Macomb County Memories Of The Ultimate Fun Spot The Van Dyke Sports Center
This July marks the 11th anniversary of the closing of The Ultimate Fun Spot The Van Dyke Sports Center. A good part of my childhood in the late ’70s hanging out there. I would ride my big red Schwinn 10-speed with a pocket full of quarters to play my favorite pinball machines.
Since the arcade was close to my home, it was a staple of my childhood throughout the years. I remember getting busted by the police for steaming up my windows one night with my girlfriend. A bonus was also the Van Dyke Drive-In in Warren, located right next door. The layout of the whole place was just bizarre. The back room had remnants of a dance floor and a sunken bar. The place is filled with strange rooms, there are areas closed off and if you look at its construction, you can tell the building has some odd history. The upper level was the living quarters for the owners.
I was never bored during summer vacation. I’ll always remember my neighborhood friends spending an afternoon in air-conditioned comfort. Do you remember the strange smell when you walked in the door? Yes, it had its unique scent. Not having much money I would walk around and look at the pinball games to see if anyone left a free credit on them. I remember the Rock-Ola jukebox near the pool room. Played The SWEET, Fox on the Run.
Watched as the transition from pinball games gave way to video games. The Van Dyke Sports Center still had a great variety of awesome pinball games from old to new. Hit a bucket of golf balls at the indoor golf driving range. Race around on a winding go-cart track or if you were old enough went to the Butterfly Disco at night.
Fast-forward to 2023, and it looks like the arcade business is coming back. I’ll never forget the Macomb County Memories of my childhood at one of my favorite places to go to have fun with friends. The Van Dyke Sports Center.
Some of Your Favorite Classic Rock Bands Have a Pinball Game
2012 AC/DC Stern
2012 AC/DC Pinball
Great fun game with an awesome playlist of AC/DC songs to keep you rocking for hours
1979 KISS - Bally
1979 Bally KISS Pinball
17,000 KISS pinball games were made of the original game. Later in 2015, Stern made an updated version. If you have one of the original games hold on to it as it’s going up in price now that the band is allegedly on their final tour.
Aerosmith 2017 Pinball by Stern
Aerosmith 2017 Pinball by Stern
With an MSRP when new: $8,999.00 Aerosmith keeps fans entertained with drum sounds, toys in the attic multi-ball, and a soundtrack of classic Aerosmith.
Captain Fantastic - 1976 Bally
1976 Captain Fantastic by Bally
Remember first playing this at the Van Dyke Sports Center in Warren, MI. Loved the old-style bells and it is a bit slow by today’s standards. The artwork is so interesting with secret drawings hidden throughout the game.
Nugent - Stern 1976
1978 Nugent Pinball by Stern
This Nugent pinball I own myself. Location now is in my office at WCSX. I couldn’t afford the KISS pinball and came across this game which only 2,437 were made. Thought it might be a good investment. Plus you can’t beat the Motorcity Madman.
