Axes thud into wooden targets as friends gather over board games and craft beer at Taps, Axes & Games (TAG). Nearby, Betty White — an 8-year-old white German Shepherd Dog-poodle mix — lounges behind a yellow safety line, watching the action and waiting to see if anyone drops a slice of pizza.

Since opening in December at 1689 McFarland Road, the venue, formerly home to Lumberjaxes, has expanded beyond its axe throwing roots with a broader focus on community gathering and interactive entertainment.

Co-owners Tim Stivers and Brandon Horvath said bringing new energy to the location was a priority.

Horvath, who began axe throwing as a league member in 2019, said opening the venue grew out of conversations among regulars who missed having a home base.

“It kind of started as someone mentioning it in a group text with our league members,” he said. “Like, ‘Hey, we should just buy it and reopen it.’ And Tim and I were both like, ‘OK, let’s do it.’”

While axes remain central to the experience, the space now offers far more than its previous format.

Digital projectors overlay interactive games such as tic-tac-toe and Battleship onto real wood targets, allowing players to track scoring on an iPad while still throwing traditional axes. The venue also offers knife throwing, the first program of its kind in Pittsburgh, according to Stivers.

Beyond the lanes, guests will find skill-tip darts, casual board gaming and a dedicated lounge designed for longer visits.

“We’ve had a couple people play Dungeons & Dragons for four to five hours,” Stivers said.

The venue is family-, kid- and dog-friendly. Stivers often brings Betty White to the venue. A regular presence at competitions and league nights, she is trained to stay behind a yellow safety line and is known to lounge near guests — especially those with pizza.

“I feel like she’s everybody’s emotional support dog that’s in the axe-throwing community,” Stivers said.

A key part of TAG’s experience is its partnership with Abjuration Brewing Co. of McKees Rocks, which operates on site Thursday through Saturday during regular hours, with additional days tied to special programming.

“We chose them specifically because of their high-level crafts and personality,” he said.

Food trucks rotate through the calendar, and guests may bring their own food or have it delivered. Birthday parties, reunions and league nights already fill the space.

Community involvement extends beyond entertainment. In January, TAG partnered with Animal Friends for a fundraiser that raised $1,100 through tournaments, raffles, vendor participation and food truck sales.

For Stivers, who has been involved in axe throwing for about a decade and has competed nationally and internationally, the business is rooted in relationships built through league play.

“I never would have met 90 percent of the people that I know now that I call close friends because of axe throwing,” he said.

Horvath said the broader goal is simple: create a place where people want to stay.

“They can get some good food, good drinks, hang out with friends and play games … We’re trying to have a little bit of everything for everyone,” he said.

At Taps, Axes & Games, axes may bring people through the door, but the expanded experience is designed to keep them there.

Readers are encouraged to follow TAG on Facebook and Instagram or check out their website, tagpgh.com for the latest news on food trucks, events and more.