Pinball machines, classic arcade cabinets, and decades of gaming nostalgia under one roof? That’s enough to make anyone who grew up feeding quarters into machines feel a little younger.
Operating since 1952, this New Hampshire entertainment landmark has grown into a massive arcade destination known for its collection of classic games. Its American Classic Arcade Museum preserves machines from earlier generations, giving visitors a chance to experience gaming history firsthand.
I love how an old arcade game can bring back memories with just a familiar sound or flashing screen. You might recognize a childhood favorite, challenge someone to beat your score, or discover a machine that predates your own gaming memories.
Modern entertainment changes constantly, but the appeal of chasing a high score hasn’t disappeared. Seventy-plus years of playtime make that point rather convincingly.
A Borrowed Bankroll Launched The Whole Adventure
Funspot began life on June 27, 1952, under a much plainer name: the Weirs Sports Center. Founder Bob Lawton was just 21 years old when he opened the doors.
His starting money came from a small loan from his grandmother. Talk about a family investment that paid off in a big way.
The first version sat on the top floor of the Tarlson’s Arcade building. It faced the Weirs Beach boardwalk and offered an indoor mini golf course plus a penny arcade.
In 1964, Lawton bought 21 acres on Route 3 and moved everything to a new home. That’s when the Funspot name arrived, and it stuck for good.
Growth never really stopped after that move. A billiards room came in 1965, a big two-story addition followed in 1986, and more pieces kept piling on.
Fun fact: the company’s legal name is still Weirs Sports Center. The old name lives on quietly, like a password only the history buffs know.
Even better, Lawton still runs the place with a crew of longtime employees. Many of them have worked there for over 30 years, which says plenty about the place.
Guinness Says You Are Standing In The Biggest Arcade On Earth
In 2008, Guinness World Records handed Funspot a title most arcades only dream about. It was officially named the Largest Arcade in the World.
That’s a lot of bragging rights for one building in New Hampshire. And the size backs it up in every direction.
The complex spreads across three floors. Estimates put the space somewhere between 55,000 and 75,000 square feet, which is plenty of room to get pleasantly lost.
More than 600 games fill those floors. You’ll find retro cabinets, modern video games, pinball machines, and ticket redemption games all sharing the same roof.
Here’s a smart plan for first-timers. Do a quick lap of each floor before spending anything, so you know where your favorites are hiding.
Ticket games make a fun goal for kids. They can trade their winnings for prizes, which turns a simple afternoon into a mission with a reward at the end.
Comfortable shoes are a wise call too. Between the stairs, the aisles, and all that browsing, your step counter might get a surprise workout without you noticing.
Bring Quarters Because The Third Floor Is A Time Machine
Up on the third floor, a quarter still does its old job. Every game inside the American Classic Arcade Museum costs just one coin to play.
The museum is a separate nonprofit that opened in 1998. It earned its official 501(c)(3) status in 2002 and focuses on saving the history of coin-operated games.
Its collection includes more than 250 working video games and pinball machines from before 1988. Around another 100 machines wait in storage for their turn.
Parents who grew up in the 1980s may feel a little emotional here. Kids, meanwhile, get to see where their favorite modern games got their start.
I love that these machines aren’t trapped behind velvet ropes. You actually get to play history instead of just reading a sign about it.
A good tip is to challenge your kids to a classic game you remember. Fair warning, they might beat you, and they will probably talk about it all the way home.
Bring a little patience for the older machines. Some of them are decades old, and keeping them running is part of what makes this museum so special.
Serious Gamers Travel Here Just To Chase High Scores
High scores at Funspot carry real weight. The American Classic Arcade Museum hosts the Annual International Classic Video Game Tournament right inside the building.
Players come to compete on the same classic machines that line the third floor. That gives the event an old-school feel you can’t fake with a modern console.
Why does this matter for a casual visitor? It means the games you play are part of a living competitive scene, not just dusty decorations.
Pinball fans get plenty of love too. The machines across the building mix older tables with newer ones, so you can compare flippers from different eras in one trip.
Want a fun family contest without any official rules? Pick three classic games, play each once, and add up the scores at the end.
The loser buys the next round of tokens, or maybe carries the prize bag. Either way, everyone leaves with a story worth retelling at dinner.
Watching skilled players can be its own kind of entertainment. Their speed and focus might inspire you to try one more round, then another, then just one more.
Two Kinds Of Bowling Wait For You Under One Roof
Candlepin bowling is a New England classic, and Funspot keeps it rolling. The bowling center also offers ten-pin, so you get both styles in one place.
The center has 20 lanes in total. It was completed in 1988 and quickly became a big piece of the Funspot puzzle.
Never tried candlepin before? The balls are small and fit in one hand, while the pins are skinny and stubborn, so expect some humble moments.
Ten-pin is the version most people know from movies and birthday parties. Bigger balls, chunkier pins, and that satisfying crash when you finally land a strike.
Automatic scoring handles the math for you. That leaves more brainpower for trash talk, which is honestly the most important part of family bowling.
Bumpers are available for bowlers of all ages. Little ones can feel like pros, and grown-ups can quietly use them too with zero judgment from me.
Bowling also makes a nice break between arcade sessions. After an hour of buttons and joysticks, swinging a ball down a lane feels like a totally different kind of fun.
Rain Can’t Ruin This Round Of Mini Golf
Mini golf is where this whole story began. The 18-hole course at Funspot is a replica of the very first one Bob Lawton opened back in 1952.
That means every putt connects you to the business’s earliest days. Not many mini golf courses can claim that kind of family tree.
For years, the course lived outdoors. In 2015, it moved inside to the third floor, so now it’s open all year long.
That’s great news in New Hampshire, where weather can change its mind fast. Snow, rain, or sticky summer heat, your tee time stays safe.
Golf fans with bigger swings have another choice. From November through April, Funspot offers golf simulators with more than 30 championship courses from around the world.
So one family member can putt around the replica course while another plays a famous course on a screen. Everyone gets their golf fix without a single sunburn.
Quick tip: play mini golf when the arcade feels busy or loud. It gives everyone a calmer stretch before heading back into the lights and noise.
Little Players Get A Whole Zone Built Just For Them
Tiny gamers need their own space, and Funspot figured that out decades ago. A Kiddie Room was built in 1987 to give younger visitors a spot to call their own.
Kiddie rides and games keep small hands busy. There are even kiddie bumper cars, which might be the cutest traffic jam in the state.
Parents of toddlers will appreciate having a zone sized for little legs. It’s easier to relax when the games fit the kids playing them.
Ticket games add another layer of excitement for children. Watching the tickets spill out feels like winning a tiny lottery every few minutes.
Planning a birthday? Funspot offers a free party room for birthdays and group outings, which takes one big headache off the to-do list.
Combine the party room with bowling, mini golf, and the arcade, and the day almost plans itself. Your only real job might be counting heads.
One helpful idea is setting a ticket goal before you start. Kids stay focused, the prize counter visit feels earned, and nobody melts down over an endless wish list.
Lunch Comes With A Side Of Forgotten Theme Parks
Hungry gamers can refuel at the Braggin’ Dragon Restaurant. The name alone sounds like a boss level, which feels right for an arcade.
The best part might be the walls. The restaurant displays pieces of Funspot history, including artifacts from theme parks that once operated on the property.
Yes, theme parks, plural. Indian Village opened in 1971 and closed in 1983, while Storybook Forest welcomed children from 1976 until 1984.
Storybook Forest was a children’s theme park, and some of its old pieces live on inside the restaurant. It’s a sweet surprise for anyone who visited as a kid.
I like that Funspot didn’t just toss its past aside. Instead, the history became part of the dining room, so a quick meal turns into a mini history lesson.
Take a few minutes to look around before diving back into the games. Older family members may have their own memories to share about those parks.
A meal break also helps you pace the day. Fresh energy means better scores, steadier putts, and fewer grumpy faces by late afternoon.
Plan Your Trip Almost Any Day Of The Year
Funspot sits at 579 Endicott Street North in Laconia, New Hampshire. It’s in the village of Weirs Beach, close to the shores of Lake Winnipesaukee.
That location makes it an easy add-on for any Lakes Region getaway. Spend the morning by the water, then head indoors when everyone needs a change.
Here’s a scheduling dream: Funspot is open every day of the year except Christmas. Snow days, holiday breaks, and random Tuesdays are all fair game.
Hours can shift by day, so check before you go. Weekends typically open earlier, which gives you more time to work through all three floors.
Grown-ups have one more option on site. A 400-seat bingo hall, added in 1996, runs games for local charities, and guests must be 18 or older to enter.
That means your bingo money helps local causes while you chase a winning card. Not a bad deal for an afternoon of dabbing numbers.
Give yourself plenty of time once you arrive. With 600-plus games, bowling, mini golf, and a museum, a quick stop has a funny way of stretching into the evening.
