Alaska's First Pinball Arcade & Living Museum. A Hall Built Around Play.
Nearly 120,000 residents in the Mat-Su Valley, and 0 dedicated community gaming halls. Borealis Beeps & Bumpers is building a 501(c)(3) nonprofit arcade, living museum, and dry taproom in the Mat-Su Valley, AK.
Community Prospectus
Mat-Su Valley Need & Launch Goal
AKPINS.ORG
STATUS: 501(c)(3) PENDING • CAMPAIGN: $32,750 TARGET • 100 FOUNDERS
20+ Machines & Lore Cards
Living Museum
20+ curated pinball & classic machines preserved as playable history with origin lore cards.
All-Ages Craft Drinks & Snacks
Dry Taproom
Craft draft sodas on tap and homemade Alaska sourdough pretzels in an all-ages, open space.
Sanctioned World Rankings
IFPA Tournaments
Sanctioned competitive pinball with official world ranking points for newcomers and veteran players.
Built to endure Alaskan winters. Powered by community.
Organizing Borealis Beeps & Bumpers as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit living museum transforms the traditional arcade economic model. By combining recurring membership dues with public arts grants, we create a resilient, all-ages third place for the Mat-Su Valley community.
Founding Member Spots
One-time permanent investment to open the hall. Three tiers, first come first claimed with permanent recognition.
Living Pinball Exhibits
Curated living exhibits spanning vintage EM (electro-mechanical) to modern solid-state Sterns with printed lore cards.
Founding Target
Direct allocation into 501(c)(3) filing ($4k), operating reserve ($15k), launch events ($6k), and machine acquisition ($7.75k).
All-Ages Community Space
Craft draft sodas, Alaska sourdough pretzels, and no alcohol gate. A true multi-generational third place in the Mat-Su Valley.
The same hall. A fundamentally different financial architecture.
Commercial arcades depend 100% on foot traffic and suffer severe losses during cold Alaskan winter stretches. By structuring as a 501(c)(3) cultural collective, Borealis Beeps & Bumpers establishes a steady membership floor ($6,900/month from 160 members at maturity) and unlocks dedicated cultural grants that for-profit entities cannot touch.
Direct access to ASCA Operating Support, NEA Subgrants, USDA Rural Development, and IMLS Museum funding.
Monthly recurring dues insulate operations against seasonal dips, guaranteeing machines remain impeccably maintained.
($7,000) projected net operating loss
~$12,500 projected operating surplus
100% reliant on erratic daily walk-in foot traffic
Membership dues establish a predictable monthly floor
Zero access to public cultural grants or deductible gifts
Unlocks $36,000–$240,000/yr in ASCA, NEA & IMLS grants
Severely vulnerable to 5-month sub-zero seasonal slowdowns
Monthly recurring dues buffer cold-season fluctuations
Must maintain 60%–75% capacity every month to break even
Living museum status opens dedicated cultural endowments
IRS 1023-EZ Pending · Mat-Su Valley, AK
Built Around Joy, History, and Community
Mat-Su Valley's only pinball arcade and living museum, engineered as an inclusive nonprofit third place preserving arcade heritage and competitive play.
EXHIBIT & PRESERVATION
Curated electro-mechanical (EM) to modern solid-state machines preserved as interactive exhibits. Includes custom-printed lore cards for every cabinet, rotating loans from local collectors, and a dedicated restoration room with viewing area.
EM to Solid-State Cabinets, Printed Lore Cards, Rotating Exhibits, Restoration Room Viewing
ALL-AGES HOSPITALITY
Craft draft sodas on tap, rotating seasonal flavors, specialty beverages, and homemade Alaska sourdough pretzels. A welcoming, all-ages dry taproom open without alcohol licensing or age barriers.
Craft Draft Sodas on Tap, Seasonal Flavors, Homemade Alaska Pretzels, All-Ages Welcome
IFPA COMPETITIVE PLAY
Sanctioned competitive pinball bringing world ranking points to the Mat-Su Valley. Featuring 'The Gauntlet' league open to first-time plunger pullers and seasoned tournament champions alike.
IFPA-Sanctioned Matches, The Gauntlet League, World Ranking Points, Novice to Pro Brackets
COMMUNITY ANCHOR
Not home. Not work. A dedicated, authentic third place built around play, connection, and belonging for neighbors, families, and gaming enthusiasts across the Mat-Su Valley.
Dedicated Social Gaming Hall, 100 Founding Member Spots, 501(c)(3) Collective Model
100 Founding Member Spots · 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Mission
Help build Mat-Su Valley's pinball hall and living museum with transparent community governance and tax-deductible contributions.
Six Milestones. Twelve Months.
From our founding membership campaign in September 2026 to Year 1 operational maturity in August 2027, every stage is structured for long-term community stewardship.
Founding Campaign Launch
Opening 100 permanent founding member spots across 3 tiers to fund IRS 501(c)(3) formation, opening reserves, and initial machine acquisitions.
Key Deliverables:
- 100 Founding Member spots open across 3 tiers
- $32,750 Campaign goal fully allocated before launch
- Founding Lore Cards, Hall of Heroes & enamel pins
- Permanent status — one-time community investment
501(c)(3) Filing & Tax-Exempt Status
Submitting IRS Form 1023-EZ, seating the board, securing tax-exempt nonprofit determination, and initiating physical pinball machine acquisitions.
Key Deliverables:
- IRS Form 1023-EZ submitted & Alaska articles filed
- Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) living museum status established
- First grant applications initiated (ASCA & USDA programs)
- Initial pinball & classic arcade cabinet acquisitions
The Hall Opens
Ribbon cutting for Mat-Su Valley's only pinball arcade and living museum, launching open-access play, rotating exhibits, and craft draft sodas.
Key Deliverables:
- 15+ Curated pinball machines on active exhibit
- Historical lore cards & provenance plaques on every cabinet
- All-ages dry taproom with craft draft sodas on tap
- Restoration workshop viewing area operational
Inaugural IFPA Tournament & Year 1 Maturity
Putting Mat-Su Valley on the world competitive map with IFPA-sanctioned events, scaling the living collection, and hitting self-sustaining nonprofit operations.
Key Deliverables:
- First IFPA-sanctioned tournament with world ranking points
- ASCA & IMLS museum grant applications submitted
- 20+ Pinball & classic arcade cabinets in rotation
- 120+ Sustaining members & healthy operating reserve
Be Here at the Beginning
Join our 100 founding members or review the complete nonprofit financial architecture and 990 draft filings.
100 Spots. Three Tiers. One Chance to Be First.
Founding memberships are permanent, one-time investments in Mat-Su Valley's only arcade and living museum. Once the 100 spots are claimed, this opportunity closes permanently.
Permanent Founding Inclusions
-
Permanent name listed in inaugural founding Herald
-
3-piece exclusive founding decal set
-
Full 1-year Community Pass membership included
-
10% craft taproom soda & sourdough snack discount
-
Member voting rights on community exhibit additions
Permanent Founding Inclusions
-
Permanent name inscribed on official founding charter
-
Numbered & signed archival founding certificate
-
Exclusive Founding Year collector's enamel pin
-
Full 1-year Patron membership included
-
20% taproom discount & 1 complimentary guest pass/month
-
Priority event and tournament registration window
Permanent Founding Inclusions
-
Lifetime name etched on permanent Hall of Heroes wall
-
Custom machine lore card credit displayed at cabinet
-
Exclusive Founding Year collector's enamel pin
-
Full 1-year Champion's Circle membership included
-
2 hours/week dedicated reserved machine practice time
-
IFPA tournament pre-registration priority access
Ongoing Membership & Day Passes
Join any time after the hall opens. Predictable recurring membership dues weather seasonal slowdowns and keep the museum thriving.
Flexible Access
Walk-in Day Pass
Unlimited walk-in play for the full day across all living museum machines and exhibits.
$25 individual · $50 family of 4
- All 20+ pinball & arcade cabinets
- Free play mode — zero quarters required
- Full taproom & snack bar access
Core Membership
Community Pass
Ideal for regular players wanting recurring play, monthly perks, and community voting.
/month · or $378/yr (save 10%)
- Unlimited walk-in play anytime
- 10% taproom & merch discount
- Herald monthly newsletter & voting rights
Most Popular
Patron Membership
Enhanced access for active enthusiasts with monthly guest passes and priority booking.
/month · or $432/yr (save 20%)
- All Community Pass benefits included
- 1 free guest pass every month
- 20% taproom discount & priority booking
- Quarterly Herald member feature
Competitor Tier
Champion's Circle
The premier tier for competitive players, tournament contenders, and museum champions.
/month · or $780/yr (save 24%)
- All Patron benefits included
- IFPA tournament pre-registration
- 2 hrs/week reserved machine time
- Annual machine lore card credit & Hall listing
Ready to secure a founding spot or review our 501(c)(3) formation filings and 990 projections? Contact the Founding Team at [email protected]
Arcade & Museum FAQ
Discover how our interactive living museum preserves gaming history, operates as a community-first 501(c)(3) nonprofit, and hosts all-ages entertainment.
Community-Owned Preservation
Every token, membership, and tax-deductible donation directly supports machine preservation, educational workshops, and cultural history exhibits.
Have more questions?
Reach out to our museum staff for questions about event bookings, group tours, or machine donation proposals.