South Denali project a win-win situation

Last week, Alaska State Parks hosted a groundbreaking ceremony at the site for a new South Denali Visitor Center in Denali State Park. This event was more than 20 years in the making, and the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau is excited about the possibilities this project brings to the local tourism industry.

A South Denali Visitor Center will have far-reaching impacts on local businesses, and will be a positive force for the Mat-Su tourism scene. The best views of Mount McKinley are from the southern vantage point, and the new center’s location is perfectly situated to offer that to visitors.

The center, located near Mile 134, Parks Highway, has sweeping views of the Alaska Range in a natural setting. Those things are exactly what visitors are coming to Alaska to experience.

The Mat-Su CVB, along with the Alaska State Parks, sees the center as an economic driver, particularly in the upper Susitna Valley. Giving visitors a Denali experience within the borders of the Mat-Su Borough will lengthen stays here, which leads to more revenue for local businesses, as well as an increase in bed tax for the borough. The economic multiplier effect helps keep that money churning in our community through wages, payroll taxes, residual spending and more. It’s estimated visitor-related spending will range from $18 million to $44 million due to the project. Even at the low end of that wide range, it’s a big shot to the local economy.

The Mat-Su CVB promotes the upper Susitna Valley as a great way to have a Denali experience to visitors, and the project will only strengthen that message. Whether it is flightseeing, rafting, jet boating or even just relaxing with a glass of wine on the deck of a local lodge, Talkeetna and Denali State Park offer what visitors are seeking. The visitor center will serve as a destination on to itself, which will increase the already existing amenities the region is known for.

The project is a win-win for the Valley, and we’re excited it is becoming a reality. Not only will it increase visitation to the area, it will also help strengthen what we already offer to our visitors. The visitor center project will also spur infrastructure development to meet the demands of increased visitation, creating a cycle of economic growth.

The two-stage construction process kicked off this summer with a walk-in campground, trail and parking area near the Parks Highway, and will continue with the construction of the visitor center on a ridge.

While the South Denali Visitor Center will give visitors excellent opportunities to have a new sort of Denali experience for one moment in time, it will have a lasting impact on the economy of visitors, and that’s a good thing for all of us.

Casey Ressler (casey@alaskavisit.com) is the marketing and communications manager at the Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau.