Fairbanks, Alaska — For a state with one of the smallest populations in the United States, The Last Frontier is home to many lost ski areas. According to the Alaska Lost Ski Areas Project, 94 downhill ski areas in Alaska have closed for good. Arguably, the most famous of this bunch is Cleary Summit.
In the 29th episode of Skier72’s The Lost Resorts series, he delves into the history of the Cleary Summit ski area. The video discusses the ski area’s history, why it closed, what has happened after it was shut down, and the mountain’s topography.
Operating from 1949 to 1994, Cleary Summit was Fairbanks’ most popular ski area for decades. The ski area was home to twenty ski runs and multiple surface lifts. Ultimately, growing ski industry competition in the Fairbanks area, aging infastructure and rising insurance costs led to Cleary Summit’s closure in 1994. While some infrastructure was moved to Hilltop Ski Area, some of the lifts and buildings remain standing to this day. The summit lodge burned down in 2008 due to arson.
For more information about Cleary Summit, check out the Alaska Lost Ski Areas Project profile on the lost ski area.
Image/Video Credits: Alaska Lost Ski Areas Project, Skier72
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