Going on a road trip to MN, anyone know of any decent arcades around?

cleverlyj

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Going on a road trip to MN, anyone know of any decent arcades around?

We're going to just north of Brainerd, MN for a wedding, and will be traveling north (tomorrow) through Wyoming to Rapid City, where we'll be spending a day there, and then heading east and up into MN (by thursday afternoon). Coming back, we're going south through MN (next Sunday) to Omaha and then west back home. We won't have a ton of free time, but will have a little bit of time in Rapid City and then possibly in Minneapolis on the way back.

So, any spots or arcades worth stopping at? We'll be going to Mount Rushmore, and possibly the mall of america. However, is the mall of america something that can be done, or at least checked out somewhat in a couple hours?

Anyways, let me know if anyone knows of any cool places to check out.
 
cool, might have to check that out. i may have free time on friday, but i'll be about 150 miles north per mapquest, (staying in brainerd/pine river) so maybe on the way back...
 
We're going to just north of Brainerd, MN for a wedding, and will be traveling north (tomorrow) through Wyoming to Rapid City, where we'll be spending a day there, and then heading east and up into MN (by thursday afternoon). Coming back, we're going south through MN (next Sunday) to Omaha and then west back home. We won't have a ton of free time, but will have a little bit of time in Rapid City and then possibly in Minneapolis on the way back.

So, any spots or arcades worth stopping at? We'll be going to Mount Rushmore, and possibly the mall of america. However, is the mall of america something that can be done, or at least checked out somewhat in a couple hours?

Anyways, let me know if anyone knows of any cool places to check out.

For video games and classic games, Blainbrook Bowl is probably the best. They have a ton of pinball machines too. If pinball is your thing, Blainbrook, SS Billiards, Spring Lake Amusement and Mortimer's all have a bunch of games in great working condition. Mall of America is a joke now. All the good arcades closed and all that is left is in Nickelodeon Park and it sucks...standard redemption, shooting and driving games like everywhere else.
 
I second the nomination for SS Billiards west of Minneapolis, if pinball is among your vices. Went there a few years back when on a business trip. LTG is a long time usenet user, and occational poster here.
 
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I'm 2 hours south of the Twin Cities, my arcade is worth the trip! Plus my house is only 7 miles from Interstate 90, which will zip you back west in a hurry.....

seriously, PM me if you'd like to come....
 
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Blainbrook Bowl in Blaine is awesome, you'll feel like you've died and gone to arcade heaven!
 
I'm 2 hours south of the Twin Cities, my arcade is worth the trip! Plus my house is only 7 miles from Interstate 90, which will zip you back west in a hurry.....

seriously, PM me if you'd like to come....

PM SENT! J/K holler at me if you do get someone to come by John...
 
I think if you are going to a wedding it will be hard to get away and drive an hour or two to play someone's arcade games.

I'd guess there are not many arcade games in Pine River or that general area. It's the middle of nowhere.
 
allright, so an update. made it to MN! we are staying at http://www.breezypointresort.com/

they are on a lake, offer boat rentals which we may do tomorrow, and the BIG thing is they have two game rooms!

the first is in the hotel building, and there is a ms pac, super hang on, arkanoid 2 (in some centuri cab), and a devil's dare pinball.

in the building that sits against the water, with the restaurant, they have a star wars, pole position cockpit, galaga, tempest (converted to something, don't remember), a couple more vids, dirty harry pin, fish tales pin, and one more pin.

anyways, i'll be playing them tomorrow. the games are all in decent shape, though the monitor in the SW could use a rebuild.


now, as far as our trip, plans have changed a bit. we are staying here through saturday night, so i won't be leaving till morning.

so, the plan we're looking at is leaving sunday morning, heading south to st. cloud, and then down 94 to minneapolis and south on 35 to des moines, and then west on 80 back to denver. so, as far as hanging out with anyone or checking out game rooms, i'm still happy to do it, however i will probably only be able to hang out if you are relatively close to the route we're going, as we won't really have the time to spend a good chunk of sunday going slow and checking out minneapolis like i originally thought. so if anyone is close (within 10-20 miles) of the general route i'm going and wants to hang out, pm me.
 
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I'm 23 miles East of I-35 Clev. We just got back from a camping trip up in Mille Lacs Lake. I work the evenings this weekend but depending on the time you're coming thru, you're more than welcome to stop by!! PM me if you think it's feasible. Check out Owatonna, MN and I'm 23 miles East on hwy-14. There is a Cabelas as well as discount retail outfits just North of there (Tanger outlets).
 
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