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Devils Mountain Lodge Airstrip

ANILCA 1110(b) RWCA: Devils Mountain Lodge Airstrip Extensions, Tract #WRST-10-113

Wrangell-St. Elias National Park & Preserve » ANILCA 1110(b) RWCA: Devils Mountain Lodge Airstrip Extensions, Tract #WRST-10-113 » Document List

Kirk Ellis, acting as representative for the Ellis Family Homestead (EFH), has filed an SF-299 application with the National Park Service (NPS) for permission to enlarge his family's privately-owned Devils Mountain Lodge Airstrip by extending each end onto adjacent park lands. These two extensions would constitute new access facilities.

The EFH is comprised of U.S. Survey No. 5535, a 40-acre parcel wholly surrounded by Wrangell-St. Elias National Preserve. The property is situated at the end of the state-maintained portion of the Nabesna Road, approximately two miles north of the historic Nabesna Gold Mine. The airstrip is depicted on the homestead's 1968 U.S. Survey and listed as "Devils Mountain Lodge" and as PABN in aircraft supplements.

The Ellis family currently operates commercial air services and commercial hunting concessions. They do not have sufficient land to construct an airstrip within their property which will enable them to undertake safe aviation operations that they have determined are viable and are warranted for their businesses and livelihood.

The existing airstrip is too short and has obstacles at both ends of the runway; both conditions are problematic because they limit operations and pose unnecessary challenges and risks. Existing airstrip conditions requires the pilot to plan for a steep climbs-out, which leads to a long list of adjustments in loading and operational limitations. Only certain types of aircraft can operate in the required parameters, so usability of the runway is limited to small aircraft.

ANILCA 1110(b) states that "private landowners shall be given by the Secretary such rights as may be necessary to assure adequate and feasible access for economic and other purposes to the concerned land by such land private owners . . . ."



Contact Information

Danny Rosenkrans, Lands Manager
Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve
PO Box 439
Copper Center, AK 99573
danny_rosenkrans@nps.gov
(907) 822-7240