The Friends of Paragon Carousel has launched a pop-up vintage-style arcade inside the Paragon Park Museum in the historic clocktower building this summer.

This one-of-a-kind summer attraction features a collection of vintage and retro-style arcade games, including three Skee-Ball lanes, gaming consoles, hockey table games, and all-time favorites like Ms. Pac-Man, Tetris, and more. The experience is designed as an interactive celebration of the legendary penny arcade that once stood at the heart of Paragon Park, which entertained generations of Nantasket Beach visitors.

“This is a fun experiment for the Paragon Park Museum – an opportunity to bring the past to life and reconnect visitors with the playful energy that made Paragon Park such a beloved destination,” said, Friends of Paragon Carousel board member Jason McCann. “While we work with the Department of Conservation and Recreation on long-term plans to renovate the historic clocktower building, we’re looking for creative ways to activate the space, draw more visitors to the carousel, and deepen connections to our shared history.”

Operated by Hometown Arcade of Norwood, the arcade aligns with the Paragon Carousel’s hours, open Tuesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. The arcade offers unlimited free play with $12 admission per person.

While the museum space has shifted to accommodate the arcade for the summer, core historical exhibits remain on display, including the popular scale model of the Giant Coaster, one of the park’s most iconic rides. Additional Paragon Park artifacts are still housed with the Friends of Paragon Carousel and will be reintroduced in future exhibits as the museum continues to evolve.

The clocktower building, once a waiting room for passengers arriving by steamboat and rail, is in need of significant repairs – investments that will be entirely funded by the nonprofit Friends group.

“By bringing new life and energy to this museum space, we hope to inspire greater community interest and investment in preserving this beautiful building,” McCann added.

The Hometown Arcade will operate for the 2025 season only, with the initiative and space usage to be reevaluated in the fall as the Friends continue to explore long-term uses for the clocktower and museum.

For more information, visit www.paragoncarousel.com or follow @paragoncarousel on social media.

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