# TEXAS PINBALL MUSEUM **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2019-03-21 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2019/03/21/texas-pinball-museum --- ## Analysis A March 2019 feature on the newly opened Texas Pinball Museum in Midlothian, TX, owned and operated by Ed and Kim Vanderveen. The museum houses 26 playable pinball machines ranging from a 1974 Dolphin to a 2018 Deadpool, plus several arcade and skill games, with admission at $10 for adults and $7 for children. The museum was open Saturdays only at the time with plans to expand hours, and serves as the operational office for the Texas Pinball Festival. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Texas Pinball Museum opened eight weeks prior to the Texas Pinball Festival 2019 (dating to approximately early January 2019) — _Article states 'opened its doors in the city of Midlothian eight weeks earlier' relative to visit date of March 21, 2019_ - [HIGH] Museum collection spans from 1974 Dolphin (Chicago Coin) as oldest to 2018 Deadpool (Stern) as newest — _Explicitly stated: 'The pinballs range from the oldest – a 1974 Dolphin by Chicago Coin – to the newest – a 2018 Deadpool from Stern.'_ - [HIGH] Ed and Kim Vanderveen plan to expand museum hours from Saturday-only to include Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons — _Article states 'At present the Museum is only open on Saturdays, but Ed and Kim hope to expand that soon to include Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons too.'_ - [HIGH] Kosmic Khaos is a concept cabinet shown at Texas Pinball Festival 2017 with only a cabinet and conceptual artwork existing, with unclear development timeline — _Article notes 'Kosmic Khaos which was a concept shown at the Texas Pinball Festival 2017. Only a cabinet and some conceptual artwork exists at this stage. It may be developed further, but probably not for a while.'_ - [HIGH] Museum also serves as operational office for Texas Pinball Festival during event planning — _Article states 'The TPF show has been their focus recently, and the Museum's office also acts as an office for the show during the run-up.'_ ### Notable Quotes > "The pinballs range from the oldest – a 1974 Dolphin by Chicago Coin – to the newest – a 2018 Deadpool from Stern." > — **Article text** > _Establishes the breadth of the collection timeline (45 years)_ > "At present the Museum is only open on Saturdays, but Ed and Kim hope to expand that soon to include Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons too." > — **Article text** > _Indicates expansion plans and growth trajectory for the venue_ > "Midlothian is about 30-minutes by car south of central Dallas. If you are visiting the city on a Saturday then it is well worthwhile making the trip to play the machines at the Texas Pinball Museum." > — **Article text** > _Provides context on venue location and author recommendation_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Texas Pinball Museum | organization | Newly opened museum in Midlothian, TX with 26 playable pinball machines, owned by Ed and Kim Vanderveen | | Ed Vanderveen | person | Co-owner and operator of Texas Pinball Museum; also associated with Texas Pinball Festival | | Kim Vanderveen | person | Co-owner and operator of Texas Pinball Museum alongside Ed Vanderveen | | Texas Pinball Festival | event | Annual pinball tournament and exhibition event in Texas; museum serves as operational office during planning | | Deadpool | game | 2018 Stern pinball game; newest machine in the museum collection | | Dolphin | game | 1974 Chicago Coin pinball machine; oldest in the museum collection | | Kosmic Khaos | product | Concept arcade cabinet shown at Texas Pinball Festival 2017; prototype exists in museum with unclear development status | | John Rhys-Davis | person | Actor guest at Texas Pinball Festival 2019 who signed backglasses (Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings) | | Stern Pinball | company | Modern pinball manufacturer represented in collection with multiple games | | Bally | company | Historic pinball manufacturer; multiple machines in collection | | Williams | company | Historic pinball manufacturer; multiple machines in collection | | Gottlieb | company | Historic pinball manufacturer; represented in collection | | Chicago Coin | company | Historic pinball manufacturer; Dolphin machine from 1974 is oldest in collection | | Midlothian, TX | event | Location of Texas Pinball Museum; approximately 30 minutes south of Dallas | ### Topics - **Primary:** Museum establishment and operations, Pinball collection curation and breadth - **Secondary:** Texas Pinball Festival, Pinball history and manufacturer representation, Arcade tourism and community venues - **Mentioned:** Game restoration and preservation ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Positive and promotional tone throughout. The article presents the museum as a worthwhile destination, highlights the quality of the collection and restorations, and speaks favorably of the owners' plans for expansion. No criticism or negative commentary present. ### Signals - **[event_signal]** Texas Pinball Museum officially opens as a dedicated public venue for pinball play and preservation, approximately 8 weeks before Texas Pinball Festival 2019, demonstrating growing infrastructure and institutionalization of pinball culture in Texas (confidence: high) — Museum opened in Midlothian, TX with 26 playable machines, public admission pricing, and planned operational expansion - **[community_signal]** Ed and Kim Vanderveen demonstrate commitment to pinball community by establishing museum while simultaneously operating as venue office for Texas Pinball Festival, showing dual institutional support (confidence: high) — Article notes 'The TPF show has been their focus recently, and the Museum's office also acts as an office for the show during the run-up' - **[market_signal]** Museum collection strategy includes both historic breadth (1974-present) and modern releases (2018 Deadpool), indicating collection philosophy balancing accessibility, education, and contemporary relevance (confidence: medium) — Collection ranges 45 years of pinball history with mix of classic titles and recent Stern releases --- ## Transcript **Date:** 21st March, 2019 **Location:** Suite 2102, 2100 N Hwy 67, Midlothian, TX 76065, USA Just before this year’s Texas Pinball Festival, we had the opportunity to visit the new Texas Pinball Museum which opened its doors in the city of Midlothian eight weeks earlier. We were shown around by Kim and Ed Vanderveen who own and run the Muesum. ![Ed and Kim Vanderveen](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/01-texas-pinball-museum-719x1024.jpg) Ed and Kim Vanderveen The Museum is located out-of-town on a light-industrial park in the unit nearest the road. On entering the Museum, you come to the lobby where there is seating and the entry desk. ![How to enjoy the Museum](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/02-texas-pinball-museum-765x1024.jpg) How to enjoy the Museum ![Batman keeps watch over the Museum](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/03-texas-pinball-museum-683x1024.jpg) Batman keeps watch over the Museum Entry to the collection costs $10 for adults or $7 for kids under twelve-years-old. At present the Museum is only open on Saturdays, but Ed and Kim hope to expand that soon to include Friday evenings and Sunday afternoons too. ![Museum opening times and entry costs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/05-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) Museum opening times and entry costs Once into the Museum there are twenty-six pinball machines and a few other amusement games to play. The pinballs range from the oldest – a 1974 Dolphin by Chicago Coin – to the newest – a 2018 Deadpool from Stern. ![Games in the Museum's collection](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/04-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) Games in the Museum’s collection The games are arranged along the side and back walls, with a back-to-back row in the centre of the room. ![A row of older machines, all in great condition with some lovely restorations too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/09-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) A row of older machines, all in great condition with some lovely restorations too ![Machines at the end of the row](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/13-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) Machines at the end of the row ![The back row of pinballs](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/10-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) The back row of pinballs ![The front row of machines](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/12-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) The front row of machines Here are the twenty-six pinballs available to play. * Harley Davidson (Bally) * Indiana Hilton Jones (Williams) * Pirates of the Caribbean (Stern) * The Avengers (Stern) * Deadpool (Stern) * Terminator 2 (Williams) * The Addams Family (Bally) * Dr. Dude (Bally) * Creature from the Black Lagoon (Bally) * NASCAR (Stern) * Capt. Fantastic (Bally) * Diner (Williams) * The Amazing Spider-Man (Gottlieb) * Black Rose (Bally) * Space Mission (Williams) * Sharpshooter (Game Plan) * Cherry Bell (Sonic) * Dolphin (Chicago Coin) * Hi-Deal (Bally) * Galaxy (Stern) * Sorcerer (Williams) * Doctor Who (Bally) * The Incredible Hulk (Gottlieb) * Judge Dredd (Bally) * The Lord of the Rings (Stern) * Deadpool (Stern) ![Deadpool is currently the newest game in the collection](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/07-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) Deadpool is currently the newest game in the collection ![The rear of the front row](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/11-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) The rear of the front row Our visit was right before the Texas Pinball Festival, so a couple of the backglasses (Indiana Hilton Jones and The Lord of the Rings) had been removed so they could be signed by the actor John Rhys-Davis who was a guest at the show. ![There is a Pac-Man video and an Ice Cold Beer skill game to play too](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/08-texas-pinball-museum-1024x682.jpg) There is a Pac-Man video and an Ice Cold Beer skill game to play too ![There is also a Super Hang-On in the back corner and an Asteroids in the other corner](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/06-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) There is also a Super Hang-On in the back corner The final pinball cabinet is from Kosmic Khaos which was a concept shown at the Texas Pinball Festival 2017. Only a cabinet and some conceptual artwork exists at this stage. It may be developed further, but probably not for a while. ![A multi-game cabinet and a Gorf sit next to the Kosmic Khaos cabinet](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/texas-pinball-museum/14-texas-pinball-museum-1024x683.jpg) A multi-game cabinet and a Gorf sit next to the Kosmic Khaos cabinet If refreshment is needed then a vending machine in the lobby serves snacks and soft drinks. If anything more is required then a short trip back into town takes you to numerous eateries. Ed and Kim plan to increase the amount of pinball-related artwork and memorabilia on the walls, as well as add information about the games in the collection. The TPF show has been their focus recently, and the Museum’s office also acts as an office for the show during the run-up. A few of the Museum’s regular exhibits, such as a *Safecracker*, had been taken out so they could be at the show but would return shortly. Midlothian is about 30-minutes by car south of central Dallas. If you are visiting the city on a Saturday then it is well worthwhile making the trip to play the machines at the Texas Pinball Museum. You can hear Ed Vanderveen talk about the Texas Pinball Museum in a special bonus edition of the joint podcast we record Jonathan Joosten of Pinball Magazine. [You can play or download the podcast here.](http://www.podcastgarden.com/episode/bonus-podcast-interviews-with-ed-vanderveen-texas-pinball-festival-and-gerry-stellenberg-multimorphic_142412?fbclid=IwAR1aaDPcwXv3rtB7IBSSGOFtz8m_sdKS_yyLkOBnRTH8wyfi8do9K8GK07I) Special bonus podcast with Gerry Stellenberg and Ed Vanderveen _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: 8f5d07de-5c30-4c67-a1ae-19d0e63d9228*