Location: 31005 Orchard Lake Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48334, USA
Date: March 2014

Report by Dan Marquardt

For some people, their vacation destination picks must include warm weather and sandy beaches. For me, a vacation getaway must have a running steam engine to see, and at least one location with pinball machines to play.

In mid-March 2014, my dad and I went to Owosso, Michigan for a ride behind the Pere Marquette 1225 steam engine.

The real Polar Express steam engine

Heading to Eastern Michigan also meant a return visit to Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum in Farmington Hills, a nice suburb of Detroit.

The giant neon sign above the mall parking lot entrance

The front of Marvin's Museum

I first visited the Museum in 2001 and was really looking forward to going back. The museum is loaded from the floor to it's high ceiling with antique memorabilia.

Inside Marvin's

Marvin's specialty is coin-operated amusements from the earliest days through today.

One of the aisles crowded with an incredible collection of amusements

I loved playing this game when I was a kid

The newest games are here too

A couple of hours, at least, is needed to try all the amusements and play all the games available.

One of the many illuminated overhead signs

Their thirteen pinball machines range from the 1960s to the latest top titles.

A wall of fun pins

Some of the best new pins

More of the great pins available

The pinballs available on this trip were:

Pinballs along the front wall of Marvin's

All the pins I played looked good and had no mechanical problems.

Marvin's is a must-visit location for anyone into pinball machines or coin-operated amusements who is either in the area or planning a trip there.

Look for the truck!

© Pinball News 2014