About AKPINS
Preserving pinball as a living community art form.
Borealis Beeps & Bumpers is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit (application pending) operating AKPINS — Alaska’s first pinball arcade and living museum, located in the Mat-Su Valley. We are built on four pillars that define everything we do.
Our Four Pillars
The Living Museum
Preservation. Every cabinet in our collection is a primary historical artifact. Each machine carries lore cards documenting its manufacture date, designer, rule set, and cultural moment. Our restoration room is open for tours, letting visitors see conservation in progress.
The Dry Taproom
All Ages. We believe great community spaces shouldn’t require a liquor license. Our taproom serves craft sodas, sourdough pretzels, and rotating local snacks — zero alcohol, zero age restriction, maximum welcome.
The Tournament Circuit
IFPA Ranked. Competitive pinball is a legitimate sport with a world ranking system. We host The Gauntlet weekly — open to all skill levels — alongside beginner brackets and seasonal IFPA-ranked trophy events.
The Third Place
Community Anchor. Not home, not work — the third place is where community forms. AKPINS is designed to be Mat-Su Valley’s gathering point: structured enough to have purpose, open enough to welcome everyone.
Advisory Structure
Our governance is organized around three advisory wings that keep the museum, competitive, and nonprofit functions properly separated and expertly guided.
Museum & Restoration Board
Curatorial Wing
Oversees collection acquisitions, restoration standards, lore card accuracy, and the integrity of the living museum experience.
Tournament & League Directorate
Competitive Division
Manages IFPA coordination, weekly Gauntlet scheduling, ruleset consistency, and development of beginner-friendly entry pathways.
Community Arts & Grants Officer
Nonprofit Governance
Coordinates grant applications to ASCA, NEA, and IMLS. Manages community programming, membership communications, and the Herald newsletter. Projected grant pipeline: $36K–$240K/year.