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The crime rate in Skagway is extremely low and its residents are free to live in a safe
and secure environment. The community is a wonderful place to raise a family with little
concern for criminal misconduct.
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Photo: Mike Olson
Housing in Skagway is overwhelmed in the summer months due to the influx of
seasonal business owners and their employees. This situation is partly due to the lack
of large tracts of available land for residential development. The City of Skagway has
recently received patent to 930 acres of its municipal entitlement lands. The priority
tract for subdivision is the 405 acres from Dyea Point to The Taiya River Bridge. The
ity ois currently developing new zoning regulations pertaining to this land and
concurrently it is conducting a subdivision survey which is expected to be complete by
January 2007. Once these are complete it is expected that the first lots will be open for
sale in the spring of 2007. This will relieve some of the pressure in town for residential
housing although there will be a lag associated with this of around two years. This may
also have an indirect effect on the abundant vacant private lots in town which at present
have not been placed on the market and encourage owners to sell them before the
Dyea lands become a competitive disadvantage for them.
The quality of housing in Skagway is high and ranges from historic gold rush era
homes to modern architecturally designed homes with magnificent mountain and fjord
views. A city lot (100' x 50') is currently bringing in around $60,000. A three bedroom,
double-wide manufactured home on a double lot recently sold for $260,000. Prices are
currently ranging between $220,000 - $300,000. For more information contact SDC or
visit the Skagway News website and click on Classifieds
back towards Skagway. Photo: Dave
Moore
Skagway is at the start of the historic Chilkoot Trail which follows the footsteps of the
gold rush stampeders and ends at Bennet Lake in British Columbia. The Trail (33 mi)
is a favorite amongst both experienced and amateur hikers and is said to be the
longest museum in the world. In addition to the Chilkoot Trail, Skagway has a world
class trail system with a wide range of hiking trails and water routes with varying
difficulty. Most of the trails in Skagway are accessible year round. These trails range
from coastal strolls to strenuous alpine ascents up to 5,000 feet. A short car ride up the
Klondike Highway will take the adventure bound to limitless hiking, canoeing and
biking during the summer while in the winter months endless skiing, snowshoeing, and
snowmobiling opportunities abound.
For the sports enthusiast, Skagway provides many outlets for recreation. The Elks
Lodge Bowling Alley has two lanes open year round. There is also a very competitive
bowling league during the winter. The summer soft ball league is a favorite pastime
among seasonal and year round residents alike. Skagway hosts a 4th of July softball
tournament, with visitors from Haines, Juneau, and Whitehorse. In turn, Whitehorse
hosts a yearly tournament that is heavily attended by Skagway softball players. In
addition to softball, there are several foot and bike relay races throughout the year
hosted by Skagway, Whitehorse and Haines. These annual events have continued to
grow in popularity and participation, bringing “drive in” and ferry visitors to Skagway
from all over the world.
The Skagway Recreation Center provides multiple outlets for physical fitness. The
Recreation Center houses a Gymnasium with full size basketball courts that may be
used for volleyball, badminton, and tennis; as well as a new 1700 square foot climbing
wall. The Recreation Center is also equipped with a fully furnished weight room and
cardio room. For the kids, there is an outdoor skate park that is converted to an ice
skating rink during winter months. Furthermore, the Recreation Center offers a wide
variety of fitness class. Anyone is welcome to use the Recreation Center for a nominal
fee, and memberships may be purchased. Class descriptions and times are published
by the recreation center, and may be viewed on the Skagway Recreation Center web
site at: www.skagwayrecreation.org.
In addition to hiking trails, Skagway contains numerous parks within the city. Following
is a list of Skagway public parks and attractions:
Skagway Centennial Park – 1st and Broadway – Statue of Tlingit Packer, Rotary
Snowplow #1, time capsule, monuments, orientation signs, native plants, and a
covered waiting area with benches.
Klondike Gold Rush National Historical Park - Skagway Historic District – Seven
block corridor along historic Broadway Street containing many restored private and
park-owned structures used by business.
National Park Service Visitor Center - 2nd and Broadway - houses many gold rush
exhibits and railroad photos.
Mascot Saloon – 3rd and Broadway – exhibit about city life in 1898
Moore House – 5th and Spring Street – homestead of first white settlers William and
Bernard Moore.
Pullen Creek Park – Located between small boat harbor and the railroad depot.
Fishing and picnicking. Used as fish-rearing stream managed by the Skagway School.
Mollie Walsh Park – Located on 6th Avenue across from the Eagles Hall – a small
play park great for kids.
Seven Pastures Ball Park Complex - 2 softball fields, soccer field, BMX track, ATV
trails, picnic area, and riverside viewing.
Opportunities are a plenty for fishing (salmon, grayling, pike, dolly varden), shrimping,
hunting (goat, black bear), berry picking (blueberries, salmonberries, raspberries).
Skagway also has more fishing and hunting opportunities within a short drive, boat ride
or flight away.
recreation are plentiful, such as
exploring the Nourse Glacier.
Photo: Mike Olson
and crafts people.
Photo: Courtesy Bruce Schindler
Gold rush history is a vital aspect of the Skagway community. The Historic District
Commission diligently maintains strict appearance requirements for buildings in the
historic district, giving the town a “historic” feel for the visitors. The McCabe Building
(first stone building in Alaska) began as a boarding school for girls and currently serves
as City Hall and Skagway Museum. After a two year restoration project, the City
celebrated its centennial at the building in 2000 and moved the Skagway Museum and
Archives into the first floor, and the city offices into the second.
Another favorite attraction is the Arctic Brotherhood Hall. Located on Broadway and
unmistakable with its driftwood face, this is Alaska’s most photographed building.
Skagway also boasts many museums with various collections including:
Corrington Museum of Alaskan History – 5th and Broadway
Skagway Museum and Archives (in the McCabe Building) – East end of 7th Avenue
Klondike Gold Rush National Historic Park – 2nd & Broadway
Skagway has a wide range of artistic opportunities as well. While Skagway is a small
community, the residents are very supportive of artistic endeavors. The Haven Café, a
local coffee shop, displays various local artworks year round. Additionally, Haven host
poetry and music nights, fashion shows, and film festivals featuring films made by
Skagway residents (both year round and summer). Additionally, the Skagway Museum
and Archives host various Alaskan and Skagway artist year round. More information
about the arts in Skagway can be found on the Made in Skagway page. Moreover,
several Skagway organizations hold festivals and events all year for residents to
express their creativity. A complete and updated list of Skagway Events is available at
the Skagway Convention and Visitor Bureau web site: www.skagway.com
Movie theaters whist not in Skagway are only a short distance away in Whitehorse and
Juneau and regularly show first run movies.
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