Juneau, Alaska — The saga continues for Eaglecrest Ski Area.
If you are considering snowfall, it was actually a pretty good season for the Alaska ski area. Juneau saw a lot of snow last winter, and its airport even recorded record snowfall. However, maintenance woes, the GM’s resignation, and the lodge’s inability to open for a good chunk of the season due to water issues made it clear to the city that the ski area needs major help. However, one potential project that could help out will likely be sold off due to ballooning costs.
The Juneau Independent reported last week that the Juneau Assembly is preparing to officially cancel the gondola project and offload the assets that were going to be a part of the buildout.
Originally pursued by longtime Eaglecrest GM Dave Scanlan, the gondola was purchased by an Austrian ski resort in 2022. The gondola would have expanded its accessibility to all four seasons. With Juneau being a major cruising port, this plan had major potential. However, project delays due to various factors continued to push back the completion date. The guiding force behind the project, Scanlan, resigned in 2024 for unknown reasons. The last straw for the gondola appeared to be an earlier-this-year price increase estimate. Originally estimated at below $10 million, the latest estimate came to over $37 million (including prior costs).
Selling the parts is expected to recoup some of the money, with an estimated $1.6 million to be received over a couple of years. This would also recoup only part of the millions invested in the project, which included the cost of buying the gondola and shipping. They will also have to repay Goldbelt, which was going to help finance the project, $12.2 million.
The final vote on whether to cancel the gondola project could transpire on May 18th.
The Future Of Eaglecrest
Then comes what’s next for the ski area. The lifts are aging, the lodge went through it last season, and it’s been operating at a loss for years. The city has a few options: subsidize it and commit to more financial losses, have it not operate next winter, or have a third party operate Eaglecrest. The closure option seems a bit extreme, as it’s a vital spot for outdoor recreation in the area.
I do feel like the best-case scenario is for a third-party operator to take over the lease. The ski area needs major capital investments, and the City doesn’t appear to be in a position to make them. One option is to bring in Goldbelt, which was initially going to help Eaglecrest with the gondola project. If they aren’t interested in doing that, finding an operator for this remote ski area could become tricky. Let’s hope it ends up in the right hands.
Image/Video Credits: Eaglecrest Ski Area
