Aleyeska Resort and the Town of Girdwood, Alaska

By:Douglas MaiseyCharlie SchaeferGunnar Johnson

Local Info and Map

• Small town of Girdwood and Alyeska Ski Resort

• Located 40 miles south of Anchorage

• Surrounded by the Chugach National Forest

• Along the Turnagain Arm which connects with the Golf of Alaska

• 2000 year round occupants

AttractionsWinter

•Skiing /Heli skiing/ Cat Skiing•Xc skiing•Dog sledding•Chugach National forest•Snow shoeing•Spa•Sight Seeing•Glacier Hikes•SnowmobilingSummer•Hiking •Mountain Biking•Sea Kayaking•River Rafting•Paragliding •Jet boat tours•Horse back riding

Accommodations• Hotel Alyeska- Only hotel

– 304 rooms, the main bed base in Girdwood

– Mainly expensive lodging -$150-$220 for 2 adults.

• Only a few other accommodation options:– Bed and Breakfasts

– Salt Water Lodge

Food + Services

• Alyeska Resort has 7 dining options:– Seven Glaciers, Tramway Café, Sakura and Sushi bar, Sitzmark

Bar and Grill, The Pond Café, The Day Lodge, Aurora Bar and Grill. ( all within the confines of the Resort)

– Very few dining, shopping, and nightlife options in Girdwood• Small Grocery Store- Crow Creek Mercantile (run by Safeway-

money leaves the town)

• The Chair Five Restaurant and Bar

• No shopping -must drive to Anchorage

Transportation• Girdwood Airport for private use

• Not pedestrian friendly- no sidewalks

• About the only way to get to Girdwood from Anchorage is by car– There is a train from Seward to Anchorage but does not stop

there.

• Glacier Valley Transit– Year-round transportation system in Girdwood

– Transports skiers and locals for free

Current Sustainable Practices• Limited

– In town transport- Glacier Valley Transit

– Limited infrastructure due to National Forest

– Land Preservation due to Chugach National Forest

– Potential Year Round Attractions

– Looking at possible Renewable energy (UAA)• Wind

• Solar

Problems

• Girdwood vs. Alyeska Resort (Conflict)

• Limited night life (but a lot of night)

• No bed base options and prices

• Limited Grocery Options

• No Shopping within town

• No Transportation from Girdwood to Anchorage

• Few Sustainable Practices

Our Goals

• Increased sustainable practices– Environmental, Cultural,Economical

• Advance year round market

• Maintain residence sense of place while adding to the overall feel of the town– Monitor and enhance interactions between tourists and locals

• Improved transportation

• Involve all major stakeholder in planning process

Increased Sustainable Practices• Envionmental

– Incorporate ecolodge principles into community buildings.• Limited power usage• Local building material• Waste management system (Whole Systems thinking)

– living machines in Hotel Alyeska

• Cultural– Involve all major stakeholder in planning process

• Girdwood chamber of commerce • Town meetings• Presoerves “sense of place”

• Economical– Create a four season destination – Decrease leakage through locally owned business

Advance Year Round Market

• Create a four-season destination• Increase town employment and quality of jobs

– Add more locally owned businesses to prevent leakage

• Tourism growth should increase direct, indirect, and induced impacts.

• Increase Bed Base– Increase hotel availability for all price ranges– Create an eco-friendly locally run youth-hostel

• Make local attractions readily available to tourists – Increased marketing to allocentric tourists

Maintain residence sense of place

• Add to the overall feel of the town– Improve on school, hospital, town center, and grocery store

for community in a sustainable way– Create nightlife scene in town with near by accommodations

for quick access. – http://maps.google.com/

• Maintain small infrastructure and natural Chugach National Forest setting• Monitor and enhance interactions between tourists and

locals– Local pride of town and resort– Maintain the current hospitality of the locals

New and Improved Transportation• Create a train stop at Girdwood for the Seward-

Anchorage train line.

• Create a Bus line from Girdwood to Anchorage– Bimodal station with train and ski bus.

• Continue Glacier Valley Transit Bus lines in Girdwood

• Increase sidewalk/bikeway infrastructure in town

• Create a bike share program in town

Sustainable Design• Incorporate eco-lodge principles into design.

– Whole systems thinking incorporated into local businesses- John Todd Living Machine

– Geothermal heating in Alyeska resort

• LEED Certified hotel

• Eco-Friendly locally run youth hostel

• Use local Building Materials

• Renewable energy

– Turnagain arm water turbines

Are there Any Questions?