June 5, 1998
Steve Martin, Superintendent
Denali National Park & Preserve
P.O. Box 9
Denali Park, AK 99755
Dear Mr. Martin:
Please consider these comments regarding the South Side Denali Development Concept Plan and Environmental Impact Statement, offered on behalf of Princess Tours.
Princess Tours is the leading provider of cruise tours to Alaska. As a division of Princess Cruises, the leading cruise operator in the state, Princess has been committed to Alaska for over thirty years. This commitment includes investments in hotels, railcars, and motor coaches of over $100 Million, and employment of over 1,400 Alaskans in full time and seasonal jobs. Princess’ newest investment is the Mt. McKinley Princess Lodge, located on private property within Denali State Park, in the South Denali area.
Because of this, Princess has closely followed the South Denali management planning process. We support the Proposed Action for a Visitor Center at Tokositna. This additional facility and transportation infrastructure is vital if we are to continue to provide quality meaningful park experiences to the growing number of visitors.
Alternatives A and B of the plan, while having some merit, fall short of providing a full experience and should be considered only if done as a part of a program where private businesses provide activities to complete the visitor experience.
The effort to solicit input from various interest groups, local citizens and the public at large, though considerable and certainly exhausting, did not include a significant constituency. Left out were the many thousands of visitors, the overwhelming majority of whom are U.S. citizens, who consider Denali national Park as a prime opportunity to enjoy and experience the wonder of Alaska. WE urge you to consider them in your evaluation of reactions to this plan. We know from our extensive experience that these citizens, in growing numbers, look to the National Park Service to offer opportunities for their enjoyment of their parks.
The planning process makes it very clear that action must be taken now to provide alternatives, which relieve some of the pressure at the current Denali National Park entrance. In the absence of a clear direction and progress in South Denali, this pressure is certain to result in calls for greater access into the Wonder Lake and Kantishna areas and quite probably, an additional access route into these areas from the north.
We remain concerned that the plan may not provide adequate opportunity for visitors to the South Denali area, and support the provision for reassessment in the future. Overall, this plan provides for a balanced, achievable approach to responsible development, which will result in, improved visitor opportunities to experience Denali National Park.
We support the adoption of this plan. Thank you for extending to Princess Tours, along with other interested participants in the Alaska visitor trade, the opportunity to comment on this plan.
Sincerely,
PRINCESS TOURS
Dean C. Brown
President