Entry No. 69 — the Des Moines file — filed under: arcade-play
Old School Arcade (Grimes)
The original location of an Iowa-grown arcade that stocks dozens of vintage pinball machines alongside classic cabinets, with an all-ages, nostalgia-first vibe. Instead of a bar, the draw is an old-fashioned soda-fountain side: ice cream shakes and malts served while you play. It is the rare local spot built around pure retro gaming rather than craft beer.
The story
Twelve miles northwest of downtown Des Moines, squeezed into a commercial strip off SE Gateway Drive, sits the original mother ship of Iowa’s Old School Arcade. While most modern arcades lean heavily on craft beer and dim lighting to mask broken flippers, this place flipped the formula entirely: zero alcohol, pure silver-ball obsession, and a soda-fountain side counter.
Inside, you are standing in front of more than 60 vintage pinball machines and a sprawling line of restored classic cabinets. You buy a wristband at the door, which unlocks unlimited play across decades of coin-op history. There are no plastic arcade cards to reload or quarters to jam into coin slots—just mechanical relays, drop targets, CRT monitors, and the rhythmic clatter of glass-top tables.
The refreshment counter replaces the standard taproom setup with old-fashioned malts, ice cream shakes, and floats served directly to players. It keeps the room firmly all-ages and shifts the atmosphere away from late-night bar spillover toward unfiltered retro gaming.
What it's like
You'll hear the rumble of pinball steel and the chirps of retro game cabinets as soon as you walk in. Grab your wristband at the front counter, hit the soda fountain for a malt, and start pacing down the pinball rows. The crowd ranges from serious local high-score chasers to families teaching kids how to hit a proper bank shot. Tip: hit them on a Thursday evening or Sunday afternoon if you want unfettered access to the rarest pinball titles without waiting over someone's shoulder.
The move: Order two old-fashioned malts and work your way down a long row of vintage pinball machines, trading the good ones back and forth.
📍 Before you go All ages, no alcohol. About 12 miles northwest of downtown; verify Grimes location hours.
- 📍 Grimes
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1551 SE Gateway Dr, Grimes, IA 50111
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Backpocket Pin & Pixel — Pair Grimes' dry, nostalgia-first pinball room with Johnston's craft-beer taproom, duckpin bowling, and modern arcade mix just four miles away.
- Ratt's Underground Records — Head five miles south into Merle Hay Mall to dig through crates at one of the Midwest's weirdest basement record shops after your arcade session.
- Curioso Antiques & Uniquities — Trade neon arcade lights and pinball soundscapes for a quiet wander through a converted Beaverdale home filled with gothic curiosities and art deco oddities.
- The Operating Room - Pinball Bar Arcade — Compare this alcohol-free original with its medical-themed pinball counterpart in West Des Moines, where bartenders in surgical scrubs pour drinks under hand-painted anatomical diagrams.
Good to know
Do I need quarters or tokens to play the machines?
No quarters needed. You pay for a flat-rate wristband at the entrance that gives you unlimited free play across all vintage pinball machines and classic arcade cabinets.
Do they serve beer or alcohol?
No. The arcade is strictly an all-ages, non-alcoholic venue. In place of a bar, they serve old-fashioned ice cream shakes, malts, floats, and food at their soda fountain side.
Where is it located and how far is it from Des Moines?
It is located at 1551 SE Gateway Dr in Grimes, Iowa, approximately 12 miles northwest of downtown Des Moines.
When is the arcade open?
The arcade operates on a limited schedule, typically open Thursday through Sunday. Because operating days and hours can adjust, always verify their current schedule before driving out.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Yelp · desmoinesparent.com · Facebook · traveliowa.com
last checked: 2026-06-23