When I was a child (1980-83) I spend all my allowance and lawn cutting money at an arcade in a cottage community called 'Balm Beach'.   The arcade is still there albeit not nearly as awesome....(it is called the Geogian Grill).   just wondering if anyone else recalls this spot, and may have any old pictures of the arcade itself....

Hindsight is always 20/20..... so when I try to recall how wonderful and exciting this place was (knowing that I was 10-12 years old and in the peak of the arcade revolution...) it is difficult to envision. (I wish I took pictures.... Is what I meant)



If anyone has any stories, or pictures, I'd love to see them.....  Just to recall the wonders of my childhood.

here is the website of the place...

http://www.georgiangrill.com/

it's still an arcade, just not as special as it once was.... I recommend everyone check it out if your up in that area.

I'm not sure 'hindsight is 20/20' means what you think it does, but I think you got your point across  

I played there in the 70s (I grew up in the area). I took my kids there in the last few years when up that way too. The pins weren't as good but it's still a neat place to play skeeball, get ice cream, etc.

My grandparents live in Victoria Harbor, I used to go to Balm Beach all the time.

Is the "Castle" thing still there on the road leading in from Midland on Balm Beach road? What about the mini golf and go-kart place right as you come in?

I'm thinking of going to school in Midland (Second Career thing) to be a Marine Mechanic, I'd love to live up there near the beach.......the further away from the big city the better!

Quoted from ken_cinder

Is the "Castle" thing still there on the road leading in from Midland on Balm Beach road? What about the mini golf and go-kart place right as you come in?

I believe the Castle is there plus the "Windmill" place (my friends parents use to operate it). I haven't been up since 2007 though and things always change. Note the large kerfuffle over the fence built that blocks access to the beach (this is just a stone's throw from the arcade).

I'm not aware of any other arcades in Midland - does anybody know of some?

In the mid 60s I remember a small one on the main st of Midland. I recall going in and yanking on the control stick of an arcade game and having it bust off in my hand. I ran out before the manager saw what happened. My very first arcade experience ...

The Olympic billiard hall (now gone) had a small room that held about 6 pins.  I played there in the 70s. A mall arcade opened up in the plaza across from where Zellers is but that shut down in the late 70s or early 80s. They had probably 15-20 pins in there.

Yes the castle is still there and has expanded to become a Tourist Niagara Falls type of attraction.... and the Go-Karts are there as well... they have the two seaters.... so my son and I had a blast last year!.

I haven't been there in probably.......10 years now. I went up on my bike last summer to visit my grandmother, but never left Victoria Harbour.
I wanted to buy a sword at that Castle place for my collection, dude wouldn't let me because I wasn't 21 (I was 19)......wasn't aware this was the US and there's no permit needed for something like this (I have yet to see any sort of law here where an age limit is 21).

I was there last year. They did have Shuttle Mission, Bad Cats(yuck),Jurassic park,and Starwars(data east). But, then they got rid of them and later brought in Bally's Game Show with kid's legs.

Found a couple pictures I took last summer....  Here's the joint.

Sorry I didn't take any of the beach... the Arcade is RIGHT on the beach... basically where I was standing.

Enjoy if you plan of making the trek up there this summer.


cheers.

Quoted from TGlover

Sorry I didn't take any of the beach... the Arcade is RIGHT on the beach... basically where I was standing.

One of the top 10 signs you are a pinhead is when you take pictures of the arcade and not the scenery at the beach

True enough...

Cheers.

   Ahhh..First decent weekend weather.  I checked in at the 'grill' and they still had the Bally's Game Show (with kid's legs), and they have added a decent Soprono's pinball. Good powerful flippers, all switches working including the safe. The playfield could use some cleaning and the right slingshot is super sensitive. It's set on a slightly more difficult level than the default but still an O.K. game {Yes, I know Soprano's isn't one of the better Stern titles}
  
  As for vids; they do have about 20 including Galaxian, Galaga (although the monitors are a little sunbleached), 19XX, and a somewhat rare Operation Wolf 3.

The games are owned and operated by Superior Amusements.