Embattled Alaska Ski Area Hires New General Manager
Juneau, Alaska — It’s been a strange past several years for the city-owned Eaglecrest Ski Area.
The ski area appeared to be on the rise due to an upbeat General Manager, partnerships with Alaska Airlines and the Indy Pass, and (usually) lots of natural snow. They bet big with the acquisition of a used gondola from Austria, which would have generated year-round traffic to the ski area. Surprisingly, GM Dave Scanlan was forced to resign in 2024 due to unspeficed reasons.
A new GM came in, but faced a growing maintenance catalog. He resigned in January following a delayed opening and lodge closure. Ironically, Eaglecrest then experienced one of its snowiest seasons ever. In a winter when many U.S. ski resorts struggled due to a lack of snow, Eaglecrest had a deep winter, showing its potential. Unfortunately, the season concluded on a bitter note, with the gondola project formally canceled due to cost overruns. Now, a new General Manager will attempt to right the ship.
Earlier this week, the Eaglecrest Board of Directors announced Julie Jackson Piper as the new General Manager of the ski area. Her current role is the Recreation Manager for the City of Richland in Washington. She previously worked at Eaglecrest as a ski instructor and in management roles. Piper also got her bachelor’s in ski area management. Back in 2024, she was also the finalist in the last GM serach process, but the city ending up choosing Craig Cimmons. She’ll begin her role on August 31st.
“I am honored to join Eaglecrest’s dedicated staff and engaged Board of Directors as we build upon the mountain’s remarkable legacy,” Piper said. “Together, we have an incredible opportunity to strengthen our connection with the community, enhance the year-round mountain experience, and ensure Eaglecrest continues to thrive for generations as we begin its next 50 years.”
She will face a challenging task in her first year. Due to budget cuts in the City of Juneau, the ski area will operate on a minimalist budget next winter. While they will likely be able to operate, it’s being described as “bare minimum” operations. One possible goal referenced by Piper is researching whether the Black Bear chairlift, which last operated in 2024, can be revived.
Private Operator
According to the Juneau Indepednent, the Eaglecrest Board is in talks with a private operator taking over. Goldbelt, which had an agreement with Eaglecrest regarding funding the gondola project, is in talks to take over operations. However, an agreement hasn’t been reached, and a timeline for such a takeover is unclear. At the meeting, it was speculated that it could be a couple of years before such a partnership could transpire.
Image/Video Credits: Eaglecrest Ski Area
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