Pinball Arcades Make A Comeback In These 3 Homes: How Much House

ACROSS AMERICA — Before Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox, before Pac-Man and Defender, there was pinball. The arcade games appeared to be circling the drain with the advent of games based on quasi-military technology.

But now pinball is booming again, both in arcades, but also in people’s homes, driven by a sense of nostalgia. According to The Economist, people who grew up playing pinball now have the disposable income to include arcades in their homes, and introduce their own children to pinball.

This week in How Much House, we highlight three homes in California, Florida and Georgia with arcades and game rooms. While pinball was often regarded as a blue-collar worker’s game, it has been gentrified. These homes are anything but blue-collar.

California | $2,500,000

81107 Carefree Drive, Indio
Listed by: Angela Maciel-Gibbons | Homesmart Professionals
Square feet: 3,446
Acreage: Unavailable
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 4
Year built: 2005

With a location on Carefree Drive, it shouldn’t be a surprise the three-car garage at this luxury estate has been transformed into a mind-blowing game room with an assortment of pinball games and other arcade games for endless entertainment.

If you’re all thumbs and none of your other digits when it comes to pinball, the garage opens to a 13,068-square-foot lot with plenty of other diversions: a mini golf course, a large barbecue island, a huge fire pit and an integrated speaker system. Perhaps you prefer pool or ping pong. This house has it covered.

The saltwater pool and spa are spectacular, too.

The heart of this home lies in its beautiful kitchen, a haven for culinary artists with a gas range, double ovens and high-end appliances. The great room is perfect for entertaining in style with a bar, cozy fireplace and overhead speakers.

The primary ensuite bedroom is a sanctuary for relaxation with an oversized soaking tub and a soothing rain shower, along with dual sinks, a walk-in closet and a makeup station. The glass wall overlooks the pool and spa area. Peek inside for more photos.

Florida | $2,350,000

7597 Excitement Drive, Reunion
Listed by: Alex Lopez | Titan Realty Group LLC
Square feet: 6,885
Acreage: 0.24 acre
Bedrooms: 9
Bathrooms: 11 (10 full)
Year built: 2015

Again, the name of the street where this stunning home is located sets expectations. The arcade is extensive but the least of the amenities at this uniquely themed luxury vacation home. It overlooks an Arnold Palmer signature golf course, comes with a membership that grants access to amenities in the gated community, and is just minutes away from Disney parks and other major attractions.

There’s plenty to do without leaving the estate, though — a pool, spillover spa and splash pad; fountains and lights offering the perfect ambiance for a night swim; an al fresco dining table and summer kitchen; and the arcade, of course. It has gaming consoles, air hockey, basketball and a Fast and Furious Racing Arcade. The home also has a casino-themed room, a poolroom, and a movie theater with comfortable seating, an HD projector and sound system.

The elegant kitchen has double-tone cabinets, a custom backsplash and modern fixtures. The formal dining room is large enough to seat 16. Each of the nine bedrooms is themed to a different global destination — for example, two bedrooms for kids, one decorated with animated characters and the other as another planet, and both connected by a secret magical playroom inhabited by their favorite wizards. Peek inside for more photos.

Georgia | $5,500,000

3140 Manor Bridge Drive, Milton
Listed by: Jenny Doyle | Atlanta Fine Homes, Sotheby’s International Realty
Square feet: 15,694
Acreage: 1.78 acres
Bedrooms: 7
Bathrooms: 11 (8 full)
Year built: 2008

Situated on the 18th Fairway at The Manor, this brick and stone estate offers lavish interiors, but also opportunities for fun. For the latter, there’s a stunning vanishing heated pool and spa, a billiard room, an arcade game room, a home theater, a gym, a private massage room, an inground trampoline and a turf sports court. There’s even a two-station salon with a full bathroom tucked over the garage, and the property includes a guest house perfect as an in-law or au pair suite.

The dramatic two-story foyer reveals elaborate ironwork in the curved staircase and open gallery. The dining room provides an intimate setting for hosting dinners. A handsome wood-lined stud features a coffered ceiling, designer chandelier and a fireplace flanked by custom built-ins. The gourmet chef’s kitchen boasts an oversized island with seating and triple-edged countertops, high-end appliances, custom cabinetry, and a light-filled beautiful circular casual dining area. The kitchen spills into the gorgeous family room, where wooden trusses span the soaring cathedral ceiling. Ideally situated on the main level, the sumptuous primary suite boasts a sitting area, a fireplace, and a soaring double-tray ceiling with a crystal chandelier.

A unique entertaining space adjacent to pool and outdoor spaces, featuring a stunning full-size bar with floor-to-ceiling custom cabinetry, beverage cooler, ice maker, dishwasher, and full-size wine refrigerator. The bar prefaces the sun-drenched formal gorgeous living room, complete with a modern crystal chandelier, a curved window wall and a stone fireplace with a stunning mantel.

The upstairs commences with a sizeable landing-area bonus room and four spacious ensuite bedrooms. The upper level also includes playroom space as well as an additional domed circular sitting room with an extravagant, oversized crystal chandelier and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the incredible grounds. Peek inside for more photos.

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