Industry News
Fresh off wrapping up one of its strongest winters in recent memory, Eaglecrest Ski Area in Juneau, Alaska, finds itself at the center of an important conversation about its future. The city-owned Alaska ski area, which offers 640 acres of skiable terrain on an Island in Southeast Alaska, has spent much of the past year uncertain of its near, and long-term future. Following months of debate over municipal funding and the cancellation of the resorts highly anticipated gondola project, attention has shifted towards two significant developments: the City and Bureau of Juneau has formally invited Goldbelt Inc. to explore a potential operation partnership, and Eaglecrest Ski Area has selected a new general manager to help lead the mountain forward.
The conversations come after a challenging financial year for the community-owned ski area. Eaglecrest Ski Area has operated at a deficit over the past four fiscal years, with losses totaling around roughly $3 million, while increasing maintenance costs and aging infrastructure have added pressure to the city’s budget. Earlier this spring, the Juneau assembly voted to continue funding the ski area but approved approximately $1 million less than Eaglecrest Ski Area requested, requiring staff reductions and leaner operations for the upcoming season.
Those discussions followed the official cancellation of Eaglecrest Ski Area’s gondola project, once viewed as the centerpiece of a plan to transform the mountain into a year-round destination. Originally estimated to cost about $9 million, recent updated projections placed the project near $37 million, prompting city leaders to terminate the agreement and repay Goldbelt over $12 million, including interest, after the Alaska Native corporation’s original $10 million investment.
Despite the financial headwinds, city leaders have repeatedly emphasized that Eaglecrest Ski Area’s value extends well beyond it’s checks and balances. Unlike many destination resorts, the ski area’s priority remains affordable recreation, youth programs, local racing, and providing access to Southeast Alaska’s renowned mountains for skiing. The mountain has become a defining part of Juneau’s identity, and the Assembly members ultimately chose to continue supporting the ski area while exploring new ways to improve it’s long-term sustainability.
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One of those possibilities emerged earlier this month when the Juneau Assembly formally invited Goldbelt Inc. to discuss a potential partnership involving Eaglecrest Ski Area’s operations. City officials have stressed that the city intends to retain ownership of the ski area and that any agreement would be independent of Goldbelt’s proposed West Douglas cruise port project. At this stage, discussions remain preliminary, with both sides expected to evaluate a variety of partnership models rather than negotiate a specific proposal.
Eaglecrest Ski Area’s leadership is also changing. Earlier this week, the Eaglecrest board appointed Julie Jackson Piper as its next general manger. A former Eaglecrest Ski Area instructor and supervisor who most recently served as the recreation manager for the City of Richland, Washington, Jackson Piper returns to Juneau with both ski industry experience and municipal recreation experience. During her interview, she spoke about rebuilding community trust, strengthening partnerships, and helping position Eaglecrest Ski Area for long-term success while navigating the challenges ahead. Board members also noted that any potential operating agreement with Goldbelt would likely be years away, making Jackson Piper’s leadership critical during the transition.
For local skiers and riders, a lot will look the same when lifts begin spinning next winter. But behind the scenes, Eaglecrest Ski Area will be entering a new era. With continued public passion, new leadership, and the possibility of an innovative public-private partnership, the coming months could help shape the future of Alaska’s Best Kept Secret.
