Former Willow chamber president responds to Iditarod restart change

WASILLA— Iditarod officials opted to move the 2021 restart from the Willow Community Center to Deshka Landing to mitigate exposure to COVID-19, breaking a longstanding tradition and impacting the Willow community.

According to former Willow Chamber of Commerce president Jim Houston the timing actually fits since the Willow Community Center is currently unable to host the restart since it’s currently under construction to make improvements.

“We’re disappointed, not so much that it’s out there because the conditions of the community center dictated that… So, it is what it is. It just fits right in with the pandemic and the disappointments all around,” Houston said.

The restart greatly impacts the Willow area, pulling in countless scores of people who spend money at their local businesses. Houston said the community is missing out on a huge financial influx without the restart.

“We probably won’t have any bed and breakfast guests,” Houston said. “Selling hamburgers and hot chocolate and things at the community center always makes a good amount of money and keeps the community center open… There’s always a pancake feed at the school that the PTA puts on… Our local bar would have a performer in and a lot more meals. They’d be slammed with people wanting a good, warm meal after being out. All of those things just cut back.”

Houston runs a bed and breakfast with his wife called Alaskan Host, one of several Willow establishments that won’t be booking many guests this year. He said his wife was already worried about letting unscreened people at the bed and breakfast anyway, so this will just be a “low key” and socially distant year all around.

“People are still hesitant about gathering anyway. It’s just a double whammy for the Iditarod and the community,” Houston said.

The Willow community has deep ties to the Iditarod and mushing community as a whole.

“Willow is dubbed the dog mushing capital of the world… It’s said there’s more dogs in Willow than people,” Houston said with a laugh.

Houston said the restart is a huge deal for many Willow residents, something they look forward to every year.

“It’s been a cabin fever reliever every year to have such an influx of people in the community,” Houston said.

The restart touches many lives across Willow. Houston said the restart change means there’s going to be hundreds of volunteers, many from Willow who won’t be making their usual rounds before, during, and after the restart.

Local businesses, groups, and individuals pool their resources and donate their time to make the restart happen. Whether it’s grooming trails or flagging for parking, Houston said that volunteering for the Iditarod is an annual tradition for many of his friends and neighbors.

“A lot of people have jobs to do, even if it’s crossing guards and things like that,” Houston said.

Instead of starting from Willow and finishing in Nome, the 2021 Iditarod will begin and end at Deshka Landing. The Iditarod discourages spectators from coming to Deshka Landing in person this year, and they’re limiting the total number of people permitted onsite.

Houston said there’s numerous homes stretched across the race trail, so a large number of locals and those with seasonal cabins who throw trail parties to watch the dog teams pass by. He said it isn’t likely there will be very many of these parties due to the changes and the fact that some people won’t want to hold any large gatherings because of the virus.

Houston noted that with the increasing amount of daylight comes more residents and visitors recreating outdoors. He mused that people may be interested in taking their snowmachines around the Deshka Landing area to find a spot and watch the mushers take off.

“It still will be a busy weekend,” Houston said.

The Willow community is also missing out on other social events they’ve grown to count on every year. This includes the annual Willow Winter Carnival, one of the Willow Area Community Organization’s largest fundraising events of the year, and it’s one the most popular and lively celebrations enjoyed by residents from all walks of life.

“It was always a great pick me up... it gave people things to do, to run the event and participate in the event,” Houston said. “It makes for a very boring winter. We’re just sitting back waiting.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com