I have two boys, one a tween, and, as you may imagine, this is hands-down one of their favorite things to do in Charlottesville.
When it comes to a rainy day, a special celebration, or just for fun, Decades Arcade entertains them for hours.
But while they are in tween-boy-heaven here, Decades is actually fun for all ages. With one large room full of pinball machines, there are side rooms (even an air hockey table) and an upstairs space with video games from various eras. As with Firefly, for parents a trip here can be nostalgic.
Open only Friday to Sunday (and I am pretty sure there isn’t any real climate control, too, but feel free to confirm or deny this in the comments – there are large fans that keep air circulating), this is a great model for pay to play. It is a $10 admission for each person for ages 4 and up, but unlimited play. Parents, this is so much easier! This means no hunting for quarters or dollar bills or switching to tokens or watching the clock. Play as long as you want!
Decades doesn’t have a snack bar, although they have started selling Champion beer as well as nonalcoholic beverages. No food is allowed inside Decades, although snacks can be consumed outside on the patio.
We took a group of family members ranging from ages 6 to 60+ and we all had a blast. The amount of pinball machines collected from different eras and decades (get it?) was super entertaining. Honestly, I think it’s the pinball where Decades really shines and distinguishes itself. With over 30 machines dating all the way back to the 1950s, we were each able to find our favorites. In fact, I think we even surprised ourselves with which ones we liked!
There aren’t any places to really sit and relax inside – a few chairs scattered around. We didn’t mind this at all since we were all busy playing. But just keep this in mind if you are thinking of bringing grandparents or younger kids who may not be comfortable standing or walking around for a couple of hours. The outside patio is, however, a great recent addition and has a good amount of seating complete with tables.
Decades can fill up and get crowded and move to a waiting list. It’s a little tricky, since it’s unlimited play, to know how long you are going to be waiting. We went first thing when they opened for the day and found we had both plenty of space and time to play.
But regardless, a 15-minute wait to Decades may be worth it! This was fun for the whole family.
More on Decades Arcade:
Official website
221 Carlton Rd, Charlottesville
Raising Charlottesville is a website dedicated to highlighting fun & local activities for families living in the Charlottesville, VA area.