The Anchorage Assembly approved an ordinance authorizing the Anchorage Community Development Authority (ACDA) to proceed with development of a new RV resort on a city-owned lot in the eastern portion of downtown.
The project, called the Denali View RV Resort, is planned for a 15-acre site at Third Avenue and Ingra Street.
The site, owned by the city’s Heritage Land Bank, has a long history, previously housing the Alaska Native Service Hospital and, before that, a dairy farm.
According to an article published by Alaska Public Media on July 3, Mike Robbins, executive director of ACDA, said the resort is designed to be more than a traditional RV park.
The new development aims to transform the vacant property into a community-centered destination while contributing to downtown revitalization efforts.
The facility is also expected to cost approximately $6 million to build, with ACDA contributing $1 million as the sole investor to date.
Once operational, Robbins said the resort could generate about $36 million in annual revenue. RV space rentals are estimated to start around $125 per night, though final pricing will be set by the future resort operator.
The ordinance passed by the Assembly leases the property to ACDA for a 20-year term. A developer must be selected by December 2027, and project completion is anticipated by 2028.
Conceptual plans include over 100 full-service RV hookups, long-term housing units, an amphitheater, playground, pickleball courts, and a native heritage memorial at the site’s center.
“We’re turning it into something that will positively impact people for years to come, really,” Robbins said.
“I’m excited about, hopefully, the cultural impact we’ll have with the Native memorial, and I’m excited about giving the neighborhood and Downtown someplace they can go and enjoy,” Robbins added.
A community garden is also planned, with Robbins noting that the produce would be used to support Alaska Native elders.
The project, he said, is backed by several local organizations and residents and is aligned with the 2019 master plan developed by the land bank.
“We’ll have this resort at the far end of Third Avenue, and we have the Saturday Market at the opposite end,” Robbins said. “What will happen is we’re activating positive traffic back and forth, and this will completely transform the whole Third Avenue corridor.”
While some Anchorage residents voiced support for the project during the Assembly hearing, others raised concerns that the land should be prioritized for affordable or supportive housing.
In response, Robbins said much of the site is not suitable for long-term housing due to seismic risks, referencing the potential for damage during earthquakes.
He described the current state of the lot as “an eyesore” and emphasized the economic potential of the planned resort.