When John Rasmussen joined the Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association, the organization’s clubhouse was spartan — a bare-bones building that generated warmth from the crowds that may fill the construction on race days and for occasions.
And for a lot of the final 50 years, the affiliation’s building on the Tozier Track on Tudor Road remained the identical with a number of minor upgrades.
“It was small but it was always packed,” mentioned Rasmussen, who’s the affiliation’s path supervisor.
As he stood contained in the organization’s brand-new clubhouse at 4800 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. on Saturday for an open home, Rasmussen couldn’t consider his eyes.
People milled in regards to the new building with giant viewing home windows, further rooms, a kitchen and even new bogs with working water. Outside, teams gathered close to the paths for shows whereas junior mushers ready their dogs. The new property consists of 20 acres and quarter-mile, half-mile and full-mile loop trails.
“This was something that we had no idea it would go this far,” he mentioned. “We kind of thought we’d operate the way we are and try to improve our races. … This is what you would dream of but don’t ever think your dream will come true.”
In 2021, the Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association swapped its longtime home on Tudor Road in a land change with the Municipality of Anchorage. That set the desk for the development and growth of the brand new property, which butts up in opposition to Far North Bicentennial Park.
“It’s very bittersweet,” mentioned Jeremy Engeberg, the affiliation’s vice chairman. “We have been over there for the reason that … ‘50s. There’s plenty of historical past there. Moving here’s a main upgrade. We’ve obtained a pleasant format and extra privateness from the highway noise. None of that existed within the ‘50s when we took that property.”
The new building is six times as big as the previous clubhouse, with a heated garage. The land swap allowed the association to cover most of the approximate $2 million cost of the new property. Engeberg said they did some independent fundraising and received a Rasmuson Foundation grant to cover much of the remainder.
The new property, which is lower than a mile from the earlier clubhouse, permits for a lot of extra alternatives for offseason coaching.
“We can do bikejoring and four-wheeler training and stuff like that before the snow even gets here,” Engeberg mentioned. “It’s opened up opportunities that we didn’t have before.”
The Alaskan Sled Dog & Racing Association is probably greatest identified for organizing dash races throughout Fur Rendezvous in addition to junior races in the course of the winter. In February, they hosted the 2023 Junior World Championships. But board member Lois Rockcastle mentioned the organization is broadening its scope with the transfer.
“It opens opportunities to work with a broader audience,” she mentioned. “We’re hoping to have some tours in the summer for tourists on the history and maybe some dog demonstrations. We want to broaden to all different dog sports, maybe things with obedience, dog training and dog nutrition and health.”
Although there are many fashionable options and house on the new clubhouse, maybe essentially the most treasured amenity is the restrooms with working water, one thing membership members went a long time with out.
“We have flush toilets,” Rockcastle mentioned. “That’s the biggest thing. That was the No. 1 thing people wanted.”
[Price of parking pass for Alaska State Parks will increase in 2024]
