Government Peak chalet set to reopen Jan. 4

HATCHER PASS — It has been used as a warm-up area, a corporate retreat and birthday party central, but more specifically the chalet at the Government Peak Recreation Area is fostering the sense of community that planners hoped it would when it opened in January 2014.

The new year promises to be one of new milestones for the chalet, which will reopen to the public Jan. 4 after more than three months of construction upgrades that added a full kitchen and fire-suppression system to the 4,000-square-foot facility, which cost $1.2 million to build.

Rentals are still available, but the building will not be open for warm-up or restroom use until Jan. 4, according to the Mat-Su Borough.

“We are pretty excited about the year ahead,“ said Kim Ryals, Executive Director of the Mat-Su Trails and Parks Foundation, which manages the facility for the borough. “The new upgrades are really going to make a difference.”

The public-private partnership splits the cost of rental fees between the borough and the foundation. The foundation also has its offices in the chalet.

A $190,000 Rasmuson Foundation grant funded the upgrades, according to borough. Along with the fire safety improvements, Ryals said the new kitchen is probably the biggest draw.

“It is now a full working kitchen with professional-grade appliances along with a freezer, microwave and multiple sinks,” Ryals said. “This is a big improvement and it’s going to be huge for event planners, because before the kitchen area didn’t have a sink or running water.”

Ryals added that even with the new amenities, the current rates —$250 for a four-hour half-day and $500 for a full eight-hour day — won’t change. The chalet has the capacity for around 150 people.

Since taking over management of the facility in July 2014, Ryals said bookings for weddings and receptions, birthday parties, corporate meetings and holiday events continue to grow. The Fishhook Community Council now meets regularly at the chalet.

“The bookings expanded by at least double in 2015 and we expect it to triple in 2016,” Ryals said. “Like any new business, it has just about become self promoting. People have a good experience and then tell others.”

Along with paving last summer of the road and parking lot as well as the opening of 4 miles of new singletrack mountain bike trails to complement the already 4 miles of ski trails, more improvements are in store. A $390,000 grant from the Mat-Su Health Foundation will fund the installation of lights in the stadium area as well as along the Pioneer and Matanuska loops in the spring.

While borough officials expect the lighting to bring a three-fold increase in winter trail usage, Ryals expected the lighting to boost chalet business. Winter event planners don’t always want to require headlamps for guests, Ryals said.

“The lighting is definitely going to make functions in the winter more attractive,” Ryals said. “It will add to the benefit.”

Contact reporter Steven Merritt at 352-2269 or steven.merritt@frontiersman.com