Skiland
| Ski Land | |
|---|---|
  Ski Land Location of the Skiland ski area in Alaska | |
| Coordinates: 65°02′56″N 147°24′33″W / 65.04889°N 147.40917°WCoordinates: 65°02′56″N 147°24′33″W / 65.04889°N 147.40917°W | |
| Countries | United States |
| State | Alaska |
| Borough | Fairbanks North Star |
| Area code(s) | 907 |
Ski Land is a lift-served ski and snowboard area at Cleary Summit on the Steese Highway, 20 miles north of Fairbanks, Alaska. The area has one chairlift, North America's most-northern; it is 3300 feet long and serves 1057 feet of vertical rise. Road access and the lodge are on a ridge at an elevation of 2470 feet, overlooking a wooded, north-facing bowl. The location is one the best viewing spots in the winter for the northern lights, and looks over the Poker Flat research station and rocket range.
The ski season typically runs from November into late April, on weekends only. Tree and glade skiing opportunities abound. On a least one occasion slopes were re-opened in May after a heavy snowfall. The slopes are patrolled by the National Ski Patrol.
From 1962- 1990 a pair of tow ropes (upper and lower) served 900 vertical feet total, and were generally operated by volunteers. From 1990-2014 the Birdsall family leased the resort, installing a double chairlift originally installed at the Silver Star ski area in British Columbia, to replace the ropes, and ran the hill as a family business.,[1][2]
In 2015 the area was acquired by locally owned Far North Alpine Ventures, LLC, who now operates it as a ski area and Aurora viewing lodge. Extensive updates to the lodges, trails, lift, maintenance equipment and other facilities have taken place recently. A new learning area and Magic Carpet will be installed in the summer of 2017. Over the next 10 years more expansion including lodging, snow making, trail expansion, a new lodge, and new lifts are in the master development plan for the ski area.
The area encourages year round, non-motorized, non-comercial, recreation for locals and visitors on its trail system. The lodges and grounds can also be rented for private events such as weddings or reunions, and the facilities can also me leased for film production or other commercial use.