Clang. The sound of a pinball machine erupts. You stand before the Lone Star Pinball Museum. A quirky building in Hockley Texas. It’s not your average museum. Forget sterile displays and hushed whispers.
The Lone Star Pinball Museum is unlike any museum you’ve ever seen. Dan Ferguson created it. He’s a pinball enthusiast. His collection is vast. It spills out into several unassuming buildings. It’s a treasure trove of pinball history.
Inside machines are everywhere. Rows of electromechanical marvels. Solid-state wonders. Even a few dot matrix games. Some machines are visible. Others are cleverly stacked behind. There are more games than meet the eye. The museum features pinball’s early years. It shows machines before flippers. The earliest flipper machines are there too.
Beyond the pinball kingdom is another room. Tabletop games occupy it. Trade stimulators and toy vehicles share space. One corner is a shrine to Elvira. Elvira-branded items and artwork fill this corner. The museum has promotional items for Lone Star beer. This beer is Texas’s ‘National Beer’. It’s a fitting tribute given the museum’s name.
The collection’s sheer scale is overwhelming. Space is a premium. Pinball playfields and cabinets are in the loft. Dan Ferguson is a collector. He’s more than happy to share his passion. He’ll tell you the stories behind each item. He knows their history intimately.
To visit you need an appointment. It’s worth the effort. Whether you’re a pinball aficionado or a curious traveler. Prepare for a fun and educational experience. The Lone Star Pinball Museum is a true testament to a unique passion. A celebration of pinball’s rich and quirky history.