the valley's new front door

and it didn't come out of your property taxes, it was built with grants and matching dollars.

The Mat-Su just opened the new Gateway Visitors Center, right at mile 36 of the Glenn Highway. It's the first right after the Parks and Glenn interchange as you head toward Palmer.

This thing has been nineteen years in the making, and crews finally broke ground last March. Now it's a 9,400 square foot building with room for events and offices for the local visitors bureau.

Inside, you'll find displays on what to do here in all four seasons, plus the history and culture of the Valley. The part I like is the digital kiosks that build you a custom trip.

You pick where to stay, where to eat, and where to visit, and it maps out your drive with times and distances. Then it sends the whole plan straight to your phone, so nobody's standing in a parking lot arguing over what to do first.

There's even a selfie spot with the Chugach Mountains behind you. For every Valley family that hosts visitors all summer, this is the new first stop to send them.

It's open every day from ten in the morning to six at night. So next time someone flies up to see you, you've got an easy place to point them.