Alaska Ski Area Sets Course After CEO Resigns

Juneau, Alaska — The future of Eaglecrest Ski Area seemed clear a few months ago. Under the leadership of General Manager Dave Scanlan, the ski area has become one of the most respected backcountry ski destinations in the United States due to its abundant snowfall. Construction will begin this summer on a repurposed gondola that was acquired by a ski resort in Austria. Once completed, Eaglecrest’s lift-operated ski area will expand. Additionally, the Alaskan ski area will become a four-season destination due to the number of cruise tourists that arrive there.

At least that’s the rosy way to look at it. The gondola that was used has gone over its original budget and the opening date has been pushed back multiple times. In addition, the ski area had a $415,000 deficit in May 2024. The Juneau municipal government owns and operates the Alaska ski area. The Eaglecrest Board oversees the mountain’s operations, which are now looking to the future. Ultimately, they weren’t happy with the direction the ski area was headed.

For reasons yet to be determined, the Eaglecrest Board requested Dave Scanlan’s resignation. Dave agreed, although he admitted it was a shock. It was also a shock to the local community, as Dave was beloved for his kindness and intense work ethic. A petition was even started to demand more answers from the board, along with Dave being reinstated as General Manager. Erin Lupro, the Director of Snowsports School, Rental, Retail & Repair, is currently serving as interim General Manager.

As the search for a general manager continues, they’re trying to figure out what to do with the gondola. The Juneau Empire reported that local leaders at a meeting on July 15 believe the project can still be completed and open in 2026. In order to open in 2026, they need to build access roads and complete some gondola projects before the upcoming ski season. 35% of the design was complete as of July 15, but they need to find a firm that can submit a projected cost within the city’s budget to stay on track. The design process is expected to be completed by mid-March 2025.

City Manager Katie Koester told the Assembly Committee on July 15:

“It’s definitely aggressive and ambitious. But what Eaglecrest staff has indicated is that it’s all well and good to have a gondola up and running in 2026. But you have to know that the gondola is working, you have to fix the issues, you have to train staff, you have to have safety measures in place, you have to have sold those tickets. You have to have done all those things in advance and a full season may not be more realistic until 2027.”

However, that position contradicts what Goldbelt, Inc., which is providing $10 million for the project in exchange for a share of the gondola revenue, believes. During a meeting in June, Goldbelt CEO McHugh Pierre said they did not think a 2026 opening would happen and that it was more likely to open in 2027. If the gondola is not open by May 31, 2028, Goldbelt can withdraw from the financing.

The new plan is that the additional infrastructure, such as the toilets at the top, will be added after the gondola starts making a profit. In the early years of operation, they would have had a few portable toilets at the top instead.

Last week Eaglecrest Ski Area officially announced the two finalists for their new General Manager: Craig Cimmons And Julie Jackson-PiperCimmons has been the director of the Ski & Ride School at Jay Peak since 2012 and has held other positions in the ski industry. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Adventure Recreation from Green Mountain College.

Since 2018, Piper has been the Recreation Manager for the City of Richland, Washington. She has a background living in Juneau and Eaglecrest. She has served as the Aquatics Manager for the City and Borough of Juneau, as well as the Youth & Community Outreach Coordinator and Snowsports School Supervisor at Eaglecrest.

The final round of interviews is a doozy. On August 1, the finalists will attend an Eaglecrest board meeting. On Friday, August 2, at 1:30 and 3:30 p.m., they will have a public meeting interview session. During the meetings, they will present their financial vision for Eaglecrest’s future and answer questions from board members. On August 3, they will have a meet and greet with members of the public. The Eaglecrest board could make a decision on August 5, although the finalist must accept the offer before the appointment is officially announced.

While these two are undoubtedly qualified for the role, this is a tough situation. They inherit a messy gondola situation that will likely drag on for a long time. It’s not all bad, though, as they also inherit a passionate fan base, deep powder, and excellent terrain.

Image credits: Eaglecrest Ski Area, City and Borough of Juneau

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