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Half Moon Amusement Arcades

At the very center of Weirs Beach you’ll find the HALF MOON AMUSEMENT ARCADES. There are actually TWO arcades: a Penny Arcade and a Family Fun Center. Both arcades feature a large variety of video games, including the latest simulators; flashy pinball machines; antique games which you can play for a dime; and a tremendous assortment of prizes, which you can win by playing Skeeball, Skil-O-Bingos, and other redemption games.

The prize assortment is, in fact, one of the largest you will find anywhere! There are over 1000 items in stock at any one time, and the prizes not only include items to please children, but also items for the discerning adult: electronics, NH souvenirs, housewares, beach items, and gifts. Why buy these items, when you can win them, and have fun at the same time!

While each arcade has some of the same items, many other prizes are unique to each arcade. Be sure to check out the prize assortment in both arcades, as you can redeem your tickets and tokens for prizes in either one!

Penny Arcade

There are over 120 different games in the Half Moon Penny Arcade! (There are multiple copies of some of the games.) Below is a full listing of all the games, sorted by category.

Family Fun Center

There are over 140 different games in the Half Moon Family Fun Center! (There are multiple copies of some of the games.) Below is a full listing of all the games, sorted by category.

Arcade History

The business was founded in 1949 by Sidney E. Ames, who rented a small space adjacent to the Half Moon Snack Bar for an arcade. Mr. Ames had a background in the arcade business. In 1934 and 1935, when he was just a teenager, Mr. Ames had traveled on the carnival and fair circuit with some of the first pinball machines ever to be made. From 1936-1950, his family owned and operated an arcade in Old Orchard Beach, Maine. In 1948, Mr. Ames visited Weirs Beach, saw the potential of the area, and came back the following season to start the business. (For more detail on Mr. Ames’s activities and family business during the 1930s and 1940s, click here.)

In the fall of 1950, after two summer seasons in Weirs Beach, Mr. Ames purchased the Half Moon buildings and land from local businessman Howard Ballou. Built in the early 1930’s by Bob Wagner, the Half Moon at that time consisted of a restaurant, snack bar, and bowling alley.

The Half Moon Cabins, on a separate parcel of land, were purchased by Mr. Ames from Mr. Ballou on December 14, 1956. They are now known as the Half Moon Motel & Cottages. For a complete, comprehensive history of the Half Moon, click here.

Over the years, the arcade expanded tremendously in size. In 1957, the business doubled to become TWO arcades, when a new arcade building was built. (This building currently houses the Half Moon Bumper Cars.) In 1967, another, larger arcade building was built, and the “New” arcade moved next door, becoming the Half Moon Penny Arcade. Around 1980, the original arcade, which had existed continuously in the same location for 30 years, quadrupled in capacity, when it incorporated the location of the former bowling alley and became the Half Moon Family Fun Center.

Mr. Ames was active in the business until the age of 92. He passed away on January 29, 2009. His three sons, Jeffrey, Michael, and Robert, now manage the arcades and the other Half Moon businesses.

With over sixty years of experience in the arcade business, you might imagine the variety of machines you will find in the Half Moon arcades. That is, only the best of the best machines that make the grade will you find here!

If the machine you love isn’t there, it’s probably because it’s been “retired”. There’s only so much room! Wouldn’t you love to have a classic pinball or video in your basement? If you are interested in buying an old retired game, please contact us directly. (In the year 2000, the Half Moon arcades had a one-time auction on a Games For Sale web page. We are still receiving inquiries about these games which are long gone.)

Sid Ames – July 21, 2006

Full List of Games

List last updated on 8/3/2017

Deluxe Videos / Simulators

Artic Thunder
Beach Head 2000
Dance Dance Revolution
Fast and Furious Drift
Guitar Hero
Hydro Thunder
Lost World Jurassic Park
Mad Wave Motion Theatre
San Francisco Rush: Extreme Racing
Space Invaders Frenzy
Suzuka 7 Hours
Time Crisis 3
Tokyo Cop
Wave Runner

Videos

Centipede
Dark Silhouette Silent Scope II
Donky King
Galaga
Galaxian
House of the Dead II
Ms. Pac-Man
Punch Out
Target Terror
The Simpsons

Pinball

Adams Family
EarthShaker
FunHouse
Harley-Davidson
High Speed
Revenge from Mars
Theatre of Magic

Novelty

Metal Typer

Prize Dispensers

Big Choice
Drillomatic II
Giant Stacker
Hot Stuff
Lax
Lighthouse
Lucky Crane
Sports Arena
Stacker
Treasure Chest
Watch Box Crane

Miscellaneous

Air Hockey
Air FX Hockey
Chexx Hockey
Scene Machine Photos

Kiddie Rides

Train
Super Jet

Baseball Games (non-videos)

Baseball Champ
Slug Fest

Shooting Games (non-videos)

Apollo Moon Shot Rifle
Combat
Shooting Trainer
Street’s Rifle Range
Twin Rifle

Ticket and Token Dispensers

Alley Hoops
Bean Bag Toss
Big Bass Wheel Pro
Big Shot
Big Wheel
Bing-O-Reno
Colorama
Cyclone
Doodle Jump
Field of Dreams
Gold Zone
Knockdown
Lil’ Hoops
Monster Drop
Pharoah’s Treasure
Pokereno
Pop-A-Ball
Quakerz
Safari Ranger
Shoot To Win Basketball
Simpson’s Kooky Carnival
Simpson’s Soccer
Sink It
Skeeball Extreme
Skil-O-Bingo
Smokin’ Token
Snow Down
Spave Ballz
Spider Stompin
Spindependence Day
Spong Bob Jelly Fishin’
Super 21
The Dealer
Victory Lane
Whac-A-Mole
Wheel of Fortune
Wonder Wheel

Full List of Games

List last updated on 8/3/2017

Deluxe Videos / Simulators

18 Wheeler
Alpine Surfer
Big Buck World
Blazing Angels
Crazy Taxi
Cruisin’ World
Daytona USA
DDR Super Nova
Fast and Furious Bikes
Fast and Furious Cars
Fast and Furious Drift
G-Loc
GP 500
Harley Davidson Motorcycle
Jumbo Safari
Jurassic Park Arcade
Mad Wave Motion Theatre
Need For Speed Underground
Sky Target
Star Wars Racer
Star Wars Trilogy
The Walking Dead
Time Crisis II
Title Fight
Top Skater
Vortex V3
Water Ski
Wave Runner

Videos

Arkanoid
Asteroids
Centipede
Galaga
Galaxian
Hang On
Klax
Mario Bros
Maximum Force
Ms. Pac-Man
Pac-Man
Police Trainer
Punch Out
Rampage
Robotron:2084
Space Invaders
Terminator 2Tetris
Tron
X Men

Pinball

Attack From Mars
Cyclone
Eight Ball Deluxe
El Dorado
Jumpin’ Jacks
Lord of the Rings
Simpsons Pinball Party
The Getaway
Twilight Zone

Novelty

Colorscape
Gypsy Palm Reader
Love Tester
Metal Typer

Prize Dispensers

Big Choice
Drill-O-matic
Key Master
Lax
Lighthouse
Lucky Crane
Sports Arena
The Big One
Treasure Chest

Miscellaneous

Boxer Glove
Chexx Hockey
Deluxe Air Hockey
Foto Fantasy Photo
Portrait Studio
Sticker Prints

Kiddie Rides

Antique Automobile
Ocean Liner
Pony Express

Antique Games

Basketball Champ
Batting Practice
Grandma

Baseball Games

Upper Deck

Shooting Gallery

Dodge City Bonanza Rifle Shooting Gallery

Shooting Games (non-videos)

Ambush
Attach
Gang Busters

Ticket and Token Dispensers

Big Bass Wheel Pro
Big Haul
Bing-O-Reno
Bowler Roller
Bubba’s Excavation Company
Chameleon Paradize
Crossy Road
Cyclone
Deal or No Deal
Dizzy Chicken
Drunk-N-Alien
Freedom
Full Court Frenzy
Ice Ball
Jackpot Crossing
Jumpin’ Jackpot
Knock Down
Little League
Mission Control
Pirate’s Hook
Pokereno
Pop-A-Shot Basketball
Popcorn
Quick Drop
Rabbit Racin’
Rising Waters
Skil-O-Bingo
Slam Jam
Smokin’ Token
Spin ‘N Win
Spindependence Day
Sunset
The Dealer
Up & Away
Wacky Gator
Whac-A-Mole
Wheel Deal
Wheel Deal Extreme
Wonder Wheel
Xtreme 7’s