Playland Arcade, Santa Monica

About Playland Arcade

Playland Arcade, located on the historic Santa Monica Pier in Santa Monica, California, is a family entertainment center featuring arcade games where visitors play and win prizes. The arcade has operated since the early 1950s, when brothers George and Gene Gordon opened it as part of their arcade route spanning from Hollywood to the Pacific Ocean. The Gordon family continues to own and operate the venue. Playland Arcade hosts corporate events, private gatherings, and birthday parties tailored to various ages and interests, with staff managing event details. The arcade offers online ticket card purchases to reduce wait times. The Santa Monica Pier location and Playland Arcade have appeared in numerous Hollywood films and television shows, including Beverly Hills Cop 3, Forrest Gump, The Kissing Booth 2, Pacific Rim: Uprising, and The Wonder Years. The venue remains a frequently visited West Coast attraction drawing families and tourists to experience its arcade games and historic atmosphere.