Icy Strait Point facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Icy Strait Point |
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| Country | United States |
| Location | 108 Cannery Road, Hoonah, Alaska |
| Coordinates | 58°07′46″N 135°27′48″W / 58.12933°N 135.4632°W |
| Details | |
| Opened | 2004 |
| Owned by | Huna Totem Corporation |
Icy Strait Point is a special place for tourists in Alaska, located just outside the small village of Hoonah. It's on Chichagof Island and is named after the nearby Icy Strait. What makes it unique is that it's the only cruise ship stop in Alaska that is privately owned. Most other stops are owned by the cities they are in.
Icy Strait Point is owned by the Huna Totem Corporation. This company belongs to about 1,350 Native Alaskans who have family ties to Hoonah and the Glacier Bay area. Many of these owners are from the Tlingit people, who have lived in this region for a very long time.
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History of Icy Strait Point
How Icy Strait Point Started
The Huna Totem Corporation was created in 1971. This happened because of a law called the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act. This law helped solve old problems about land ownership for Native Alaskans. It also aimed to help create jobs and grow the economy across Alaska.
The corporation bought the land for Icy Strait Point in 1996. The area first opened for cruise ships in 2004. The first cruise lines to visit were Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises. Over time, other lines like Princess Cruises and Norwegian Cruise Line also started making stops there.
Growing as a Tourist Spot
Icy Strait Point quickly became very important for the local area. By 2008, the cruise ship business provided a quarter of all jobs in Hoonah. By 2011, about 73 cruise ships visited during the summer. Some people even said the cruise business made up more than half of the local economy.
At first, passengers used small boats called tenders to get from their cruise ship to the dock. But in 2016, a large floating dock was built. This new dock was about 400 feet (122 meters) long and allowed cruise ships to dock directly. By 2019, 137 cruise ships were expected to visit Icy Strait Point. However, only one ship could be at the dock at a time.
Expanding for More Visitors
To welcome even more tourists, the Huna Totem Corporation worked with Norwegian Cruise Line. In 2019, they started building a second floating dock. This new dock was about half a mile away from the first one. It was designed to hold very large cruise ships. The idea was to spread out the visitors and prevent too much crowding. However, some older residents of Hoonah worried that too many tourists might change the local culture.
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic affected cruise travel greatly. Even with these challenges, work on the second dock continued. It was finished by 2022, though the effects of the pandemic were still being felt.
What to See and Do at Icy Strait Point
Protecting Local Culture
The Huna Totem Corporation wanted to keep the local village and culture as true to themselves as possible. This was important even with many visitors coming. At the same time, they wanted to help the local economy. They have won several awards for this effort. For example, in 2008, they received an award from National Geographic Traveler magazine. In 2022, The New York Times included Hoonah and Icy Strait Point on its list of '52 Places to Go'. This list highlighted places that focus on sustainable tourism and avoid having too many tourists.
Exploring the Site
The site includes the old Hoonah Packing Company building from the 1930s. This building has been beautifully fixed up and now holds a museum, a restaurant, and shops. At the dock, people wearing traditional Tlingit clothing share their culture with visitors. There's also an indoor show that teaches about Huna Tlingit traditions. All the shops at Icy Strait Point are owned by Alaskans.
Alaska's Wildest Kitchen teaches visitors how important salmon and fishing are to the Tlingit culture. Here, local people show how to prepare salmon and halibut. You can learn to make them into burgers, spreads, or grilled dishes. The town of Hoonah is about a mile away. Walking there lets you see what modern Tlingit life is like. A 2014 article in USA Today said that experiencing Alaska Native culture in small villages like Hoonah was one of the top reasons to visit Alaska.
Exciting Adventures
For many cruise passengers, Icy Strait Point is a starting point for fun trips. The most famous adventure is the ZipRider zip-line. This zip-line was built by the Huna Totem Corporation. It opened in May 2007 and is about 5,330 feet (1,625 meters) long. It's known for being one of the longest and highest zip-lines in North America, dropping about 1,330 feet (405 meters). The Anchorage Daily News has called it a "must do" attraction in Alaska. The ZipRider was even shown on the Travel Channel's Ride-iculous show in 2013.
Another popular trip is to look for coastal brown bears along the nearby Spasski River. While sightings are not guaranteed, they do happen. Other animals, like bald eagles, are often seen in the area. Whale watching trips are also popular. Icy Strait Point is close to the Point Adolphus feeding area, where many humpback whales gather. By 2011, the attractions at Icy Strait Point were so popular that even people not on cruises started visiting.
Gallery
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The Hoonah Packing Company facility, now a museum, restaurant, and shops.
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The exciting ZipRider zip-line.
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A wide view of Icy Strait Point.
