Entry No. 36 — the Helena file — filed under: arcade-play
The Lewis & Clarkade (Lewis & Clark Tap Room)
An adults-only (18+) game room bolted onto Lewis & Clark Brewing's taproom, packed with around a dozen real pinball machines (Guns N' Roses LE, Led Zeppelin Premium, Metallica, JAWS, Foo Fighters, Big Buck Hunter Pro) plus restored arcade cabinets like Galaga, Street Fighter II and Space Invaders. It runs IFPA-sanctioned Stern Army pinball tournaments with a $5 gaming fee and even a recurring women's pinball tournament. Monday and Tuesday nights from 5pm are unlimited play for $10, and there's also shuffleboard, a custom logo-felted pool table, and a GolfZon golf simulator.
The story
When Lewis & Clark Tap Room owner Max Pigman expanded 1535 Dodge Avenue, he didn't just tuck a single coin-op machine into a dark corner. He built the Lewis & Clarkade: a strictly adults-only (18+) sanctuary bolted right onto the brewery, designed for people who take silver balls and analog cabinet art seriously.
The pinball lineup is heavy on modern Stern classics, running a solid dozen real glass-and-steel tables like Guns N' Roses LE, Led Zeppelin Premium, Metallica, JAWS, and Foo Fighters. Next to them sit Big Buck Hunter Pro and restored classic cabinets including Galaga, Street Fighter II, and Space Invaders. Serious flippers gather here for IFPA-sanctioned Stern Army pinball tournaments—which run with a $5 gaming fee—alongside recurring women's tournaments. If you're not looking to rank globally, Mondays and Tuesdays after 5 p.m. offer a $10 pass for unlimited play, letting you kill your thumbs without fumbling for quarters.
Beyond the coin-ops, the floor holds physical table games like shuffleboard, foosball, bubble hockey, and a custom logo-felted pool table. The oddest piece of technology in the room is a GolfZon golf simulator that physically shifts and tilts its stance floor to match the slope of your lie on the screen. Throw in twelve beers and seltzers on tap and live music running Thursday through Saturday, and you've got an actual barcade with zero interest in ticket-redemption plastic junk.
What it's like
Walk past the main taproom seating into the dedicated gaming space. You'll hear the sharp snap of flippers and arcade chimes rather than screaming kids, thanks to the enforced 18-plus age limit. If you visit Monday or Tuesday after 5 p.m., hand over $10 for the unlimited-play wristband at the bar so you can move straight from Metallica to Galaga without checking your pockets for change. Note that while you can walk up to any pinball table or pool stick, the GolfZon simulator requires an advance reservation, and tournament nights require dropping your $5 buy-in before the brackets lock.
The move: Grab the $10 all-you-can-flip wristband on a Monday night and battle through Metallica and Led Zeppelin pinball over local craft beers.
📍 Before you go Adults only (18+). The $10 unlimited-play deal is Monday and Tuesday from 5pm to close; the golf simulator needs a reservation.
- 📍 Helena
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Big night
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1535 Dodge Ave, Helena, MT 59601
Hours: Added 2026-06-24 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Dorothy's Lounge & Gaming Parlor — Keep the arcade crawl going by swapping brewery taps for craft cocktails and vintage gaming inside a historic downtown speakeasy.
- Gulch Distillers — A mile away from the taproom, this local distillery offers small-batch Montana grain spirits if you want a change of pace from beer and seltzers.
- Curiouser and Curiouser — Under a mile away, drop in to check out retired professor Barry Ferst's eccentric urban folk art before locking into a pinball session.
Good to know
Are kids allowed inside the Lewis & Clarkade?
No. The game room area is strictly adults-only (18+).
When is the $10 unlimited play deal available?
Unlimited play runs every Monday and Tuesday night starting at 5:00 p.m. until close.
Do I need to book games ahead of time?
Pinball, classic arcade cabinets, pool, foosball, and shuffleboard are walk-up friendly. Only the GolfZon golf simulator requires a prior reservation.
What kind of competitive play do they host?
The venue hosts IFPA-sanctioned Stern Army pinball tournaments (with a $5 fee) and recurring women's pinball tournaments.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: lctaproom.com · helenamt.com · pinballmap.com · montanasports.com · pinside.com
last checked: 2026-06-24