catch the cog railway right out of Manitou. Parking for that can be tight in busy season, that’s a separate trip on a separate day.
For the wider visitor list, start with things to do in Colorado Springs. I’m not rebuilding that hub on this page.
Give the Penny Arcade an evening. Walk in free. Play the machines you actually remember.
Related guides
- Old Colorado City stores and things to do
- Pikes Peak Cog Railway
- Things to Do in Colorado Springs
- Norbu’s Himalayan Hut (Manitou, a firsthand favorite, a different night than the arcade)
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