Michigan’s First Video Arcade: Playland, Flint 1969-2022

With all the digital and online gaming going on in our country now, it may be hard for some members of Gen-Z to fathom the importance of pinball & video arcades and what they fondly mean mean to the generations of the 70s thru the 90s.

While many of us hit up mall arcades or places like Pinball Pete’s, we probably never gave a thought as to where Michigan’s very first arcade was. Well, now you are about to find out.

It was Playland Arcade, located at 3350 Pasadena Avenue in Flint.

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Opening in July 1969, Playland had mini-golf, a go-kart track, batting cages, giant slide, and among their games, the VERY first video game in all of Michigan: PONG. With this, Playland became Michigan's first video arcade.

During the early-mid 1970s, Playland was THE destination. After removing the mini-golf in the late 1970s, Playland added skating and became Michigan’s first skate park and pro shop.

But that wasn’t all. In 1980, a second Playland was built 13 miles south at 5290 Dort Highway. Not long after, the original Playland closed and the second location was named Playland Park.

The park featured the state's first slick track, monster mini golf, a ½  mile go kart track, and ice cream parlor. Kiddie go karts were added in 1996 and a Haunted House in 1997.

After a successful run, Playland Park on Dort Highway also closed in 2022, thus closing the final chapter of Flint’s Playlands, as well as the legacy of Michigan’s very first video arcade.