Galloping Ghost Arcade – The Massive Retro Gaming Wonderland Near Chicago

Just 15 miles outside Chicago in Brookfield, Illinois sits the largest classic arcade in the United States – the sprawling paradise known as Galloping Ghost. As a life-long arcade enthusiast, I recently made a pilgrimage to this retro gaming mecca and spent hours exploring its jaw-dropping collection of over 600 cabinets. Read on for a tour through this digitally preserved slice of gaming history.

First Steps Inside

Walking through Galloping Ghost’s front door, I was immediately transported back to the noisy arcades of my childhood. The thunderous cacophony of games echoed down the halls as I passed rows of nostalgic machines. Pinball tables clattered away while fighting game cabinets erupted with blows. 8-bit chiptunes blended with orchestral scores booming from massive theater-sized machines. It was gaming sensory overload!

Despite housing over 600 games, the layout felt thoughtfully curated. Newer flashier consoles sat up front to draw guests in while rarer vintage machines lived in an arcade oasis in the back. I saw immaculately maintained classics like Donkey Kong and Ms. Pac-Man proudly standing just steps from the modern light-up dance and rhythm giants.

This juxtaposition captured the evolution of both gameplay and cabinet design across decades. As I wandered deeper, I felt like an intrepid explorer uncovering gaming history that still came alive with the push of a start button.

Galloping Ghost Arcade

Staff and Upkeep

Beyond the machines themselves, it was clear Galloping Ghost’s staff pour tremendous passion into the upkeep of this arcade sanctuary. While every cabinet showed some signs of aging, they were meticulously well-preserved, a testament to diligent care and maintenance. Many looked close to their original factory condition.

Despite the constant streams of visitors, I didn’t spot a single malfunctioning game in the hours I was there. The staff even hand-fabricated replacement parts and cabinets when needed to keep games operational. This painstaking work has brought some extremely rare machines, like the original Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, back from the brink of extinction.

$20 All You Can Play Entry Fee

Rather than dealing with quarters, Galloping Ghost uses an all you can play model after paying a $20 entry fee ($15 for kids). This gave me the chance to try games I might’ve breezed past back when tokens were scarce. For retro enthusiasts, the value is tremendous given the sheer volume of impeccably maintained classics.

It was liberating to freely wander and sample so many landmarks of gaming history. I could indulge in forgotten favorites for hours without worrying about running out of change. This experience simply isn’t possible anymore outside of places like Galloping Ghost that digitally preserve gaming’s past.

Pure Nostalgic Bliss

Growing up in arcades in the ’80s and ’90s, I thought I’d never relive many of the formative gaming moments of my youth. After just one afternoon at Galloping Ghost, those memories felt fresh and vibrant again.

Getting to play pristine classics like NBA Jam, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and X-Men with my friends transported me decades back. We found ourselves trash-talking and shoulder-to-shoulder again just like old times. I even located a Star Wars Trilogy cabinet I had thought was long gone – reigniting epic childhood battles in the trenches of Hoth once more.

Beyond nostalgia, getting quality time with gaming history provided context on just how groundbreaking and influential many of these titles were. Playing temporally accurate titles also let me appreciate the massive leaps in game design generation after generation in a way that modern remasters don’t quite capture!

 

X-Men: One of the classics that brought back childhood memories \

Rare Gems and Holy Grails

Of course, the true treasures were the rarest creations I never expected to experience in person again. Games produced in limited quantities or even one-of-a-kind custom cabinets. Galloping Ghost is home to holy grails like the Sega R360, an actual rotating flight sim pod, of which only 8 were ever made.

Other mind-blowing rarities I stumbled upon included Hydro Thunder 2, Dragon’s Lair 3D, the full version of Mad Planets, and Red Tickets, an infamously unreleased arcade game that never saw the light of day. It’s hard to describe the magic of uncovering games thought lost to time, like artifacts in a digital museum.

Galloping Ghost Is A Chicago Gem

After hours of falling down a rabbit hole of retro gaming discovery, I emerged from Galloping Ghost in a blissful daze. This carefully curated arcade haven is truly one-of-a-kind thanks to the sheer breadth of gaming history housed under one roof. Any arcade devotee visiting Chicago absolutely must make a pilgrimage here.

We’re fortunate places like this still keep arcade memories alive against the digital tide. And with over 600 cabinets, Galloping Ghost has something exciting to uncover for every gamer new and old. This beloved local institution remains as vibrant and engaging as the cutting-edge games it preserves.

So if you grew up pumping quarters at the local arcade, or you’ve always wondered what the magic was all about, get yourself to Brookfield, Illinois. Step through the doors of Galloping Ghost and take a trip back in time you’ll never forget. Just be ready to hear the games call out “Insert Coin” once more!

History

• Founded in 2011 by arcade collector Doc Mack after purchasing over 400 games from a closed arcade.
• Originally located in Lyons, IL but moved to current larger venue in Brookfield in 2013.
• Has expanded from its initial 400+ cabinets to over 600 today.

Notable Rare Games

• Red Tickets (unreleased prototype)
• Polybius (controversial legend)
• Cannon Ball (only 2 units exist)
• Mad Planets (only 3 units exist)
• Star Wars: Return of the Jedi
• Knuckle Bash (less than 10 units)
• Dark Presence (only 5 units)

Facility Details

• Over 50,000 square feet of gaming space.
• Immense vintage neon signage collection adorning walls.
• Twin cinema-sized projection screens for special events.
• Party rooms available for private events.
• Arcade museum room with rarities not playable on floor.
• Full deli restaurant serving themed dishes like Burgertime Burger.
• Extensive arcade-themed gift shop with toys, artwork, apparel.

Community Involvement

• Hosts charity fundraisers and donation drives.
• Holds tournaments for competitive gamers.
• Provides field trips for local schools.
• Employ specially abled staff as part of community integration initiative.

Notable Events

• Hosted the Kong Off annual Donkey Kong high score tournament from 2011-2015. Attracted world class players competing on vintage machines.
• Holds occasional Arcade After Dark adult-only nights with craft beers, live DJs, and games set to free play.
• Premiered the documentary Man vs Snake in 2015, about the race for the Donkey Kong world record.
• Hosted Dot Arcade, a video game art exhibition in partnership with the Elmhurst Art Museum in 2016.
• Holds the occasional Midnight Madness event where the arcade is open until 3AM with special promotions.

Arcade Management

• Uses a custom inventory management software called ArcadeHQ to track every cabinet and component. This helps optimize maintenance efforts.
• Employs specialists for repairing old CRT monitors and specialized control boards to keep vintage hardware operational.
• Rotates games between floor and warehouse to give variety and protect sensitive classics from overuse.
• Trains staff on proper handling and operation of rare antique games to prevent damage.
• Continues expanding warehouse storage to accomodate new game acquisitions.

Impact on Community

• Inspired a burgeoning barcade scene in Chicago celebrating arcade culture.
• Provides local teams a training ground for competitive gaming tournaments worldwide.
• Serves as a one-of-a-kind family entertainment center for all ages in the suburbs.
• Preserves beloved memories for generations who grew up in iconic arcades.
• Educates younger visitors on the history and evolution of the video game industry.