Forest Service finally buys land beneath its Girdwood HQ

By Jeff Samuels

TNews Contributor

US Forest Service staff and Girdwood community members gathered June 6 for a ribbon cutting ceremony celebrating a landmark event for the town. 

The Glacier Ranger District headquarters has leased land since 1988 from the Heritage Land Bank (HLB) where its buildings are situated, a little over eight acres adjacent to Monarch Mine Road and the Alyeska Highway. 

After a long administrative process, the Forest Service was able to purchase the land they occupy, a culmination of years of hard work by Forest Service and HLB staff. 

By acquiring the land, the Forest Service has the ability to pursue capital investments on the property, including a long-needed new bunkhouse for seasonal staff and increased office space. 

With newer and expanded capacity in seasonal housing, recruitment efforts stand to benefit as potential employees can have alternatives to higher cost housing options in the community. Girdwood shares a similar problem with many Alaskan towns of having very limited and expensive long term housing available. 

To ebullient applause, USFS District Ranger Chris Steward slices red tape opening up the local office to new investments on its property on a bluff near the entrance to Girdwood valley. (Courtesy Photo)

Additional improvements could include a trailhead for the lower Iditarod and Bird to Gird Trails. 

Engineering staff with the Chugach National Forest’s Supervisor’s Office in Anchorage are already at work designing these projects.  

Glacier District Ranger Chris Stewart cut the ribbon as dozens of onlookers applauded. 

Stewart, who began his position a year ago, thanked those who had made this happen including his predecessor, Tim Charnon.  

Glacier Ranger District is one of three districts within the Chugach National Forest, headquartered in Anchorage. 

The Chugach National Forest is the second largest in the country, behind the Tongass National Forest, and includes land on the western Kenai Peninsula and throughout Prince William Sound. 

Forest Service lands are administered by the US Department of Agriculture and are managed for access for hunting, fishing, recreation, research, and commercial operations.