Over the past 12 years we’ve come a long way in making sure we have met the needs of the community, finding the best location, and developing the best design for the site location. This shovel ready project received a $6.7 million EDA grant in October 2022 to complete funding.
In 2010, the Mat-Su CVB hired Agnew::Beck Consulting Wolf Architecture and Recon, LLC to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Mat-Su Visitor Center. The feasibility study includes an economic impact analysis and insight into the construction and start up costs, potential revenue and expense forecasts for the facility. You can read the full study HERE.
The 49-acre site at Mile 36 Glenn Highway was purchased with a $1 million State of Alaska capital grant in 2014.
10,600 square foot visitor center complex. It has been designed to accommodate visitor services, a gift shop, coffee shop, office space and an educational facility. Building and interpretive design were completed in November 2016 with a $1.2 million State of Alaska capital grant.
Current construction costs are estimated at $8.4 million, of which a 20 percent match of $1.7 million is secured.
Construction is tentatively scheduled for Spring 2023.
Construction is tentatively scheduled for completion in Fall, 2024. The Mat-Su Visitor Center will be owned and operated by the Mat-Su Borough. The Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau is responsible for facility management, programming, sales and key partnerships out of its existing budget.
Why did the Mat-Su CVB support relocating and building a new visitor center?
After the construction of the Glenn/Parks interchange in 2003-2004, the opening of the Mat-Su Regional Hospital in 2006, and addition of the Trunk Road roundabout, visibility and access to the visitor center created a steep decline in visitation. The Mat-Su CVB board of directors in 2007 passed a resolution in support of relocating the visitor center and has made significant progress toward a now shovel-ready reality today.
How much money has been spent so far and how much is needed to complete the project?
The project is supported by a 2010 Feasibility Study funded by a $114,000 National Scenic Byways grant and a $23,000 match by the MSB. The land was purchased in January 2014 with a $1 million FY14 State of Alaska capital appropriation. The design phase was completed in November 2016 with a $1.235 million FY15 State of Alaska capital appropriation. The borough sold the former visitor center property adjacent to the Mat-Su Regional Hospital for $1,200,000 in January 2016. Borough Resolution #12-006 supports directing the funds received by the sale of the current visitor center parcel to be dedicated to the development of the Gateway Visitor Center. In October 2022, a federal EDA Grant of $6.7 million was awarded to the Mat-Su Borough, completing the funding. Construction is tentatively set to begin in Spring 2023.
Why do we need a visitor center?
A world-class visitor center will increase the economic opportunity to grow tourism for our partners and communities. Visitor Centers are changing and the relocation and rebuild is an opportunity to incorporate new trends. The inspiring, contemporary design will be interactiveand engaging using social media platforms and offering free WiFi and charging stations. A multi-purpose room and fireplace gathering space will be used for local and tour group presentations and programming. The advent of smartphones hasn’t removed the need for face-to-face hospitality something the Valley is known for. Our well trained staff and volunteers along with modern technology will enhance the visitor experience encouraging visitors to spend more time and money in our borough.
Where is it located?
The 48-acre property is located at mile 36 Glenn Highway. It is the site of the former Homestead RV Park. The bluff has a dramatic view of Pioneer Peak overlooking the Palmer Hay Flats. Convenient access is also aligned directly across from Matanuska State Park with RV and motor coach parking.
Our flagship project is the Mat-Su Visitor Center- a fully designed 10,600 square foot visitor center that will become the first stop for visitors coming from Anchorage. Visitors will get their first taste of Alaska’s wild beauty from our centrally located property at the intersection of the Glenn Highway and Parks Highway.
Keep reading to learn about how we developed this project and how we are one step away from making this project a reality. You can read the entire June 2010 Feasibility Study HERE.
Visitors will get their first taste of Alaska’s wild beauty from our centrally located property at the intersection of the Glenn Hwy and Parks Hwy. This property has beautiful mountainous vistas, salmon habitat, with the possibility for traveling easily accessible trails and world class views from the facility.
The Visitor Center will welcome visitors to the Mat-Su Valley, provide interpretive information for travelers, and showcase the natural beauty of the area. The center will also be a destination in its own right, offering interesting activities and learning experiences.
Our facility seamlessly marries with the topography and the visual aspects of the site. The LEED Silver design built with durable materials was designed to be operationally efficient and meet the interpretive needs of the agencies we’ll be collaborating with as well as meeting visitor needs (i.e. bathrooms, seating areas, trip planning centers).
Part of the purpose of the Visitor Center is to promote tourism-related and recreation-related economic development, to share information about the region’s cultural history and natural attractions in an innovative and interesting way, and to foster stewardship of the Mat-Su Valley’s cultural and natural identity.
In 2017 the Mat-Su Convention and Visitor Bureau commissioned a Market analysis study that demonstrated that there is great potential to attract more in-state and out-of state visitors to the Mat-Su Valley and promote the area as a vacation destination, as well as allow improved outdoor access and provide increased educational and outdoor amenities for area residents. Full study coming soon.
Over the past 12 years we’ve come a long way in making sure we have met the needs of the community, finding the best location, and developing the best design for the site location. This shovel ready project received a $6.7 million EDA grant in October 2022 to complete funding.
In 2010, the Mat-Su CVB hired Agnew::Beck Consulting Wolf Architecture and Recon, LLC to conduct a feasibility study on the proposed Mat-Su Visitor Center. The feasibility study includes an economic impact analysis and insight into the construction and start up costs, potential revenue and expense forecasts for the facility. You can read the full study HERE.
The 49-acre site at Mile 36 Glenn Highway was purchased with a $1 million State of Alaska capital grant in 2014.
10,600 square foot visitor center complex. It has been designed to accommodate visitor services, a gift shop, coffee shop, office space and an educational facility. Building and interpretive design were completed in November 2016 with a $1.2 million State of Alaska capital grant.
Current construction costs are estimated at $8.4 million, of which a 20 percent match is secure. In October 2022, a $6.7 million EDA Grant was awarded to the Mat-Su Borough, completing the funding for the project.
Construction of the Gateway Visitor Center is tentatively scheduled to begin in Spring 2023.
The Mat-Su Visitor Center will be owned and operated by the Mat-Su Borough. The Mat-Su Convention and Visitors Bureau will be responsible for facility management, programming, sales and key partnerships out of its existing budget.