Hit the slopes — Gottlieb’s Bristol Hills is an electromechanical two-player wrapped in a winter-sports theme of skiing and snowmobiling, and it comes from the legendary designer Ed Krynski with art by Art Stenholm. With reel scoring and an extraordinarily scarce confirmed run of just 110, it’s a genuine rarity, and it hides a surprisingly rewarding spinner-driven strategy.
The strategy is refreshingly clear and satisfying: shoot the spinners! Each lap awards bonus that escalates as your ball progresses — 50 points a lap on balls one through three, 100 per lap on ball four, and 200 per lap on ball five — and the fastest way to advance those laps is by ripping the spinners. So the whole game comes down to a satisfying loop: work those two spinning targets to rack up laps, build your escalating lap bonus, and keep the ball alive to reach the lucrative later balls. With seven standup targets, four kick-out holes, and three pop bumpers rounding out the field, there’s plenty to work while you chase those laps, but the spinners are unquestionably the key.
Bristol Hills is a fine example of Ed Krynski’s design craft and Stenholm’s artwork, pairing a crisp winter-sports theme with a genuinely rewarding spinner-and-lap strategy. With only 110 built, it’s an exceptionally scarce find, making it a real prize for the collector who prizes rarity, and that escalating lap bonus gives a player a clear, satisfying goal. For anyone who loves the golden age of EM pinball, it’s a rewarding pursuit. Rip those spinners, rack up your laps, and ride the escalating bonus to a high score. Some machines are treasured for their extreme rarity and rewarding play alike, and this Gottlieb winter gem is one of them. Carve the slopes and drop a coin.