Take a tour of CYBER Express Wash, Anchorage, Alaska, with CAR WASH Magazine.

CYBER Express Wash Headquarters, Anchorage, Alaska

Car Wash Name: CYBER Express Wash
Anchorage, Alaska

cyberexpressalaska.com

Owner:
Paul Horstkoetter

Year opened: 
2025 

Number of locations: 
The Anchorage location was intentionally built as both operational headquarters for CYBER and proof of concept for the brand. Additional sites are in the pipeline, with one more breaking ground this year. 

Building size: 
38,000 square feet of fully climate-controlled indoor space — one of the largest express tunnel footprints in the United States. It was designed to operate in extreme sub-zero conditions and house CYBER’s integrated wash, express detail and back-end systems under one roof. “We didn't set out to build the biggest — we set out to build the best. The size just happened to follow,” said Paul Horstkoetter, CEO and owner. “We're Alaskan — we like bold, audacious challenges.” 

Contractor: 
Criterion General, Inc. 

Conveyor length: 
130 feet 

Environmentally friendly features: 
At CYBER, even the systems you don’t see are engineered to outperform. “With triple oversized proprietary reclaim tanks, CYBER’s water reclamation system is capable of reclaiming, treating and reusing over 70% of its water — three times the volume of typical systems,” Horstkoetter said. 

CYBER also has a reverse osmosis system that eliminates minerals, impurities and hard water stains — in addition to providing a spot-free rinse. The system is capable of smart repurposing of “reject” water, as well, from the undercarriage and wheel cleaning areas — which maximizes every drop of water.  

The vacuum system at CYBER was custom-built and delivers the equivalent of 120 horsepower. “That’s the kind of power you'd expect from a snowmachine carving through backcountry, not a vacuum clearing out Cheerio crumbs,” Horstkoetter said. They opted for this 19-bay, heated indoor vacuum area to counter the climate. “In Alaska, climate isn’t just a variable, it’s a design challenge — one CYBER meets head-on with reverse-engineered heat mapping to offset thermal and energy demands, especially during sub-zero winters,” he said. 

The building is a reflection of CYBER’s core values: celebrating the future of technology, while honoring the legacy of the road. CYBER’s Anchorage HQ was once a city landmark that sat neglected for years. Instead of starting from scratch, CYBER chose to repurpose it. Retrofitted and reinforced for modern tunnel equipment, climate control and energy efficiency, the facility totes a completely new infrastructure designed to dramatically lower energy use while enhancing form and function. 

“We didn't add flashy light shows. We added clarity, focus and intention for a design that’s minimal, elevated and lasting,” Horstkoetter said. “Repurposing instead of demolishing wasn’t just smart business, it was environmental responsibility in its purest form.” 

Detergents follow the same less-is-more philosophy. CYBER is committed to using only environmentally friendly solutions specially formulated to be free of anything but the active ingredients— and they utilize a proprietary custom chemistry system to accomplish this. “We blend it seconds before application,” Horstkoetter said. “This allows us to activate higher concentrations of gentle proven agents without the need for the harsh chemicals used to keep detergents shelf-stable.” 

Unique features:

• CYBER has a dedicated express detail wing that utilizes a proprietary system powered by DetailX. A complete interior detail can be performed in just 10 minutes post-wash.

• The detail lounge is a lush haven of leather seating, walnut wall paneling and traditional oriental rugs — and is more representative of a premium car dealership than a car wash. “It’s future focused science, with traditional heritage-inspired care–– smarter tech with real human presence, because there’s value in both,” Horstkoetter said. 

Other cool info: 

CYBER Express Wash was engineered in one of the most unforgiving environments in the United States. But Alaska wasn’t selected as the company’s launch market on accident, it’s a proving ground. “If we can build something remarkable here, we can do it anywhere,” Horstkoetter said.

At CYBER, every decision — from building materials to service model — reflects intention, performance and culture, built to withstand harsh weather, heavy snowfall and drastic seasonal shifts without sacrificing speed, shine or service.  

To do this, CYBER harnesses the best of modern technology without sacrificing the human element of hospitality. Check-in is via AI-powered license plate recognition, but there’s always a team member there, ready to greet and assist. 

“This level of elite efficiency paired with genuine warmth is a stark contrast to the cold exterior often associated with high-tech automation,” Horstkoetter said. 

That same philosophy extends into the wash tunnel where graphene nanotechnology is offered and every vehicle is safeguarded from start to finish with over 60 high-definition 4K cameras and advanced anti-collision systems. 

With 90+ new jobs created in Anchorage, and a focus on upward mobility as the company grows, community sits at the heart of CYBER’s business. At the grand opening on June 14 — which included a look inside the facility, a ribbon-cutting ceremony and special offers — raffle ticket sales and single wash sales from the day were donated to Big Brothers Big Sisters of Alaska. 

“We didn’t build CYBER to compete,” Horstkoetter said. “We built CYBER to raise the bar, not just locally here in Alaska, but nationally. From day one, our goal has been to operate with purpose and intention. The result is a smarter, faster, more hospitality-first experience that feels more like a luxury service brand than your typical car wash. We built it to test limits and redefine what car care can be.”