Anchorage Chamber Of Commerce: A Legendary Alaskan Tells A Legendary Tale In ‘Today Alyeska, Tomorrow Zee World'

Press release from Anchorage Chamber of Commerce :

May 07, 2021

Chris von Imhof, who brought his Old-World charm to the Last Frontier where he became one of the state’s most influential non-politicians, has released a new autobiography that recounts his colorful journey from the Bavarian resort of Garmisch-Partenkirchen to Girdwood, where his tenacity, good business skills and plain old luck helped him turn a struggling ski area into one of the top ski destinations in the world.
 
Along the way, he barely escaped death in the Good Friday earthquake, was a driving force in the Alaska visitor industry, married the prettiest girl in Alaska, escaped an armed home invasion, hosted the world’s ski and Hollywood elite, opened two high-end resorts in Hawaii and was named America’s “Mr. Hospitality.”
 
A man of tireless energy and optimism, Chris’ love of his adopted Alaska took him around the world to “sell” the state as a premier visitor destination and a driving force behind two Olympic bids. In Girdwood, he helped bring a sewer system to the resort community and formed non-profits to build a community center and save the historic Mt. Alyeska Roundhouse, the Girdwood Clinic, and the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, where he still is a trusted advisor and honorary board member.
 
As Chris is fond of saying, life is a series of peaks and valleys and the charismatic man enjoyed a life of many good times, good friends and good sons. His valleys include the loss of his beautiful Nina, Miss Alaska 1963, and the 1973 avalanche that took out Chair 2, which he had so painfully constructed out of guts and determination.
 
Now retired, Chris lives with his German journalist wife Brigitte, dividing their time between Girdwood, Kossen, Austria and the world.
 
“Today Alyeska, Tomorrow Zee World: How Chris von Imhof became Mr. Hospitality,” $30, published by Edelweiss Publishing Co., distributed by Todd Communications, www.alaskabooksandcalendars.com.
 
Scheduled Book Signings
 
Saturday May 8, 10 am – noon, Girdwood Clinic parking lot across from the Girdwood Post office
 
Saturday May 8, 2 pm – 5 pm, Alyeska Sitzmark outside deck, Girdwood
 
Tuesday May 11, 11:30 – 1 pm, Downtown Rotary, Denaina Convention Center

This press release was produced by the Anchorage Chamber of Commerce. The views expressed are the author's own.