The Manitou Springs Penny Arcade is a sprawling, multi-building retro arcade that takes visitors on a journey through more than a century of amusement history. Tucked into the small mountain town of Manitou Springs — just west of Colorado Springs at the foot of Pikes Peak — the arcade has become a beloved stop for families, road-trippers, and nostalgia seekers exploring the Pikes Peak region.
Spread across several buildings in the heart of Manitou Springs’ walkable downtown, the arcade is known for its dense collection of vintage coin-operated games, classic amusement pieces, and signature attractions like its horse race hall. Visitors coming from Colorado Springs proper will find it only a short drive up the pass through Manitou’s quirky main street, where storefronts, mineral springs, and landmarks share the avenue with a handful of other retro gaming options for travelers looking to round out a day of exploration.
You can browse the wider arcade finder directory to compare this stop with other retro gaming rooms in the Pikes Peak region before you go.
At a Glance
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Address | Manitou Springs, CO |
| Phone | +1 719-685-9815 |
| Hours | Open daily, 10AM–10PM |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 from 5,700 Google reviews |
| Best For | Families, nostalgia-seekers, and retro arcade fans exploring the Pikes Peak region |
What Players Say
With thousands of Google reviews behind it, the Manitou Springs Penny Arcade has built a reputation as a multi-building time capsule of amusement history. Many visitors describe it as “like stepping back in time,” with one calling out the “extraordinary range of games spanning everything from the early 1900’s to games produced last year” — Google review. Families especially prize its mix of vintage classics and kid-friendly attractions; one reviewer notes “Great place to take the kids. Old video games for adults” — Google review.
Value comes up frequently in a positive light, with reviewers citing “4 hours of fun on like $20 per person! Great value” — Google review. The signature horse race room is a recurring favorite, described by one visitor as “a highlight and worth trying as a family” — Google review.
Honest caveats should not be overlooked. The most consistent complaint is that many machines are out of order or prone to eating coins without registering play: “half if not most of the cool old school games were out of order” — Google review. Staff service reviews are mixed (“The employees hate their jobs so just have patience” — Google review), and a smaller number of visitors note the building can get hot and crowded inside, with comments about ventilation sprinkled in (“It was very hot inside, especially with large crowds, and some ventilation would really help” — Google review). Bringing cash is recommended, since reviews mention an on-site ATM that charges a fee (“make sure to bring cash — there is an ATM on site, but it does charge a fee” — Google review).
Games & Machines
Manitou Springs Penny Arcade’s collection spans over a century of arcade and amusement history, anchored by its multi-building layout and emphasis on vintage coin-operated fun. Signature offerings described by visitors include the horse race hall and a deep bench of vintage skee-ball machines — both of which guests consistently call out as crowd favorites — alongside classic and retro video games layered throughout the rooms.
Rather than leaning on a single specialty, the arcade’s reputation rests on its sheer breadth, making it especially appealing to visitors who want to sample many eras of gameplay in a single visit. A specific machine inventory is not published, so guests planning ahead should expect a discovery-style visit through self-contained rooms spread across several buildings.
Visiting
Manitou Springs Penny Arcade is located in Manitou Springs, CO, just west of Colorado Springs at the gateway to Pikes Peak. The venue opens daily from 10AM to 10PM, with the same schedule every day of the week. Given the small-town mountain setting, visitors often combine a stop at the arcade with the broader Manitou Springs downtown experience, mineral springs, and other local attractions.
Practical notes drawn from visitor feedback: bring cash, confirm a machine is working before inserting coins, and report malfunctions to staff promptly. The arcade’s hours and central Manitou setting make it well-suited to families, casual outings, and travelers exploring Colorado Springs, and you can plan a full circuit of the region’s gaming venues using our interactive arcade map.
For trip planning, the arcade finder directory can help pair this stop with other Colorado Springs-area venues such as Supernova Bar and Arcade, The Control Room, Rail Yard Gaming + Gastropub, At The Pier Arcade, and Soft Landing Arcade. Owners of the venue who want to update hours, contact details, or other listing information can do so through the listing-claim page.