Playable pinball museum coming to downtown Corbin

Downtown Corbin is growing by flippers and bumpers as the new Pinball Museum of Corbin is under construction with the goal of opening its doors to the public on Aug. 1.

Jim Bruso, the owner of Sweeties Ice Cream and Game King, is bringing the museum to North Main Street, up the street from The Depot on Main and The Caboose Sports Tavern.

Bruso said the venue will feature more than 65 pinball machines from classic machines to newly released, limited edition machines.

The classic machines will be getting a modern touch.

Bruso said the regular light bulbs in the older machines are being replaced with brighter LED bulbs.

“When we turn the lights down, the place will really pop,” Bruso said noting that neon lights will adorn the walls to add to the atmosphere.

“I’m going to spend more money on neon than anything else,” Bruso said. “When I get done with the layout it will be amazing.”

On the museum’s Facebook page, Bruso’s team is adding a new photo of one of the machines each day leading up to the grand opening.

Among the machines already announced are: WrestleMania, Elvira, several Star Wars machines, Super Mario Brothers, and classic machines Champ, Darling and Prospector.

“We will have a number of limited-edition machines,” Bruso said.

In addition, visitors will have the opportunity to contribute to a local charity while playing the silver ball.

“We will have two special pinball machines that are $1 each to play with the money going to a local charity,” Bruso said explaining that he and Corbin Downtown Director Maggy Monhollen will work together to select the charities.

The pinball lineup will change from time to time.

“We have more machines in the warehouse, so we will rotate them out,” Bruso said. “If one goes down with a serious problem, we will pull it and put another one in.”

In addition, there will be a variety of classic arcade games including, Mortal Kombat, Joust, Defender, Ms. Pac Man, Frogger, Donkey Kong, and Gauntlet Legends.

However, visitors may leave the rolls of quarters at home.

Instead of inserting coins, visitors will pay an admission fee.

For $15, adults may enter and play as much as they would like.

Children ages 10 and under are $13 each.

For $20, individuals may purchase a day pass, which allows them to come and go as they please throughout the day.

A silver ball pass is $25, which also gives the patron a token for a free ice cream cone at Sweeties.

A gold ball pass is $30, which comes with a token for one free Outrageous shake from Sweeties.

The museum will be open 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday.

“We will be closing one day a week to make repairs to the machines,” Bruso said.

In addition to offering the pinball machines and game consoles for play, Bruso said the machines will be available for purchase.

“We will sell you any machine in here,” Bruso said adding that the museum will also purchase machines and accept donations of broken machines.

“We may be able to repair them,” Bruso said adding that if a machine can’t be repair, it may have useable parts or be recycled.

Bruso said while drinks and snacks will be available for purchase, alcohol will not be served.

More information is available online at the Corbin Pinball Museum Facebook page.