If you’re looking for a fun, indoor activity for your family, look no further than the Volo Museum. Located in nearby Volo, this 35-acre, 12-building complex is bursting with offbeat artifacts and one-of-a-kind exhibits you won’t find anywhere else.

While Volo got its start in the 1960s as an automotive resale shop, today the sprawling museum has expanded to include all sorts of mechanical marvels. With 45 unique exhibits (and more being added all the time), everyone in your group is sure to find something here that strikes their fancy.

First and foremost, Volo has one of the most unique auto museums around. But its offerings don’t end there. In fact, the museum features a wide array of exhibits, including a self-playing orchestra, a fanciful Disney gallery, a vast collection of pop culture artifacts and ephemera, and so much more. Whether you’re a car junky, a film buff, or an avid Disney fan, this expansive museum includes a little bit of everything.

Still need convincing? Here are five reasons to start planning your visit to the Volo Museum now.

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1. Admire Antique Autos

Located on the site of a former dairy farm, the Volo Museum had space to expand over the decades. Since Volo got its start in the automotive industry, it only makes sense that many of its buildings are filled with covetable classic cars. While Volo’s auto operation began small, its business has expanded over the years to corner the market on vintage vehicles.

Especially if you’re an old car enthusiast, it will be easy to lose hours wandering the beautifully restored vehicles at Volo. The museum has a 300-car collection that features special interest cars from the 1900s to present day. Even if you’re not a car junky, there’s plenty of engaging displays and other informational tidbits sprinkled throughout to keep your interest and ensure you learn something new along the way.

 

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2. Have a Brush with Hollywood

A visit to the Volo Museum is sure to have you humming “You’re the One That I Want” — and not just because of all the swoon-worthy vintage cars for sale. This world-famous museum also includes iconic movie cars used in films like Grease, Batman, The Blues Brothers and many more. As you explore, keep an eye out for audio installations which play the cars’ well-known on-screen scenes as you approach.

The Volo Museum also has a large collection of vehicles once owned by the rich and famous. From Elvis Presley’s custom-built Cadillac to the car that transported Princess Diana during her final trip to the U.S., you can have a star-studded experience of your own just by exploring the museum.

 

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3. Relive Childhood Nostalgia

It’s easy to feel like a kid again at the Volo Museum, especially when you stumble upon the museum’s collection of retro rides, antique arcade games, historic pedal cars and more. Basically, if it has a wheel (or two or four), there’s a pretty good chance you can find it at the Volo Museum.

Catch a whiff of that quintessential melting plastic smell with a souvenir made by one of the museum’s vintage Disney Mold-A-Rama machines. Unlike traditional Mold-A-Rama machines, these custom creations produced only Disney figurines. The company used these Disneyland Toy Factory branded machines during the 1964-1965 New York World's Fair to promote the theme park. Today, you can still make your own waxy figurine using them.

Then, keep an eye out for a number of animatronic entertainment displays as you wander the museum. If these figures look familiar, you might remember them from their heyday at Chuck E. Cheese.

For younger visitors, the museum’s collection of vintage kiddie rides is truly an interactive experience. Many of these retro rides from the 1940s through 1960s are still functioning and can be taken for a spin using tokens purchased at the museum.

 

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4. Listen to Retro Music

In addition to its classic vehicles, the Volo Museum is home to all sorts of other mechanical marvels, including an impressive collection of vintage musical machines. From old-school jukeboxes to an Art Deco dance orchestra used in the Crystal Palace Dance Hall in Belgium, retro tunes will serve as the soundtrack for your adventure.

Have you ever heard of an Orchestrion? In the Volo Museum’s Music Hall you’ll find a number of these unique musical contraptions. These cabinet-sized instruments are extravagantly adorned and designed to sound like a full band or orchestra playing, all within one musical box. While in the Music Hall, don’t miss the Volo Museum’s 1928 Herschell carousel with its beautifully hand-carved horses.

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5. Discover Antiques Galore

Just because a classic car isn’t in the budget, doesn’t mean you need to leave the Volo Museum empty handed. The multi-building complex also includes a number of antique malls bursting with retro decor for every style as well as a host of collectibles sure to make you nostalgic.

Wander aisles of beautifully restored furniture pieces, or dig through a picker’s dream collection of vintage signs, muscle car art and more. If you’re a lover of collectibles — particularly ‘70s and ‘80s sci-fi memorabilia — you won't want to miss the shop’s impressive offerings, which have been billed as “your own personal ComicCon.” 


Plan Your Visit to the Volo Museum

The Volo Museum is open to visitors daily year round. In addition to the main museum complex, Volo also has a dinosaur park called Jurassic Gardens as well as seasonal train tours.

For hours, admission and more, visit the Volo website.