Resort closure affects more than tourists in Central

FAIRBANKS (AP) -- When Arctic Circle Hot Springs closed for the winter last October, the village of Central lost one of the few attractions drawing visitors to town.

George Hiller, owner of the community's fuel delivery service, described the hot springs winter closure eight miles from Central as devastating for the town.

''There's a lot of businesses that were just coasting right now and were living off the savings to see what happens,'' Hiller said. ''It really hurts. It hurts the local economy. We don't have people working that would normally work at the springs.''

Hot springs owner Bob Miller said he is looking for a buyer. The resort includes a 24-room hotel, more than a dozen rental cabins, a restaurant and bar and the outdoor hot springs pool.

Asked by the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner by when he'd like to have the resort sold, Miller said, ''Today. Tonight also would do.''

Miller plans to reopen April 1. He traditionally loses money during the winter, he said, and at 85, is spending his first winter off from the long hours needed to operate the resort.

The hot springs served as a shower facility for dozens of residents and as a winter entertainment destination for visitors, including many from Fairbanks 134 road miles away on the Steese Highway.

At the Chatanika Lodge at Mile 28.5 Steese Highway, bartender Bethany Witt has seen a noticeable drop in traffic this winter.

''I don't know if that's what we should blame it on or not,'' she said.

Witt is not seeing Japanese tour groups or snowmachiners who normally stopped at the lodge on their way to Central. She hopes to see Miller sell or lease the resort.

''If he doesn't, its certainly not going to improve here,'' she said.

Another Central business, Central Motor Inn, also closed, further limiting scarce shopping and dining options.

One Central business, Mills Junction, a bar, grill, gas station and general store, is doing well, said John Mills.

''We're busy all the time with the locals,'' Mills said. ''We're doing fine. But he acknowledges the effect on other businesses.

Arctic Circle Hot Springs is traditionally Central Electric Inc.'s biggest customer, said Cathy Hendrickson, who operates the company along with her husband, Cliff. The springs uses fewer kilowatts now, she said.