Businesses share Iditarod dollars

MAT-SU — From Wasilla to Willow, Mat-Su Valley businesses are looking to cash in on the Iditarod.

The Iditarod Sled Dog Race brings spectators from across the globe to witness a truly Alaska-style event. With that influx of people and their hard-earned cash comes chance for businesses to maximize their winter opportunities.

Although Wasilla is known as the home of the Iditarod, for the last seven years the race restart has been held in other Alaska cities. Generally, the race restart, which follows a ceremonial start in Anchorage, is moved to Willow, but in 2003 the restart was held in Fairbanks because of a lack of snow throughout the Valley.

This year, the restart has again been moved to Willow for the 36th running of the Iditarod. So what does this mean for businesses in Wasilla and Willow?

Sandra Joynes, general manager of the Grand View Inn and Suites in Wasilla, said where the Iditarod has its restart definitely has an impact on her business. For this year’s event, Grand View has about half of its rooms booked for the Iditarod weekend Feb. 29 through March 2.

“I definitely do think we would do much better if [the restart] was held right here in Wasilla,” Joynes said.

She also believes the many visitors who come for the Iditarod restart will still turn to Wasilla for lodging and other services because of the limited nature of those services in Willow.

In addition to having a more established tourism infrastructure, Joynes said Wasilla has something that many tourists consider a must-have mushing experience — the Iditarod Headquarters. In fact, many of her customers plan a trip to the headquarters as a part of the Iditarod day.

While lack of snow is a typical reason for moving the restart to Willow, Joynes believes this year’s snow accumulation seems to fit the needs of the race.

“I think we have enough snow now, so I wish they wouldn’t have made the decision so early,” she said.

Dave Glenn, owner of Grasshopper Aviation based out of the Wasilla Municipal Airport, said he started his aviation business in 1992. Since then, he has catered to Iditarod fans by providing flights to remote portions of the trail. About 10 percent of his winter business comes from Iditarod, he said. In addition to providing the plane and pilot, those making the flights can enjoy a nice trail-side lunch.

Although the race is still keeping him busy, Glenn said business used to be better when the restart was held in Wasilla.

“Those early years I was packed,” Glenn said. “It was good and we had full flights.”

Glenn believes moving the restart to Willow impacts his business, but said there are other factors to consider.

“The thing that really impacted us was when the restart time was changed to later in the afternoon,” he said.

With a later start time, the winter darkness limits the amount of time fans and pilots can stay out on the trail, he said. Along with a Willow restart and time change, the costs of flying aren’t helping to boost business either. Fuel and insurance are huge costs that make flying a little more spendy these days, he said.

In Willow, businesses are seeing green and it’s not grass poking through the snow.

Jim Huston, president of the Willow Chamber of Commerce, said the restart’s move will pay dividends for local lodges, bed and breakfasts, gas stations, restaurants and even flying services.

“They have some people fly out to checkpoints,” Huston said.

Huston and his wife, Kathy, own Alaskan Host Bed and Breakfast in Willow. He said the last few years he’s been booked solid on Iditarod weekend. What’s different this year is that people can book further in advance now that race organizers have announced Willow will host the restart for the foreseeable future.

“We’ve been counting on it every year,” Huston said. “Officially having it moved up here just gives a little bit of reassurance.”

Gene Newman, owner of Newman’s Hilltop Service gas station, said he sees a spike in foot traffic during the restart.

“Absolutely, the traffic in town is certainly one of the most high density periods in the year,” he said.

Huston said that he, Newman and owners of the local hardware store work to clear the restart staging area on Willow Lake of snow in preparation for the race.

Last year, after the dogs had left, the chamber drilled holes through the first foot or so of ice to create a pitch-and-put golf course, Huston said. Fifty-five people showed up a week after the restart for the chamber’s golf tournament. This year he expects more. The course stays open for weeks afterwards.

The race is a windfall to local nonprofits as well, Huston said. The Parent-Teacher Association puts on a spaghetti feed every year when the race is in town.

Herb Schwager who, with wife Tina, owns and operates the Schwager Haus Bed and Breakfast in Willow, said having the Iditarod in town has been a boon for his business.

“There’s no question,” he said. “We typically, or at least historically, haven’t been open in the winter and because of the demand we’re in the process of re-tooling so as to be open year-round.”

Closing in the winter, the slow time for tourists, is not an uncommon choice for local bed and breakfasts, Huston said.

Between the restart and the Willow Carnival, which featured one of the best fireworks displays he’s ever seen and wrapped two weeks ago, Schwager said interest in winter visits to the city have increased.

“I think Willow’s getting on the map,” he said.

And, he said, he loves the idea of having the race in town.

“We watched the restart last year that came across Long Lake and it’s really impressive,” Schwager said. “We were literally 10 feet from every musher.”

The restart of the 2008 Iditarod Sled Dog Race is scheduled for 2 p.m. March 2 on Willow Lake.