Glacier View, a small blue-collar community nestled in the southern-most part of Matanuska-Susitna Borough, is getting ready to celebrate the 4th of July. This unrecognized town of roughly 100 households may lack the means to organize extravagant fireworks and massive parades. But that’s not an issue for the good folks living in this community.
They have something else planned — something that makes Macy’s annual fireworks show in NYC look pedestrian and boring. They’ll be launching cars off of a massive cliff, just like they did last year and years before that one.
The Origins of The Glacier View Car Launch
The story of the rather unique Glacier View Independence Day celebrations begins in 2005. Arnie Hrncir and his wife Dorothy of the Glacier View community were driving home one day when they had a sudden, and unpleasantly close, encounter with the local wildlife.
A moose had stepped out on the road, blocking the path of Mr. and Mrs. Hrncir, causing the couple to hit the 1000 lbs animal head-on, thus wrecking their car.
Arnie Hrncir wanted to dispose of his now-wrecked vehicle, but was unsure how to go about doing this. That’s when Hrncir had the idea to launch his car off a 300-foot cliff that is located not far from his community. Needless to say, other locals took note and joined the fun.
From a Local Tradition to a Regional Attraction
Hrncir’s unusual Independence Day celebrations quickly grew into an organized event, with Arnie Hrncir at the wheel. With every passing year, more and more locals joined in on the fun with their own junkers.
Then, one year, Hrncir organized a small parade to open the now famous Glacier View Car Launch event. Everyone loved it. Local bush plane operators gave the parade a more formal vibe by flying a “missing man formation” in honor of men and women of the armed services.
In just a few years, this local tradition became a tourist attraction that brings people from all over. Some visitors join the launch with their own cars, while others come to enjoy the sight of various vehicles being sent over the cliff, Dukes of Hazard style.
Cars Over Fireworks
At the end of the day, launching cars in celebration of Independence Day worked out perfectly for the Glacier View community. This part of Alaska rarely gets dark enough to get the most out of a fireworks show. While many think that pyrotechnics are fun no matter the time of day, including yours truly, launching cars off cliffs is arguably a better visual experience.
At the end of the event, crews come around for a cleanup operation. The now pilled-up wrecks of cars at the bottom of the cliff are taken away to be properly disposed of. By the time they’re done, this piece of Alaskan countryside looks completely clean.
The only trace of the Glacier View Car Launch event is several impact sites. Those serve as a reminder of good times and awesome memories that are being created at Glacier View each year.
