Dory Hill XIII: September 8-10, 2023

All Dory Hill chatter can be found on Facebook and Discord. Questions about the event can be emailed here.

Announcement – Dory Hill Bottle Share

Friday night from 6PM to 8PM once people get settled in and have signed up for your pin-golf group at the admin tent with Pez (Dave Johnson), head over to Brian (Wonderly) at Cabin F!

Let’s take some time to reconnect with old friends and get to know some of the Dory Hill first timers. Bring a bottle(or can) of something you love, find interesting, or just think sounds cool. Bottle Shares are typically centered around beer but feel free to bring wine, kombucha, liquor, NA beer, or anything else you love sharing with the best pinball community around. Bringing something to share is not required but encouraged. There will be non alcoholic options as well. As long as supplies last, everyone will receive a complimentary commemorative tasting glass.

Please fill out this google form so we can know roughly how many glasses we’ll need. Thank you!

Tournament Tickets and Waitlist

Tickets go on-sale June 17th at 10am Mountain at this link. You can also join the waitlist at this link.

Tournament player, waitlist and game list can be found here.

We’re opening up the tournament to 140 players and have added a D Division this year! Each ticket is $50 ($30 for tournament entry and $20 for event fee) plus Eventbrite ticketing fees ($5.20/ticket). 100% of the entry costs are paid out in cash prizes to winners in each division. The event fee allows us to cover event expenses without paying out of our own pocket. Any unspent money from the event fees collected will be added to the tournament prize pool.

Up to two tournament tickets may be purchased at a time. Once the event sells out, the waitlist will become automatically available at the same link. One waitlist ticket may be reserved at a time. The waitlisted players and game list will be posted here on June 17th after tickets have gone on-sale.

Once you have your tournament ticket, Deanna will be in contact with you via text and/or email about finding you a spot to stay on-site for the weekend. See Accommodations for more info.

Cancellation and refund policy: Refunds will apply to tournament tickets, event fee and site rental. Tickets are non-transferrable.
100% refund from now through July 28th
50% refund from July 29th – August 25th
No refunds after August 25th

Schedule of Events

Friday September 8th
Check-in at the Admin Tent (at RV4, located between Cabin G and Bathrooms) when you arrive to register your PinGolf group. Players form their own 4-player groups though we’ll need a few 3-player groups as well. We can also help find you a group if you don’t have one already when you check-in Friday.
6pm – 8pm – Beer tasting (and non-alcoholic drinks too!) at Cabin F
7pm – Deadline for having games setup and operational
8pm – Event announcements followed by Stall Ball Tournament (optional side tournament, $1/player, winner takes all) – meet at Admin Tent

Saturday September 9th
10am – Meet at Playground for group photo then Qualifying begins
8pm – Qualifying ends

Sunday – September 10th
9:30am – A Division check-in at Admin Tent
10am – B, C and D Divisions check-in at Admin Tent
12pm – Ballots for Best Cabin Decorations are due from non-playing attendees, tournament players will find their ballot on their Finals score card
3pm(ish) – Closing Ceremonies and Awards

Tournament Overview

Qualifying – 18-hole PinGolf course, Saturday 10am – 8pm
Everyone qualifies for finals – 32 in A Division, 36 in B Division, 36 in C Division and 36 in our new D Division!
A Division Finals – Sunday 9:30am
4-player groups, 3 games per round, PinGolf scoring, top 2 advance
Cash prizes for 1st – 8th, Medals for 1st – 4th
B, C and D Division Finals – Sunday 10am
9-hole PinGolf course
Cash prizes for 1st – 4th, Medals for 1st – 4th

Full tournament rules can be found here.

Bring a Game

If you have a reliable machine that you’re willing to bring to the event, please let us know!

Along with your game you’ll need to bring: a tarp or two to protect it from the elements, clamps (qty 6-7 C-clamps, 4″ or greater…spring clamps are useful too) and rope to secure the tarps, heavy gauge extension cord and a power strip. It’s also wise to bring a moving blanket or cardboard to set your playfield glass on while setting up. RV sites and the pavilion have concrete slabs. Cabin porches are wooden slats.

If you plan to host your game at an RV site please have a pop-up canopy and tarps to enclose the space and keep your machine protected along with an extension cord and power strip. Each RV site has power and a concrete slab which makes life a lot easier. Zip ties are handy to have for securing the power cord to the canopy frame, up and away from any potential water. Safety first!

If your game is placed in the pavilion we will have the walls tarped and ready for your arrival on Friday so no need to worry about that, but you will need to bring an extension cord and power strip. Bring a dolly if you have one as it will make it a bit easier to get your machine inside the pavilion.

About outdoor pinball: Our weather is unpredictable and when it’s cold outside, wrapping your machines in blankets overnight while leaving them powered on is a real pro move. This helps to combat condensation forming inside the machine. Conversely, tarps that protect games from the rain/snow also shield it from the sun which can warp plastic and playfields so do come armed with tarps and a pop-up canopy if the game is at an RV site.

Please note that all games must remain onsite and playable for the duration of the tournament.

And while not required, it’s nice to reset the high scores so that players have an opportunity to put their initials up. 🙂

Cabin (and RV site) Decorating Contest

If you’re bringing a game and also staying in a cabin or RV spot, we hold a decorating contest with medals awarded to first and second place. It’s loads of fun and really gives our event that special flavor of weird. Try to theme your area to the game(s) hosted at your site. No idea is too bizarre!

Note: Staple guns are NOT allowed. Secure tarps and decor with non-marking fasteners.

Tilt-Hammer Shirts and Hoodies

Yes! Zach Smith is making us swag again this year. Shirts and hoodies will be available for purchase. You can find Zach at site RV 13.

On-Site Accommodations

There are more people who attend this event than can stay on the campgrounds. We prioritize on-site accommodations for those who bring games and do our level best to make room for as many people as possible. There are no more cabins available at this point. Those who are willing to camp at tent sites and share their site with others have a better chance of staying on the grounds.

Site types (must book for 3 nights)

Cabins A-F, J-M – $95/night, max 4 people, heat and electricity
Cabins G-I – $145/night, max 4 people, “glamping” so bedding is included (no dogs allowed)
RV site (Qty 11) – $75/night, max 6 people per site, firepit, water and electric
Tent sites (Qty 8) – $40/night, max 6 people per site, firepit

Each cabin has a bunk bed (two singles) and one double bed, each with a mattress. You will need to provide your own bedding and pillow unless you are in a “glamping” cabin.

There is a $28 pet fee per dog for the entire stay. Max 2 dogs per site. This is a new policy from Base Camp this year.

Cabins, RV and tent sites are allowed 1 vehicle each. All additional vehicles must park in the overflow lot, adjacent to the baseball field.

Those staying on-site can check-in Friday September 8th at 2pm.

One person from each site should check-in with the front office (inside the convenience store). You will be asked to provide your contact info and leave a credit card on file with Base Camp for incidentals. We are required to maintain an accurate list of people staying on-site including names, emails and phone numbers so please communicate to us everyone that is in your party, whether they are playing in the tournament or not. No impromptu crashing.

The event will conclude mid-late afternoon on Sunday September 10th. Those staying on-site may choose to leave after the event or stay through the night in which case check-out is at 11am Monday September 11th.

Please follow the rules, keep the campground tidy and us in Base Camp’s good graces.

Off-Site Accommodations

Whether you’re unable to stay on the campgrounds or you’re just not the camping type, there are lodging options nearby in Black Hawk. Bonus if you enjoy gambling as many of them are casinos. 😉

Cold Springs Campground – 2 minute drive
Hotels in Black Hawk – 10 minute drive
VRBO
AirBnB

Campground Info

Base Camp at Golden Gate Canyon (formerly known as Dory Hill)
661 Hwy 46
Black Hawk, Colorado 80422

Campground Map

We have booked the entire campground from Friday (check-in at 2p) to Monday (check-out by 11am). You’re welcome to head out after the closing ceremonies on Sunday or stay through Monday.

Campground Rules & Hours

Dogs are allowed (though not in glamping cabins) but must be on leash at all times. $28/dog for the duration of your stay. Max 2 dogs per site.
No smoking in the cabins
No marijuana
Don’t park in front of the convenience store
Park in the large lot adjacent to the baseball field
Bathrooms & showers closed 11am-1pm
Convenience & liquor store hours 7am – 10pm
Games off at 12am on the south end (Cabins A-D)
All games off at 2am

Amenities

Convenience store selling snacks, drinks, firewood, camping supplies, toiletries, souvenirs, coffee and Bonfire Burritos. There may be Hunts Brothers pizza at the time of the event but we’ll need to check on the status of that closer to the event date. Stay tuned..
Liquor store selling beer, wine, liquor and ice
Free WiFi near the convenience store
Cell service (based on 2023): AT&T is good, T-Mobile is good, Verizon is bad, Xfinity Mobile works by the bathrooms
ATM
Fuel: regular and diesel
Clean showers and bathrooms
Laundromat and large sink for washing dishes – hours: 7am – 9pm

Pro-Tips

Dress in layers. It’s often hot during the day and cold at night.
Rain gear and extra pair of shoes and socks in case your feet get wet. The PinGolf course is spread throughout the campground so you’ll be walking in the rain/snow (though hopefully not).
Flashlight or headlamp. It gets really dark at night!
Towels and shower sandals for the shower, though the bathrooms are very clean. Quarters for the shower – $1.25/3 minutes (as of 2022)
Cabins have beds (1 full and 2 twin bunk beds) but no bedding. Bring a sleeping bag or bedding and a pillow. Glamping cabins include bedding and pillows.
Camping chairs, sunscreen and a hat.
Single dollar bills for dollar games of course!
Ashtrays – very important if you smoke, there can’t be butts littered about!
Trash bags – like any good scout, we keep our camp tidy.