# ROCK ISLAND PUBLIC HOUSE **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2018-09-30 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2018/09/30/rock-island-public-house --- ## Analysis A venue review of Rock Island Public House in Blue Island, Illinois, a bar and pinball arcade housed in a 1905 building featuring seven well-maintained pinball machines spanning classic and modern titles. The author visited in September 2018 to coincide with a local steam train excursion and praised the venue's atmosphere, machine maintenance, and decor. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Rock Island Public House features seven well-maintained pinball machines — _Direct observation and photograph documentation of the venue in September 2018_ - [HIGH] The building was constructed in 1905 — _Photo caption states 'A photo of the exterior of the building built in 1905'_ - [HIGH] The venue's pinball machines were all clean, worked well, and had decent sound volume — _Author's direct assessment after playing the machines_ ### Notable Quotes > "This location has great atmosphere and decor. I look forward to going back soon." > — **Article author**, Closing statement > _Positive endorsement of the venue as a pinball destination worth revisiting_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Rock Island Public House | location | Bar and pinball arcade venue in Blue Island, Illinois with 7 pinball machines and vintage atmosphere | | Blue Island, Illinois | location | Geographic location of Rock Island Public House, served by Rock Island commuter train line | | Mata Hari | game | 1978 Bally pinball machine featured at the venue with custom artwork | | Pirates of the Caribbean | game | Stern pinball machine at the venue with custom translite artwork | | Kiss | game | Stern pinball machine available at the venue | | South Park | game | Sega pinball machine at the venue | | Star Wars Episode 1 | game | Williams pinball machine available at the venue | | Playboy | game | Stern pinball machine at the venue | | Elvira and the Party Monsters | game | Bally pinball machine at the venue | | Stern | company | Pinball manufacturer represented by multiple machines at the venue | | Bally | company | Historical pinball manufacturer represented by machines at the venue | | Sega | company | Manufacturer of South Park pinball machine at the venue | | Williams | company | Manufacturer of Star Wars Episode 1 pinball machine at the venue | ### Topics - **Primary:** Venue review and location scouting, Pinball machine availability and maintenance - **Secondary:** Historic venues and nostalgia atmosphere, Game collection diversity (classic and modern) ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Author expresses clear satisfaction with the venue's machines, atmosphere, and maintenance. Uses enthusiastic language ('great atmosphere,' 'look forward to going back soon') and documents the experience thoroughly with photography. --- ## Transcript Date: September 2018 Location:13328 Old Western Ave., Blue Island, IL 60406, USA A rare steam train excursion trip passing through Blue Island Illinois in mid-September 2018 was a good excuse to revisit one of my favorite places to play pinball machines. VIDEO The Rock Island Public House at 13328 Olde Western Ave. in Blue Island is right next to the Rock Island commuter train line on which the steam excursion was running. ![A photo of the exterior of the building built in 1905](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/01-rock-island-public-house.jpg) A 1905 I watched the impressive steam train pass through town and then played some great pinball machines. Rock Island Public House features seven well-maintained pinball machines. ![A nice variety of fun pins available to play](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/02-rock-island-public-house.jpg) A nice variety of fun pins available to play ![A blast from the past - Bally's Mata Hari from 1978](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/03-rock-island-public-house.jpg) A blast from the past – Bally’s Mata Hari from 1978 ![An amazing custom translite for Stern’s Pirates of the Caribbean](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/04-rock-island-public-house.jpg) An Caribbean | | | | --- | --- | | Elvira and the Party Monsters, Bally Kiss, Stern Mata Hari, Bally Pirates of the Caribbean, Stern | Playboy, Stern South Park, Sega Star Wars Episode 1*, Williams | | | | They were all clean, worked well and had a decent sound volume. ![A working vintage crane amusement filled with adult novelties](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/05-rock-island-public-house.jpg) A working vintage crane amusement filled with adult novelties ![Plenty of craft beers on tap from which to choose](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/06-rock-island-public-house.jpg) Plenty choose ![The location is loaded with interesting nostalgia items](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/07-rock-island-public-house.jpg) The location is loaded with interesting nostalgia items ![I am always fascinated by belt driven ceiling fans](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/rock-island-public-house/08-rock-island-public-house.jpg) I am always fascinated by belt driven ceiling fans This location has great atmosphere and decor. I look forward to going back soon. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 74624772-47b4-4c8f-b242-6219d94bb577*