Kennecott—new major tourist destination?

In a speech to the Alaska Legislature in April, Senator Lisa Murkowski said that she is proposing federal funding for a new federal tourism marketing campaign that would promote 2005 as the year for tourists to visit Alaska’s 15 national parks. She also expressed support for a visitor facility at the Kennecott Historic Mine site in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park (WRST) as a new major tourist destination for Alaska.

“While tourism brought $1.8 billion to Alaska last year, it can still grow,” said Murkowski. “We know that 94 percent of our visitors come to see Alaska’s national parks.”

The $1.73 million marketing campaign would be conducted for the National Park Service by the Alaska Travel Industry Association. Its goal would be to attract more independent travelers throughout the state and involve both marketing and advertising of the state’s parks as attractions.

The Kennecott project would involve renovation of the old Kennecott Company Store. Murkowski hopes to move $932,748 in federal funding from the currently planned 2006/2007 funding years to Fiscal Year 2005. According to NPS Maintenance Director Will Tipton, they will be able to start the project this summer, doing foundation work.

“The store will be the main visitor contact facility at Kennecott,” said WRST Superintendent Gary Candelaria. “The building will house a visitor reception area, public restrooms, exhibit and audio visual space, and offices,” Candelaria said.

Senator Murkowski also wants to fund four pull-outs along the McCarthy Road which would have toilet facilities. One of the placement sites will likely be at the proposed Crystalline Hills trailhead and parking area. The other three will likely be at spots identified as potential rest stops in the McCarthy Road Scenic Corridor Plan.

“We appreciate the Senator's efforts on behalf of the public in seeking to improve facilities for visitors along the road and once they reach Kennecott,” said Candelaria. “We hope for her success in securing these project funds.”

The NPS has larger plans for Kennecott in the future. According to Tipton, projects in the Kennecott area for the next 6-8 years amount to an estimated $15 million. Also planned is a $2 million dollar facility on the west side of the Kennicott River that would house construction workers and NPS employees. That project is currently underway.

The park service has also asked for $3.5 - 4.5 million to purchase and refurbish the Hart D Ranch on the Nabesna Road. It could function as employee housing and a campground/visitor center to supplement the visitors center in Copper Center and the Ranger Station at Slana. Senator Murkowski declined to fast-track that money. The park service has been criticized over the past 3 years for expanding beyond their ability to maintain facilities.

In spite of these plans for major infrastructure construction, park spokesman John Quinley downplayed the idea that Kennecott or WRST would become a major tourist destination. “I suspect commercial business decisions throughout the Copper Valley and elsewhere in the world will determine Kennicott's visitor destination future more than the concrete and nails bought by the NPS,” said Quinley.

This project is envisioned as a field season support camp for NPS employees temporarily stationed for up to five months at the Kennecott Mines National Historic Landmark (NHL) and employees of NPS contractors

Construction has already begun on the two million dollar project which includes:

• 1000 linear feet new gravel road, 20 feet each side of the centerline (0.9 acre)

• Fenced material storage yard (one acre)

• Well site, water line, and water storage tank (0.2 acre)

• Sewage, leach field, and septic tank (0.9 acre)

• Recreational vehicle (RV) parking pad (3 spaces, total 0.6 acre)

• Cabins, twelve units, each 192 square -feet living space

• Shower, kitchen, laundry support building (two units, each 800 SF)

• Building pads for cabins and support buildings (0.14 acre)

• Generator, generator enclosure and 500-gallon capacity fuel tank (0.02 acre)

• Satellite communications station (0.002 acre or 100 square feet)