# RETROVOLT ARCADE **Source:** Pinball News Website **Type:** article **Published:** 2017-08-01 **Beat:** Pinball **URL:** https://www.pinballnews.com/site/2017/08/01/retrovolt-arcade --- ## Analysis Retrovolt Arcade is a new retro-focused pinball and video game arcade in Calimesa, California that opened in April 2017, emphasizing classic gameplay without ticket/prize redemption games. The venue operates on a $10/hour unlimited play model with 23 pinball machines (late-'70s to mid-'90s solid state) and 40 video games, all meticulously restored and maintained. Owner Bob Elson designed the family-friendly space to recreate the nostalgic arcade experience from a bygone era. ### Key Claims - [HIGH] Retrovolt Arcade opened in April 2017 in Mentone, CA but relocated to Calimesa after 3 months due to zoning issues — _Pinball News article directly states opening date and relocation reason_ - [HIGH] The arcade features approximately 23 pinballs and 40 video games, all set on free play with $10/hour admission — _Pinball News article provides specific machine count and pricing details_ - [HIGH] Pinball lineup focuses on late-'70s to mid-'90s solid state machines with newer additions being Star Trek and Ghostbusters (both Pro models) — _Article lists specific games and describes restoration work done on machines_ - [HIGH] Several older pinball machines have been converted to LED lighting while maintaining true-to-form appearance — _Article notes Attack from Mars LED conversion as example of restoration quality_ - [HIGH] The arcade is located in Calimesa, CA about 75 miles east of downtown Los Angeles, less than 90-minute drive — _Pinball News article provides specific address and distance details_ ### Notable Quotes > "Southern California has a new 'retro' pinball and video game spot that focuses on the way arcades existed in a now-bygone era, without the domination of prize and/or ticket redemption games that are now the norm." > — **Pinball News article**, opening paragraph > _Establishes the core concept and differentiation of Retrovolt Arcade's business model_ > "And that's exactly how owner Bob Elson envisioned his place from the very beginning, with special emphasis on a family-friendly environment that preserves that same fun and magic that people fondly remember." > — **Pinball News article**, early section > _Describes owner's vision and value proposition for the venue_ > "Retrovolt Arcade offers a well-thought-out and well-done look back at arcade gaming the way it used to be, and this, along with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, is already earning tremendous player appeal based on reviews on the site's Facebook page and elsewhere online." > — **Pinball News article**, conclusion > _Confirms positive community reception and successful market positioning_ ### Entities | Name | Type | Context | |------|------|---------| | Bob Elson | person | Owner of Retrovolt Arcade, envisioned family-friendly retro arcade experience | | Retrovolt Arcade | organization | Retro pinball and video game arcade in Calimesa, CA; opened April 2017; features 23 pinball machines and 40 video games on $10/hour free play model | | Calimesa, CA | organization | Location of Retrovolt Arcade at 544 Myrtlewood Dr.; relocation destination after zoning issues forced move from Mentone | | Mentone, CA | organization | Original location of Retrovolt Arcade before forced relocation due to zoning issues | | Attack from Mars | game | Classic pinball machine at Retrovolt featuring LED conversion with notable visual quality | | Ghostbusters (Stern Pro) | game | One of newest machines at Retrovolt Arcade | | Star Trek (Stern Pro) | game | One of newest machines at Retrovolt Arcade | | Comet (Williams 1985) | game | Classic Williams pinball at Retrovolt featuring restoration with new Dunk the Dummy drop target | | Inland Empire | organization | Regional area containing Retrovolt Arcade; mentioned as target market for venue | | Banning, CA | organization | Nearby city that hosts Arcade Expo show; referenced as entertainment alternative | ### Topics - **Primary:** Arcade venue design and business model, Pinball machine restoration and maintenance, Retro/classic arcade gaming nostalgia - **Secondary:** Free play arcade operations and pricing, LED conversion and machine upgrades, Family-friendly venue positioning - **Mentioned:** Zoning and location issues in arcade operations, Southern California arcade market ### Sentiment **Positive** (0.85) — Article is promotional/favorable review of new venue, emphasizing quality of restoration, business model innovation, and positive community reception. No critical perspectives presented. ### Signals - **[community_signal]** Positive player reception and community engagement for new retro arcade venue based on social media reviews (confidence: high) — Article notes 'tremendous player appeal based on reviews on the site's Facebook page and elsewhere online' - **[event_signal]** New arcade venue opening in Southern California with retro-focused pinball and video game offerings (confidence: high) — Retrovolt Arcade opened April 2017 in Mentone, relocated to Calimesa after 3 months due to zoning issues - **[technology_signal]** LED conversion of classic pinball machines while maintaining aesthetic integrity and lamp color authenticity (confidence: medium) — Article notes several older pins have bulbs changed to LEDs 'kept true-to-form in terms of lamp color and appearance' with Attack from Mars specifically highlighted --- ## Transcript **Date:** August 2017 **Location:** 544 Myrtlewood Dr., Calimesa, CA 92320, USA **Southern California has a new ‘retro’ pinball and video game spot that focuses on the way arcades existed in a now-bygone era, without the domination of prize and/or ticket redemption games that are now the norm.** [![The Retrovolt Arcade in Calimesa](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/01_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/01_hires.jpg) The Retrovolt Arcade in Calimesa And that’s exactly how owner Bob Elson envisioned his place from the very beginning, with special emphasis on a family-friendly environment that preserves that same fun and magic that people fondly remember. [![Retrovolt Arcade owner, Bob Elson](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/03_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/03_hires.jpg) Retrovolt Arcade owner, Bob Elson The appropriately-named [Retrovolt Arcade](http://retrovoltarcade.com/) is located in Calimesa, California, about 75 miles east of downtown Los Angeles (less than a 90-minute drive depending on the time of day). The arcade first opened in April 2017 in the neighboring town of Mentone but was forced into a 3-month-long relocation to its present site because of zoning issues at the original location. As of this writing, the arcade is open for business four days a week (Thursday thru Sunday); doors open at 4pm Thu & Fri, 12 noon Sat & Sun, and close nightly at 11pm (9pm Sunday). Retrovolt at present has approximately twenty-three pinballs and forty video games, all set on free play. Admission into the arcade is $10 (€8.47/£7.57) per hour per person, for unlimited play. Currently this is the only rate offered (no half-hours, child rates, etc.), but Bob says this may change in the future as the business gets more established. Upon pre-paying your time at the front door, you are given a large white sticker (like the kind used for address labels) that has your “end” time written on it with a Sharpie, and you apply this sticker to the front of your shirt. Customers’ time is overseen using a large LED digital clock that hangs high over the front counter, and the Retrovolt employees walk the floor at regular intervals, letting people know their time is up as is necessary. Additional time can be purchased anytime at the front counter (up until one hour before closing, obviously). The pinball lineup focuses on late-’70s to mid-’90s solid state pins, with some variation either way. The newest games presently on site are *Star Trek* and *Ghostbusters* (both Pro models). [![The main pinball row](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/04_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/04_hires.jpg) The main pinball row The pins have all had considerable cleanup and restoration work done on them, resulting in very good overall playability. (One small example that caught my eye was the presence of a brand-new ‘Dunk the Dummy’ drop target on the 1985 Williams *Comet* pinball.) Several of the older pins have had their bulbs changed out to LEDs and are, for the most part, kept true-to-form in terms of lamp color and appearance. (*Attack from Mars* looks especially nice in this regard.) The current Retrovolt pinball lineup: | | | | --- | --- | | * Attack from Mars * Centaur II * Comet * Demolition Man * Genie (w/PI-1 CPU board) * Ghostbusters (Pro) * Indiana Hilton Jones (Williams) * Judge Dredd * Jungle Lord * Jurassic Park * Lost World, The: Jurassic Park * Monday Night Football | * Mr. & Mrs. Pac-Man * Ripley’s Believe It or Not! * Silverball Mania * Simpsons, The (Data East) * Space Shuttle * Star Trek (Stern, Pro) * Star Wars (Data East) * Stargate * Tales from the Crypt * Whirlwind * World Cup Soccer | [![More pinballs on the mezzanine level](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/02_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/02_hires.jpg) More pinballs on the mezzanine level The video games are likewise from the ‘golden era’ of arcades, and all the biggies are here (*Pac-Man*, *Donkey Kong*, *Mario Bros.* and *Zaxxon*, just to name a few). A small handful are modern-day recreations and/or outfitted with LCD screens, but many are vintage originals. There was even one multi-game cabinet that had 600+ games to select from (I believe it was called *Pandora’s Box 4*.) [![The main video game row](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/05_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/05_hires.jpg) The main video game row No food or alcohol is available on site, but sodas and bottled water can be purchased from a cooler kept behind the front counter. There is also a New York-style pizzeria next door to Retrovolt that specializes in pizza, pasta and subs for dine-in or take out. [![Two parted-out EM cabs form the front counter](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/06_hires.jpg)](https://www.pinballnews.com/site/wp-content/uploads/sites/retrovolt/06_hires.jpg) Two parted-out EM cabs form the front counter Retrovolt Arcade offers a well-thought-out and well-done look back at arcade gaming the way it used to be, and this, along with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, is already earning tremendous player appeal based on reviews on the site’s [Facebook page](https://www.facebook.com/Retrovoltarcade) and elsewhere online. For those in the Inland Empire (or anywhere else, for that matter) that were part of those days – as well as those that simply can’t wait a full year for the next Arcade Expo show in nearby Banning – Retrovolt Arcade is definitely worth a look. _(Acquisition: raw_text, Enrichment: v1)_ --- *Exported from Journalist Tool on 2026-04-13 | Item ID: a153f7af-c89b-4b7e-b831-d352cad139d5*