Goldbelt Inc. has begun to unveil the contours of its proposed US$500 million cruise ship port on the “backside” of Douglas Island, presenting its plan to the Juneau Assembly in late September.
The project—branded Goldbelt Aaní—was first announced last autumn in partnership with Royal Caribbean Group. City officials at that time had expressed surprise at the announcement; Goldbelt now seeks to lay out the full scope of its intentions.
Goldbelt’s president and CEO, McHugh Pierre, told the Assembly that the scheme is conceived as a semi-private cruise destination intended not merely to accommodate ships but to bolster Lingít cultural presence and to provide stable economic foundations for Juneau’s future. He framed the undertaking as an investment in community, creating certainty and opportunity for local families.
Goldbelt holds approximately 1,800 acres along Douglas Island’s northwest coastline between False Outer Point and Point Hilda. The port is to occupy some 250 acres at the terminus of North Douglas Road.
The development will unfold in phases. The first phase includes core infrastructure: docks, quay works, a welcome center, roads, and wastewater treatment systems. In subsequent stages, plans extend to employee housing, childcare facilities, commercial retail and dining, even a replica Lingít village constructed to reflect ancestral forms.
Permit work is already underway: Goldbelt has initiated discussions with city planners and to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The concept envisions two floating cruise berths connected via transfer spans to shore, a visitor attraction built with cultural interpretive elements, and amenities such as a small-boat harbor, seaplane docks, and a fuel terminal for marine and aviation users.
In permit documents, more speculative features appear: skybike cable loops, elevated viewing platforms, bungalows and treehouses, interconnected roadways and boardwalks, and cultural performance venues.
Goldbelt has indicated it intends the docks to support the largest cruise ships that currently call at Juneau.
The development is expected to span multiple years: offshore works may take up to two years, while onshore construction could require five years or more.
Goldbelt’s website currently projects the first ship calls in 2028.
During the Assembly meeting, officials raised concerns about the capacity of North Douglas Highway to absorb cruise-related traffic. Pierre responded that Goldbelt intends to route much of visitor access from the water side and possibly offer shuttle ferry services to reduce dependence on road infrastructure. He also declined to agree to a master plan mandating city land use prior to permitting, stating that Goldbelt would cooperate but not allow itself to be delayed or blocked by broader municipal processes.
Questions were also raised about how the two berths would interface with Juneau’s voluntary limit of five cruise ships per day. Pierre indicated that prospective clients have committed to honor the limit and that the new port could help distribute visitor flows more evenly across the region.
As the project advances, Goldbelt has promised regular community updates. It has not yet submitted formal permit applications to the city, but the proposal remains in an evolving state as environmental reviews, cultural consultation, and municipal approvals all lie ahead.