nineteen years in the making

and it finally opened right off the Glenn Highway.

For almost two decades, the Valley didn't really have a proper front door for visitors. That just changed. The new Mat-Su Gateway Visitors Center is open, sitting at mile thirty-six of the Glenn Highway, the first right after the Parks and Glenn split as you head toward Palmer.

It's a big one, about ninety-four hundred square feet, built with a mix of grants and matching money. Inside there's a classroom for community events and the offices for the folks who promote tourism out here.

But the real draw is the planning kiosks. You build an itinerary right there, pick where to stay, where to eat, and where to explore, and it maps out your drive with times and distances. Then you send the whole thing to your phone and go.

There are displays on local history and culture, plus ideas for all four seasons, not just summer. There's even a spot set up just for photos, with a mountain backdrop behind you.

It's open every day from ten to six. So whether you've got family flying in or you just want to plan a weekend in your own backyard, the Valley finally has a place that shows off everything out here.