Funeral Homes in Girdwood, AK

Facts about the city

Girdwood is a community within the southern extent of the Municipality of Anchorage in the state of Alaska. Located near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, Girdwood lies in a valley in the southwestern Chugach Mountains, surrounded by seven glaciers feeding into a number of creeks, which either converge within the valley or empty directly into the arm. Girdwood is typically accessed by the Seward Highway, with the main line of the Alaska Railroad paralleling the highway. By road distance, most of the community lies within 35 to 40 miles (56 to 64 km) of downtown Anchorage. According to 2014 estimates, a little under 2,000 people live in the valley.Founded as a community to supply miners during the Turnagain Arm gold rushes of the 1890s, Girdwood was mostly a small, quiet place until the middle of the 20th century. Two events drastically altered that. The first was the establishment of Alyeska Resort along the slopes of Mount Alyeska, which became an international destination coincidental with Anchorage's civic promotion of itself as \"The Air Crossroads of the World\". The second was the 1964 earthquake, which devastated the original townsite located directly along the arm. Following the earthquake, most of the town moved further up the valley to a new townsite, though a few homes remained and a strip mall was later constructed along the Seward Highway. Historically dominated in the years since the resort's opening by seasonally-occupied vacation homes and seasonal activity at the resort, the opening of the Alyeska Prince Hotel during the 1990s has shifted the resort, and hence Girdwood as a whole, more towards year-round activity and a year-round economy. This has led to periodic debates about community growth and affordability of housing for resort workers, many of whom over the years have resorted to camping illegally on public lands.Girdwood still revolves heavily around seasonal activity, with skiing and snowboarding at Alyeska Resort bringing visitors and their money into the community. Summer activities are also popular, which include hiking, fishing and rafting. The Girdwood Forest Fair, held every July, is the community's most significant visitor attraction apart from resort-related activities. Girdwood is located within the northernmost extent of rain forest on Earth, and also serves as the closest point of access to Chugach National Forest from Anchorage proper.

Girdwood Obituaries

It was noted on October 11th, 2009 that Sara "Saree" Thorn (Langner) passed away in Girdwood, Alaska.  Ms. Thorn was 25 years old and was born in New Orleans, LA.  Send flowers to share your condolences and honor Sara "Saree"'s life.

History

It is surrounded by seven permanent glaciers. It lies in a valley in the Chugach Mountains near the end of the Turnagain Arm of Cook Inlet, 38 miles (61 km) southeast of Anchorage proper. Girdwood is the home of Alaska's former senior United States Senate Senator Ted Stevens, and Girdwood found itself in the media spotlight when the construction projects on Stevens' home became the subject of a federal investigation.

The town has served as a backdrop for at least two films: 'The Chechahcos', a 1924 in film silent film about the Klondike Gold Rush, and Warren Miller (director) Miller's 1997 in film 'Snowriders II'. Girdwood is an unincorporated year-round ski resort community within the Anchorage, Alaska of Anchorage in the US state of Alaska.