Sparks Pinball Museum & Arcade

Sparks Pinball Museum & Arcade Michigan’s largest pinball arcade — 115+ pinball machines, unlimited play, all inside Oakland Mall.
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Did you know that Rudy, the wisecracking talking head from Williams’ classic FunHouse pinball machine, was inspired by a...
06/14/2026

Did you know that Rudy, the wisecracking talking head from Williams’ classic FunHouse pinball machine, was inspired by a real-life 5-year-old?

According to FunHouse artist John Youssi, the inspiration for Rudy’s personality and gestures came from his son Charlie, who was an energetic “acting ham” at the age of five. Youssi chose Charlie from the very beginning as the model for Rudy’s mannerisms and overall character. While Charlie was too young to directly inspire Rudy’s facial features, Youssi studied mannequin dummies and sketched countless concepts until he created the unforgettable look that pinball fans know today.

Youssi even kept photos from the original reference session, showing young Charlie dressed as Rudy, standing on a picnic table and dramatically thrusting a cane into the air!

More than 35 years later, Rudy remains one of the most recognizable and beloved characters in pinball history. Better yet, you can experience not one, but two chapters of Rudy’s story at Sparks. We have both the original FunHouse and its modern sequel, Rudy’s Nightmare (FunHouse: Remake), on the floor and ready to play.

Come meet Rudy for yourself and enjoy over 115 pinball machines on unlimited play at Michigan’s largest pinball arcade!

We’re excited to share that our 1994 World Cup Soccer pinball machine is on loan to the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemen...
06/12/2026

We’re excited to share that our 1994 World Cup Soccer pinball machine is on loan to the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens as part of a special exhibition celebrating the 1994 FIFA World Cup and soccer culture!

From June 13 through July 18, visitors can experience the original 1994 World Cup painting collection by artist Chazz Miller, along with Detroit City FC memorabilia, a foosball table, World Cup-themed exhibits, and our World Cup Soccer pinball machine—all available for FREE PLAY (donations appreciated to the art museum).

The exhibit also features a genuine turfgrass sample used for the 2026 FIFA World Cup fields and a big-screen TV showing matches throughout the event.

Be sure to check out the Detroit City FC Watch Party on June 13 at 6 PM and the Opening Reception & Artist Talk with Chazz Miller on June 20 from 1–3 PM.

We’re proud to be a part of this unique celebration of art, soccer, and community. If you’re in the area, stop by and give our World Cup Soccer pinball machine a play!

At Sparks, we’re honored to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth—a powerful and important moment in American history.Junet...
06/11/2026

At Sparks, we’re honored to recognize and celebrate Juneteenth—a powerful and important moment in American history.

Juneteenth marks the day in 1865 when the last enslaved African Americans in Galveston, Texas were informed that they were free—more than two years after the Emancipation Proclamation. It’s a celebration of freedom, resilience, reflection, and progress, and a reminder of how far we’ve come and how much further we still strive to go together.

To help honor the day, Sparks will be giving away Juneteenth flags from now until June 21, while supplies last. We invite our guests, friends, and community to take one, learn its meaning, and carry forward the message it represents.

Pinball brings people together—and days like Juneteenth remind us why community matters even more.

He seemed to be very happy, loving all the sounds and lights. Incredible. Weekly World News
06/11/2026

He seemed to be very happy, loving all the sounds and lights. Incredible. Weekly World News

Cactus Canyon was designed by Tom Kopera and Matt Coriale and originally started life as a simple whitewood with no real...
06/07/2026

Cactus Canyon was designed by Tom Kopera and Matt Coriale and originally started life as a simple whitewood with no real theme—until Matt Coriale’s wife, Stephanie, came up with the name Cactus Canyon, locking in the Wild West setting that fans love today.

The game is packed with interesting history: it was originally planned to include interactive saloon doors that would open in front of Bart, but that feature was cut before production. The “Bad Guy” drop targets were also meant to be clear and illuminated, but they proved too fragile when hit by the ball. Even its production run was cut short as Williams shifted focus to Pinball 2000: Revenge from Mars, leaving only 903 machines ever made.

Decades later, the legend didn’t die—Chicago Gaming Company brought it back in 2021 with a modern remake and enhanced code, proving just how beloved the design still is.

Today, you don’t have to hunt one down to experience it—you can play an original Cactus Canyon right here at Sparks, alongside one of the most unique collections of classic arcade and pinball machines around.

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, recognize the importance of equality and acceptance, and ...
06/01/2026

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, recognize the importance of equality and acceptance, and honor the individuals who have helped pave the way toward a more inclusive world. It’s a reminder that everyone deserves to feel welcomed, respected, and valued for who they are.

At Sparks Pinball Museum, we’re proud to be a place where everyone can come together to have fun, share their love of pinball, and create lasting memories. We believe that our community is strongest when everyone feels they belong.

To celebrate Pride Month, we’re giving away FREE Pride flags throughout June while supplies last! Stop by, grab a flag, and enjoy a day of pinball with friends and family. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Jokerz! is now on the floor. Some pinball machines are just games, others become part of your story.Back in the early ...
05/30/2026

Jokerz! is now on the floor. Some pinball machines are just games, others become part of your story.

Back in the early 1990s, Jokerz! was one of the machines sitting in our basement. It wasn’t just something we played—it helped fuel a growing obsession with pinball that eventually led to Sparks Pinball Museum. We spent countless hours on this game, and it’s also where we first learned the basics of pinball repair—troubleshooting, fixing things, and figuring it out one problem at a time. Let’s just say the “repairs” back then weren’t always done correctly… anything that fit the fuse holder seemed to qualify, including whatever we could find (yes, even a bit of tinfoil back in the day 😅).

That original machine was sold many years ago, but this Jokerz! now at the museum represents it and all the memories tied to that era.

Released by Williams in 1988, Jokerz! stands out with its raising central ramp, spinning card wheel feature, and playful sense of humor. The artwork by John Youssi even includes a cameo in the backglass. And yes—there’s also a hidden butt in the playfield artwork 👀.

Bringing Jokerz! into the museum isn’t just about adding another title—it’s about reconnecting with a piece of the history that started this whole journey.

Stop by, give it a play, and experience one of the games that helped turn a basement hobby into a pinball museum.

Address

412 W 14 Mile Road
Troy, MI
48083

Telephone

+13134739860

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