Starship Fantasy was a spaceship-themed arcade operating during the early-1980s video-game boom in Tempe, Arizona. Located at 940 E. Baseline Road, at 20,000 square feet, it was remembered as one of the largest and most elaborate arcades in the area. It opened in 1981 and featured futuristic décor, hanging model starships, and a dense lineup of 150 contemporary video and pinball games. Patrons recall the sensory hit of warm electronics and neon lighting on entry, contributing to its reputation as a standout venue in the Phoenix metro arcade scene. Though the arcade closed not long after it opened, during the arcade crash that began in 1983, the name lived on through a related Arizona business focused on arcade parts and pinball fabrication. Tokens from the arcade—marked “Starship Fantasy Arcade, Phoenix AZ” with its mascot Zog, remain collectible evidence of its heyday.
The arcade loaned games to Jefferson Starship for them to play backstage when performing at Veterans Memorial Coliseum in July 1981.
References
- Starship Fantasy – Company history
- Starship Fantasy Opening Jan 1981
- Interview with Starship Fantasy Owners Bob Radez and Rick Wood Feb 1981
- Tempe History Museum – Photo of Starship Fantasy Arcade, 940 E. Baseline Rd. (1984)
- Tempe History Museum – Community recollections of Starship Fantasy
- Phoenix New Times – Memories of classic Phoenix-area arcades
- Jefferson Starship game loan