Changing the face of Alyeska: 'old hippie takes charge of Girdwood resort. John Byrne takes advantage of good powder at his Alyeska Resort.

• Author: Bohi, Heidi
• Position: TOURISM

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A self-described "old hippie"--he saw Gerry Garcia and Grateful Dead 230 times--49-year-old John J. Byrne, a real-estate financier, hard core skier and owner of Alyeska Resort, says he always dreamed of owning a ski area and had bid on others across the country when he decided to buy the Girdwood property in 2006.

Up until then, he had hell-skied in Valdez over the years and passed through Anchorage, but had never been to Girdwood until the first time he pulled in off the Seward Highway.

"The hippie funky thing made me feel comfortable and at home," he says from his Alta, Utah, home where he can ski from his front door to the Snowbird or Alta ski areas. He says he might have been just as happy to pay for Alyeska lift tickets as to buy the joint--and it certainly would have been less expensive--but considering the value of the asset and the lure of the distressed sale, he did what he does best. Investing tens of millions of dollars to purchase the resort, he rolled up his sleeves to transform it into a four-season destination for all ages and abilities that eventually will be complimented by high-end commercial and retail developments at the base of the mountain.

Although his personal wealth was what got people's attention when he first arrived, those who have gotten to know him, including his employees, development partners and those in City Hall, will tell you that he is much more than just the "Daddy in the Caddy." Besides articulating the vision for what's in store for the resort and the community, he says he is committed to investing in the success of his employees and is a hands-on leader who spends most of his time involved in product-development decisions ranging from snowmaking to menu selections and pricing.

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He believes the success of the resort and the community is intertwined. Byrne repeatedly states that attracting investment capital to develop the base of the mountain and the community is essential for a sustainable economy...