Planning an Arctic Oasis

In the Bering Strait Region of Alaska, approximately 60 miles northeast of Nome, lies a beautiful and remote site called Pilgrim Hot Springs. Owned and managed by Unaatuq, LLC, a consortium of seven Alaska Native organizations, this property is an important cultural site. Used by the Alaska Native people from time immemorial and valued for its geothermal and subsistence resources, the site also includes an active vegetable farm, historic structures, and a cemetery from a Catholic mission and orphanage that operated there after the 1918 Great Influenza pandemic. Today, regional residents and visitors travel to the springs for health benefits and to learn about the area’s rich history.

With the property’s bright future and unique past in mind, RESPEC is helping Unaatuq create a master plan to identify short- and long-term site improvements. This project, funded by U.S. Economic Development Administration grants, focuses on four pillars: ecotourism, agriculture, clean energy, and culture and history. RESPEC is also coordinating with a concurrent project to develop a geothermal plant at the site.

“It’s a bit tricky,” says Planning Manager Pat Cotter. “We have to balance building the plant and making power with preserving the historical look and feel of the buildings.”

Accessing the springs is challenging for travelers because of the remote and rugged landscape. Visitors must first arrive in Nome by cruise ship or plane. Afterward, they need to traverse 60 miles along a remote gravel highway followed by a slow and bumpy ride on a single-lane dirt road through mountainous tundra, which is underlain by thawing permafrost. Key elements of the plan, such as potential road upgrades and a long-term vision for an airstrip, will make this trip easier.

The master plan is anticipated to be complete by fall 2024 and will support funding and implementing infrastructure projects identified in the plan.

“Our mission is to create a master plan that really captures the owners’ vision for the site,” stated Senior Planner Natalie Lyon. “There is so much potential at this property, and we want to help Unaatuq achieve its goal to benefit the region and its residents.”