Discover Delmarva: Zelky’s
REHOBOTH BEACH, De- Zelky’s at Rehoboth Beach has been a staple of the community for the last 40 years. The games have evolved with the times as technology continues to advance. But General Manager Matt Weiner says the goal each season remains the same: “We know that our visitors come year after year as their tradition to the same places when they come to visit the beach. Being part of that tradition, we want to ensure that every time they come. They get to have a new experience.:
This year, they’re LITERALLY taking the fun to new levels!- The roof with their new mini golf course. Weiner tells us, “We have a very nostalgic feeling golf course. But we’ve put our Zelky’s twist on it. You can see it’s bright and pink.” The course has been completely revamped this year, with even the umbrellas turning pink! With lots of bank shots and obstacles that play tricks on your mind. The old-style course can be more forgiving, and once I straightened my shot out, I was nailing some pars! Must have been the wind earlier… I did forget a couple of times that we were playing mini golf due to the breathtaking views from the course. “People love this view. I mean we’ve been talking to everybody that’s been coming up here who has memories of playing golf- I mean, grandparents have been coming for years.”
This tradition for visitors continues downstairs in their arcade. With claw machines, virtual reality, sports games, and so much more, with another new addition this year. Weiner says this has been an exciting time for them. “Expanding our space has allowed us to offer more games and a wider variety of fun. This year, we are expanding into the room next door to the original building. We’re bringing in new video games, driving games, and motorcycle games. We also have a new kids’ section.”
We tried out their claw machine first to hopefully get the day started on a high note! I couldn’t believe I got a win on my second try! We tried a new game this year with the bean bag toss to keep the good vibes going! Nailing some bull’s eyes, I was running up my ticket count fast, working towards an awesome prize. Which wasn’t always the case for arcades back in the day, when Weiner’s father started the business. “He was one of the first people in the country to start offering redemption games as well. With tickets for large prizes, and that’s really how the industry has changed over the years.”
Weiner says there was a dip in visitors to arcades when consoles first came out, but things have been changing quickly over the last few years. “Now we’re seeing a resurgence the other way. With virtual reality, a lot of these motion-simulated games. Those are too big to put in your living room.”
This was their south location on the boardwalk with mini-golf located above the arcade. Zelky’s has their “Passport to Fun” where if you visit all five Zelky’s locations, you can win special prizes this summer! They’re also planning a big Christmas in July Celebration at their North location. For more information on their hours and deals, check out their website.
