Terry Gose
(907) 240-3667

Girdwood, AK Area Guide

Girdwood is an unincorporated year-round ski resort community within the Municipality of Anchorage in the state of Alaska. Girdwood lies in a valley in the Chugach Mountains near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet.

Girdwood is surrounded by seven permanent glaciers. Summer activities include hiking, fishing and rafting. Girdwood is best known for winter skiing and snowboarding at Alyeska Resort on Mount Alyeska. Girdwood also hosts the Girdwood Forest Fair every summer. Girdwood has the northernmost rain forest in the world.

Girdwood consists of a diverse population of outdoor enthusiasts, local businesses, services and Anchorage commuters. Girdwood has much to offer the Alaskan visitor year-round. Complete with a mercantile, a post office, a variety of B&B's, restaurants and bars, boutiques and shops, Girdwood can supply any need any time of the year.

History

Girdwood, originally named Glacier City, was founded as a gold mining town at the turn of the century. As the number of miners increased, a supply camp arose that also supplied a trail stop on the route between Seward and Ship Creek which is now Anchorage. James Girdwood was an Irish immigrant and linen merchant with four gold claims on Crow Creek. He later became the namesake for the mountain community.

The development of Girdwood was spurred by railroad construction in 1915. The little town boomed with new businesses. Mining in the upper Crow Creek area continued into the late 1930's. In 1949, Girdwood flourished as construction began on the Seward Highway connecting the seaport of Seward to Anchorage. In 1954, eleven local men formed the Alyeska Ski Corporation along with the beginnings of a first-class ski resort. In 1960, the first chair lift and a day lodge were built.

In October 1980, Seibu Corporation purchased Alyeska Resort and invested heavily in its development. Seibu built a new high-speed quad chair, a fixed quad and a 60 passenger aerial tramway. In addition, The Westin Alyeska Prince Hotel, a luxurious 307-room hotel, was opened in August of 1994, a mountaintop facility with a fine dining restaurant and skier's cafeteria.

Attractions and Activities

Girdwood is the place to be if you enjoy fun throughout the year. The community offers many attractions, such as the Girdwood Ski and Cyclery, Kanai Fjords Tours, and much more. View the list below for great ideas of things to do next time you’re in Girdwood!

Girdwood Ski and Cyclery
Girdwood Ski and Cyclery is committed to helping people that experience disabilities with their adaptive recreation equipment. Jim has 18 years practice as a recreation therapist, providing recreational opportunities for persons that experience disabilities.

Kenai Fjords Tours
Cruise Kenai Fjords National Park to view whales, sea lions, puffins and more! There are two great ways to enjoy this one of a kind Alaskan destination: a cruise with a stop at the Fox Island Day Lodge, or an overnight stay in the cabins of Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge, both exclusively available through Kenai Fjords Tours!

Fox Island Day Lodge
Come aboard one of the exclusive Fox Island tours and enjoy a unique remote island escape. Feast on an all-you-can-eat wild Alaska salmon and prime rib buffet, as you enjoy the rugged beauty of Fox Island.

Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge (at Fox Island)
Come spend some serious time on Fox Island at the Kenai Fjords Wilderness Lodge. There are complete packages offered featuring overnight stays in one of the eight beachfront cabins, naturalist-lead nature tours, and gourmet meals prepared by the island's private chef. The premium Northwestern Fjord Tour is also included, taking you farther into Kenai Fjords National Park than any other cruise.

Zipline/Rainforest Canopy Tour
Alyeska Adventures is located in beautiful Girdwood. We provide comfortable accommodations in our Bed and Breakfast, as well as adventure activities including jet boating, fishing, paragliding and Rainforest Canopy Tours. Our B&B is a great place to unwind after an adventurous day in the Last Frontier.

For a detailed list of Area Attractions and Activities, please visit: http://www.girdwoodchamber.com/girdwood-activities/

Events

Girdwood is home to many excellent and exciting events that will entertain you and your family all year long. Come enjoy one of the many festivals featuring food, music, entertainment and much more.

Girdwood Forest Fair
The Forest Fair features Alaskan artists, hand-crafted items, exotic foods and entertainers from all over Alaska. Fun for the whole family is kicked off by the Forest Fair Parade on Saturday, July 3 at 11:00 am.

Lion's 11th Annual Humpy Fest
The Girdwood Turnagain Arm Lion's Club features the 11th Annual Humpy Fest! This is the main fundraising event for the year and the funds raised by the event are used to support community projects which include scholarships for area youth, Christmas Baskets for the needy, highway and park cleanup, the Girdwood end of school picnic, and a Bicycle Safety Rodeo. Events include the Fishing Derby, Rubber Ducky Races, and a Flying Fish Toss.

Blueberry Mountain Arts and Music Festival
Come enjoy live music, BBQ and craft vendors in the Hotel Alyeska Pond Courtyard. There will be blueberry picking and dessert contests.

Oktoberfest
Oktoberfest is a festive atmosphere celebrating German culture, food, music and of course beer!

For a detailed list of Community events, please visit http://www.girdwoodchamber.com/girdwood-event-calendar/

For more details about Girdwood, AK please visit: http://www.girdwoodchamber.com/