A view of the mountains from the proposed natural burial cemetery on Golden View Drive.
The first natural burial cemetery in Anchorage has a home. Last week, the Anchorage Assembly approved AO 2026-72, an ordinance to transfer Parcel 2-156 on Golden View Drive from the city’s Heritage Land Bank (HLB) to the nonprofit organization Alaska Natural Burial. The cemetery is intended for bodies laid to rest without embalming or non-biodegradable materials, where graves no more than 4 feet deep enable nutrients to return to the soil.
Dust to Dust
“For people who are not interested in cremation, there are very few burial options left in Anchorage unless they already have access to a privately held cemetery plot,” says Assembly Member Zac Johnson, who represents District 6 in South Anchorage where the cemetery will be located. The 9.6 acres is uphill from the southern tip of Potter Marsh.
In 2024, voters rejected a municipal bond proposal to fund the creation of two new cemeteries, so city officials sought alternatives. Johnson says, “After the cemetery bond failed, we needed to explore other solutions. This project expands choices for families while preserving the natural character of the area and meeting an important community need.”…