Castles-n-Coasters Return to Arizona page

9445 Metro Parkway East
Phoenix, AZ 85051

(602) 997-7575

Price: $7.63 + tax

Par: none listed Other Activities: Arcade

Difficulty: 7

Creativity: 10

Atmosphere: 10

I've always been a sucker for carnival rides, kitschy architecture and especially video games--I'm an old-school arcade rat and proud of it!--and there is no shortage of any of the above at Castles-n-Coasters in Phoenix, AZ. Were it not for the quality and quantity of hot dogs I had at the Diamondbacks game earlier in the day, I'd have waited my turn on some of the rides. Even though it was 107F, I still felt like a few rounds of golf, and not at some fancy-pants country club, neither. No sir. When I happened by Castles-n- Coasters on I-17 en route back from Grand Canyon National Park about a week before the Jult 4th holiday, I knew what and where my last stop in the Valley of the Sun would be before my plane ride back home. The simple fact is we wouldn't have the likes of Guitar Hero or House of the Dead were it not for Galaga, Donkey Kong, Dig Dug and all the other classics that came before them. One look inside their arcade castle, including their "pinball rotunda," and I knew they were among the few arcades, let alone golf courses, in America that truly get it. Have a look at my corresponding Flickr album so you can judge for yourselves!

Reviewed by T.C.

Reviewed in 2009

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