After year of rebuilding, renewed focus on Big Lake Chamber of Commerce

The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce has been rebuilding this last year with plans to grow and highlight the local businesses and outdoor recreational opportunities the area has to offer. By creating a welcoming community with a strong local-businesses presence, the Chamber is working to build Big Lake into a destination community that will retain its members for years to come.

“We all have big dreams for what Big Lake can become, and know it has a pretty special location with all of the outdoor recreational activities that we offer in the area, while still being close to Wasilla, Palmer and Anchorage,” Chamber Vice President Keith Dobson said.

One way the Chamber is promoting their members is by hosting their monthly “after-hours” socials. These events allow Big Lake businesses and community members to network and collaborate on future projects. Members are given a platform to discuss what their business does and their role within the local economy.

One such event was the December 3rd social, hosted at Floaters and sponsored by The Perfect Start Espresso. There was also a toy and food drive and the theme will be “Jingle and Mingle,” where attendees were encouraged to wear their most ridiculous Christmas outfit with a surprise visit from Santa Claus.

The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce has been working with both the Palmer and Wasilla Chambers to learn new ways they can make their efforts even stronger. The Chamber currently has about 20 members with hopes of reaching 30 by the end of the year.

“Big Lake in itself is a growing area, so we want to try to attract businesses to view Big Lake as a viable place to start your business, to build your business, to grow your business in the Big Lake community,” Dobson said.

One of their larger projects revolves around Jordan Lake Park. Efforts to establish the park as a major hub for the area include the addition of grass fields and pickleball courts. Plans to construct an amphitheater to bring music and events like a Friday Fling to the park are in the works. The Chamber continues to seek grant money to make additional improvements to the park like a walking trail and a boardwalk around the lake.

“Jordan Lake Park has really been a community-driven effort,” Dobson said.

The Chamber will be participating in the Christmas Parade, hosted by the Big Lake Lion’s Club, on December 20th. The Chamber will host the second annual pike fishing derby on February 28, 2026 in conjunction with both Susinta Brewing Co. and Floaters. They hosted a similar pike derby in August of this year, where they had over 100 contestants and 291 fish caught.

By encouraging residents to shop local, participate in local events, and businesses to strengthen their appeal and promote their services, Dobson believes that everyone within the community will prosper.

“We want our businesses to not only thrive, we want them to take pride in their business,” Dobson said. “I think if we don’t encourage our Big Lake communities to shop local, to stay local and to encourage the business owners to beautify their own space, I think it just will hold the community back from growing in the way that’s beneficial to multiple generations.”

Creating a prosperous community is the best way to keep people in Big Lake and create a generational pride among its members, Dobson explained.

“I think if you don’t have a thriving business community and a town center that people have a sense of identity and pride over, I think you end up seeing that generations just kind of move on. They make homes in either Wasilla, Palmer, Anchorage, or they just leave the state altogether,” Dobson said.

The Big Lake Chamber of Commerce is working to bring more attention to the opportunities that the area has to offer. They want to share about the different businesses that make up the community of Big Lake and feature the area as more than just a weekend-getaway or just another recreational opportunity.

Dobson encourages readers to stay updated on the Chamber’s work and upcoming events on their Facebook page and their website.