Celebrity Sports Center: Denver's Greatest Family Entertainment Destination

Before Dave & Buster's. Before the modern entertainment complex. Denver had something better: Celebrity Sports Center — and for generations of Colorado families, it was the greatest place on earth.

The Complex

Celebrity Sports Center opened in 1960 on East Hampden Avenue in Denver, and it was unlike anything else in the city. Under one massive roof, it offered bowling lanes, a swimming pool, an arcade, a restaurant, and more — a complete entertainment destination that could occupy an entire family for an entire day.

The bowling alley alone was one of the largest in Colorado. The pool was a genuine attraction. The arcade, as it evolved through the decades, became a destination for Denver kids who fed quarters into machines and competed for high scores. Celebrity Sports Center was the kind of place where birthday parties happened, where school field trips ended up, and where summer afternoons disappeared.

The Disney Connection

Celebrity Sports Center had a notable origin: it was originally developed with involvement from Walt Disney, who saw it as a prototype for a chain of family entertainment centers. The Disney connection didn't last, but the concept — a comprehensive, high-quality family entertainment destination — proved durable. Celebrity Sports Center operated for over four decades, outlasting most of its competitors.

The Closure

Celebrity Sports Center closed in 1994. The building was eventually demolished. For Denver families who grew up there, the closure marked the end of a particular kind of childhood — the kind where a single building could contain an entire world of fun.

The Celebrity Sports Center Denver Retro T-shirt, Sweatshirt, Hat, and Sticker are for everyone who remembers. Find them in the Denver collection.