Click here to the 2016 Talkeetna Visitor Guide

Transcription

Welcome to Talkeetna
The historic community of Talkeetna sits
near the base of Denali, North America’s
highest peak. The community has been
here for a century, and has maintained
its small-town Alaskan quirkiness into
the 21st Century. The town is widely
considered to be the inspiration for the
television show “Northern Exposure,”
and there is certainly no shortage of
characters to be found, including the cat
who acts as honorary mayor, Stubbs. items produced by local artisans.
After shopping, feel free to stop by Live at
Five, a free weekly concert every Friday at
5:00 p.m. in the Village Park. Afterwards,
Downtown Talkeetna offers a variety of
dining options on and around Main Street.
If you are hoping to catch a glimpse of
“The Great One,” viewing options by
jetboat, plane, and car are all available. In
addition to Denali, Talkeetna offers a host
of activities for summer and winter visitors. If you decide to visit Talkeetna outside of
the summer season, there is still plenty to
see and do. On clear winter nights, the
Northern Lights put on breathtaking shows
amidst a landscape blanketed in snow.
Even if you’ve been here in the summer,
winter is a very different experience. In the warmer months, all five species of
Alaskan salmon swim the local rivers, as
well as trout and dolly varden. Feel like
striking it rich? Try your hand at gold
panning and carry on a century-old
Talkeetna tradition. If you are seeking a more adventurous
stay, consider soaring through the boreal
forest on America’s northernmost zipline
tour, taking a ride on an ATV or behind a
team of Alaskan huskies, or trying your
hand at Alaska’s only live escape room
game. Talkeetna also offers a number of
shopping options to find the perfect
souvenir from your Alaskan vacation,
including a number of shops stocked with
No matter what your lodging needs
are, Talkeetna has you covered, with
campgrounds, RV parking near downtown,
bed and breakfasts, and cabins for rent.
The village also hosts a number of
special winter-only events, including the
Oosik Classic Ski Race and the worldfamous Talkeetna Bachelor Auction. In
addition, many of the summer attractions
and restaurants remain open in the
quieter winter season. If you prefer to
make your own adventure, there are
numerous ski, snowshoe, and snowmobile
trails in the area that showcase the
natural beauty of our river valley. No matter when you decide to come to
Talkeetna, a unique Alaskan experience
awaits you. Courtesy Phillip Manning, KTNA.org
© Alaska Outdoor Photography
www.alaskaoutdoorphotography.com
Summer Adventure
Talkeetna...
Where the Road Ends & Life Begins
The historic village of Talkeetna is
nestled at the base of North America’s
tallest peak, Denali (formerly Mt.
McKinley). Our central location makes
Talkeetna the perfect place to “set up
basecamp” and enjoy a wide variety of
adventures during our endless summer
days. Take advantage of the panoramic views
of Denali, the Alaska Range and the
Susitna River valley, which can be
enjoyed and photographed from several
locations. The beach where “three
rivers meet” or the overlook both offer
spectacular views of the mountain, and
are just a short stroll from downtown. Talkeetna offers 14 miles of paved bike
trails and nearly 25 miles of hiking trails.
Stop by one of the local businesses and
pick up a copy of the Town and Trail
map for a self-guided tour or hire a local
nature guide and learn about the
abundant wildlife, flora and fauna.
History buffs can enjoy a variety of
activities and adventures from museums
to self-guided historical walking tours.
Continue in the tradition of the miners
who settled Talkeetna by panning
for gold in one of the gold-bearing
creeks. Take a ride up the river to
see a reproduction of a Dena’ina
native encampment or jump on an
ATV and explore remote homesteads
once inhabited by some of Alaska’s
hardiest frontier men and women.
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Talkeetna Visitor Guide
Hop aboard the “Hurricane Turn Train,”
the last flag-stop train in America, and
leave civilization behind. Enjoy
breaktaking views of the Indian River
Valley, abundant wildlife and the hum
of the rails. Experience life on the edge
of the Alaska frontier. Water lovers will find a variety of ways
to experience an Alaskan adventure on
one of the many glacier-fed waterways.
Choose from jet boat tours, rafting trips
or canoeing and kayaking excursions.
Up for a little fishing? Talkeetna is the
best spot in Alaska to cast your rod and
reel for the catch of a lifetime! Want to see Denali up close and
personal? Take fight with one of our
local flight-seeing companies. Fly over
base camp and see climbers preparing
to ascend the mountain. Land on a
glacier and be amazed by the eminence
peaks that surround you. This is a oncein-a-lifetime experience you don’t want
to miss! Take part in one of Alaska’s oldest
traditions: schedule a sled dog tour with
one of our local Iditarod mushers. Mysteries abound in Talkeetna. Join in
The Quest at NSI, locate a geocache,
participate in a live escape game or
search out the perfect souvenir at a
local Alaskan gift shop. Discover what our unique little village
has to offer. talkeetnachamber.org
© Denali Zipline Tours
talkeetnachamber.org
3
Winter Adventure
Don’t miss out on one of Alaska’s best
kept secrets... wintertime in Talkeetna!
Alaska’s long winter months create
wonderful opportunities to enjoy the
snow-covered landscape, starry nights,
cozy sweaters, a warm fire and good
conversation. Just a short 2-hour drive from
Anchorage, Talkeetna is a convenient
and fun winter destination. Because
Alaska sees more clear days during
the winter than any other time of the
year, your first stop should be the
Talkeetna Overlook which has one of
the best views of Denali and the river
valley below. Talkeetna offers a variety of outdoor
activities that visitors of all ages can
enjoy. There are miles of groomed
trails for nordic skiing, both classic and
skate. Talkeetna hosts the “Oosik
Classic” ski race every year in March
and skiers come from all over Alaska
for a little friendly competition and a
whole lot of fun. Go snowshoeing around one of the
local lakes, ice fish or take a sled dog
trip with a local musher. Cyclists can bring or rent fat tire bikes
to tour around Talkeetna and take
advantage of the 14-mile biking/walking
trail along the Spur Road. For those who like to soar, take a flight
above the Alaska Range for some
spectacular winter views of Denali and
the landscape below, or a zipline tour
that takes you on a journey through
the treetops with breathtaking views of
Denali. The Talkeetna area is a wonderful
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place to discover the magic of the night
sky. Stargazing and Aurora viewing
are enhanced by the fact Talkeetna is
a small town without all the big city
lights. You can come on your own to
chase the auroras or schedule a night
sky photography workshop with a local
photographer. Talkeetnans love to celebrate in the
winter. We are always planning fun and
exciting events as an excuse to hang
out with old friends and make new
ones. Come join us for the Motorized
Parade of Lights, The Bachelor Auction
& Wilderness Woman Contest, Taste
of Talkeetna, Oosik Classic, Talkeetna
Beer Trippin’ Home Brewer ’s
Competition, and The Trio-Mike Sterling
Memorial Fat Tire Bike Race. Ride the train from the city and spend
the weekend in Talkeetna. Take
advantage of some of the wonderful
winter classes offered through our local
businesses. Explore the historical
museum and National Park Service to
learn about Talkeetna and Denali.
Browse the unique gift shops for the
perfect gift. Spend some time outside
enjoying the crisp fresh air or take a
tour with a local adventure company.
Stop in at one of our many restaurants
and savor some of the best dishes in
Alaska. Pop into one of the local pubs
to listen to live music or the Don
Sheldon Community Arts Hangar for
some lively entertainment. Return
home relaxed and rejuvenated after
the perfect winter weekend getaway! When you come to Talkeetna, you’re
in for a special treat and memorable
lifetime experiences. talkeetnachamber.org
© RB Kelly Photography
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Talkeetna History
History of Talkeetna
The Beginning Talkeetna (tall-KEEt-nah) sits on the
confluence of three glacially fed rivers: the
Chulitna, Susitna and Talkeetna. For the
semi-nomadic Dena’ina native population in
the area, it was an important location for
fishing and hunting. The name Talkeetna
comes from the Dena’ina word K’Dalkitnu,
meaning “river of plenty.” A Gold Mining Town
As early as 1896, a gold rush in the Susitna
River drainage brought prospectors to the
territory. The discovery of gold in 1905 in the
Yentna-Cache Creek district, west of what
is now Talkeetna, brought prospectors to the
area. Sternwheeler river boats could travel
up the Susitna River from tidewater and dock
at Talkeetna, solidifying its development as
a mining supply town. The Railroad Boom In 1914, President Woodrow Wilson signed
the law enabling the U.S. government to
build a railroad from Seward to interior Alaska
at Fairbanks. The Alaska Engineering
Commission named Talkeetna as the district
headquarters for railroad construction. The
Anchorage Daily Times reported almost 400
people employed in the Talkeetna railroad
camp by the end of 1916. The town had a
sawmill, two roadhouses, a hotel, general
store, warehouses, cafes and specialty
shops. 6
During the railroad construction years,
Talkeetna’s population peaked near 1,000
people. The railroad developed a townsite map and
people used it to develop the village. A post
office opened in December 1916. By 1918
people were petitioning the federal
government for a land sale. In October 1919,
80 lots were sold, with many people buying
more than one lot at an average price of
$14.25 per lot. Entrepreneur Horace Nagley
bought 15 of the 80 lots that went up for sale.
Talkeetna: The community Only a few dozen people stayed after the
railroad was completed in 1923. One who
stayed was Belle Lee McDonald who had
arrived in 1917. She started a horse freighting
and supply business along with her husband
Ed Lee. She kept the business after Ed died
in 1928 and also started a roadhouse to
serve both miners and travelers. Dave
Lawrence and Ed Lee’s brother, Frank, also
played an important part in the freighting
business that supplied miners and their gold
claims to the west. Ben Nauman’s large inn,
the Fairview Hotel, became a popular stop
on the railroad. H.W. Nagley’s store,
successful from the day it opened in 1916,
moved from the riverfront to its present
location in 1945. Others who stayed made
a life of gold mining in the summer and
trapping in winter. The railroad was the main
Photo Courtesy Talkeetna Historical Society and Alaska Engineering Commission
access to Talkeetna and the main reason it
continued as a supply point for gold miners.
Although there was no real schoolhouse until
1936, records show that the first paid teacher
in Talkeetna was in 1917. There are accounts
of school being held in Frank Lee’s home in
the mid ’30s. The first year the schoolhouse
opened, there were 11 students. Today, the
schoolhouse is preserved as the local
museum of history, mountaineering, railroad
and art.
Tourism in Talkeetna
Tourists first arrived en masse in 1963, when
astronomers declared the village the best
place in the U.S. to see the total solar eclipse.
Nearly 2,000 people rode the train from
Talkeetna to McKinley Park, and the eclipse
may have also been the first time such a
large group saw Denali in unison.
An event that would change the town
drastically was the construction of the
Talkeetna Spur Road, connecting Talkeetna
to the newly built George Parks Highway in
1964. This made the area accessible to
general road travel, changing the way most
people reached Talkeetna.
In the late ’60s and early ’70s, the state-run
Open to Entry land sale program opened
hundreds of acres to private ownership.
People could select land, obtain a lease from
the state and then buy it for fair market value.
It brought a large influx of people into the
Talkeetna area. These people were not
always popular with the long-time
Talkeetnans. Local resident and old-timer
Ed Craver says, “Talkeetna was just a bunch
of 75-year-old men in the early ’70s.”
More people meant more businesses.
Highway upgrades and ease of travel would
make tourism to Alaska more attractive than
it was in earlier years. Cruises and land tours
became popular starting in the 1990s. Since
the first tour bus arrived in town, Talkeetna
has become a destination for visitors from
around the world who want to see Denali, to
climb or fly around it, to raft a river, see a
moose, and perhaps glimpse into the past
of an Alaskan mining village.
Talkeetna Today
The 2010 census reported Talkeetna’s
population as 876 people. In 2016, we
celebrate our centennial, with recognition of
the thousands of Natives who came before
us.
An area roughly two by three blocks is listed
as a historic district on the National Register
of Historic Places. In 2001, Talkeetna’s
original airstrip, one of the few of its kind
remaining in the U.S., was added to the
National Register of Historic Places.
Courtesy Talkeetna Historical Society
7
Cultural
History of the Dena’ina People
In 1896, explorer William Dickey made
contact with the local Dena’inas. This was
the first encounter between the Den’aina
people and western civilization. The
language barrier made communication
difficult, however Dickey observed the
Dena’ina culture and their way of living. Much
of the Dena’ina history that we know today
was provided from this initial visit. Dickey
again traveled up the Susitna River in 1897,
making it to the mouth of Portage Creek just
below Devil’s Canyon. Dickey etched his
name and date in a rock that, if carefully
observed, can still be seen today. Devil’s
Canyon formed a clear boundary between
the languages of the Dena’inas and the
Ahtna people to the north. The birch trees were very important to them,
providing not only their house frames but
also snowshoes, utensils and bark for their
canoes and containers. 8
Living in groups of 30-40, a semi nomadic
lifestyle was essential for the Dena’ina.
Resources were spread over a large area
so they migrated from summer to winter. In
the summer months the Dena’ina established
“fish camps” which were lean-to structures
made from spruce logs. These fish camps
were near clear water tributaries where the
Dena’ina caught their main food source,
salmon. Salmon were caught by building a
“weir” in the stream. The weir was made by
placing sticks in a V-shape, forcing and
containing the fish into shallow water areas.
To help preserve the salmon, they would be
speared and cut in half lengthwise and
placed on a rack over a smoky fire to dry.
Their “refrigerator” was a deep hole in the
ground where they would layer meat and
sticks and then cover it with large logs,
allowing them to have food to get them
through the winter. Courtesy Sharon Mahay,
Mahay’s Jetboat Adventures
Mayor Stubbs
The Illustrious Life of Mayor Stubbs
Yes, I’m a cat, but not just any cat! My
name is Stubbs and I’m the Mayor of
Talkeetna. I was born in April 1997 and
was picked out of the litter by Carolyn. I
was born part-manx and I had a short
stubby tail so I was quickly named Stubbs.
Follow my day-to-day activities on my
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/
mayorstubbs
After a few short months at Nagley’s and
The West Rib Pub, I found myself working
my way into politics. In July 1997, I was
voted in as the honorary mayor of Talkeetna,
and have kept that position for 19 years.
Now that I am 19 and have used up
several of my nine lives, I take life easy.
You can usually find me posing for pictures
with my fans from around the world,
or napping behind a freezer. I just love
the sound of a freezer when it purrrrrs.
My other favorite things to do are eat and
drink. I love to drink out of puddles on Main
Street or sip from my margarita glass with
catnip on the bar in the pub behind the
store. Of course, my favorite food is crab.
Life as the honorary mayor of Talkeetna
has been wonderful except for a few minor
incidents such as falling into a vat of fry oil
(don’t worry, it was cold), an unexpected
ride on the garbage truck and some
assassination attempts we won’t go into.
Talkeetna is the best thing that could
have happened to me! But my favorite
thing in the world is to cozy up in bed
with the best kids on earth (my owners).
9
Events
May-September
Live at Five
From Memorial Day to Labor Day Weekend.
The Summer Concert Series is held every
Friday night at the Talkeetna Village Park
from 5-7pm.
July 4th
11th Annual Moose On Parade
& Auction
Parade begins at noon. Featuring “Fun and
Quirky” Moose created by local artists! Moose
Auction to follow.
July 4th
Talkeetna’s Centennial Celebration
Join us as we celebrate our hundredth
birthday. There will be games, music,
dunking booth, BBQ and much, much more!
September 10th
Bun to Bun Run
Half marathon and marathon on challenging
trails and 5K on the bike path, raise money to
support Talkeetna Elementary PTA activities. September 17th
5th Annual Talkeetna Beer Festival
Beer lovers come and gather together in
Talkeetna for a sampling of Alaska’s best
craft bears.
© Colleen Love
www.denaliartscouncil.org
December 2nd
Parade of Lights - Winterfest
The Motorized Parade of Lights begins at
7:00pm on Main Street.
December 3rd
36th Talkeetna Bachelor Ball & Auction
Auction starts Dec. 3rd at 7pm followed by
the bachelor ball. All proceeds are donated
to charitable causes.
December 3rd
31st Wilderness Woman Contest
Women from around the world test their
skills in a variety of ways including hauling
water, splitting wood, shooting and fishing.
December 10th
Taste of Talkeetna
Take a tour of some of Talkeetna’s finest
Dining and Pubs! Live music, great food!
March 18th
Oosik Classic
A fun and funky 50km/25km cross country
classic ski race.
May 19th - 21st
Hudson Memorial Fly-In
Come celebrate Talkeetna’s aviation history.
STOL competition, games, gifts, auction
and pancake breakfast.
Facts
© Aurora Dora
www.auroradora.com
Interesting Facts About Talkeetna
Population – Year round: 800-900; peaks near 5,000 during the summer months.
Established - 1916, Alaska Railroad chose the area to be a district headquarters.
Coordinates - 62°18′41″N 150°5′13″W
Elevation - 348ft.
Salmon Facts
Approximate fish calendar for the Talkeetna area:
FISH SPECIES
PEAK RUNS
King (Chinook) Salmon
June 20 - July 13
Dog (Chum) Salmon
July 7 - August 7
Red (Sockeye) Salmon
Pink (Humpy) Salmon
July 20 - August 20
Silver (Coho) Salmon
August 1 - September 5
Bear Safety
When traveling in bear country...
Keep food, garbage and other
attractants out of reach of the bears.
Coolers are not bear proof. Please
secure food in your vehicle or in
bear-proof containers.
Make noise so you don’t surprise a
bear.
Stay alert and look for signs of
bears.
Stay calm if you have a bear
encounter. Make noise and wave
your arms.
DON’T RUN!
Visit the National Park Service to
learn more about bears.
Thank you to the Bear Necessities
Coalition for helping to keep the
bears wild and people safe!
Never crowd bears or other wildlife;
Respect their space.
Talkeetna Visitor Guide 11
Aviation History
Fly an Hour or Walk a Week
With World War II ending in 1945 and the
US Government having funded airfields
and other access infrastructure across
Alaska, pioneer flying began to play a
more conspicuous role in the lives of those
in Talkeetna and out in the surrounding
hills and mountains. In 1947, Glen Hudson
arrived with a two-place Aeronca Chief
airplane and discovered that locals and
visitors to the village were willing to pay
for transport to superior fishing and hunting
spots. In 1948, Don Sheldon returned to
Talkeetna from wartime duties, and
subsequent work, with a Piper PA-14.
While the war effort had previously drained
labor intensive sectors, economic activity
and demand for flying recovered with the
return of a workforce. There was also a
realization that the choice to fly an hour
or walk a week was really one of efficiency
that resulted in greater profitability during
the short Alaskan summers. Demand for
charter flights continued to build across
the region and even catalyzed additional
economic activity.
It was also in 1948 that Don Sheldon
partnered with Robert “Stub” Morrison to
form Talkeetna Air Service. Simultaneously,
Glen Hudson’s younger brother, Cliff,
arrived in the area and the beginnings of
Hudson Air Service took root. Thus was
born the original two fiercely competitive
air services for the fishermen, hunters,
trappers, prospectors, miners, and freight
to be moved in and out of Talkeetna.
Depending upon the season and
destination, flying was accomplished
through various types of aircraft on wheels,
floats, and the continued experimentation
with fixed skis. Fixed skis were necessary
in order to land aircraft on snow and in
areas where snow cover is year-round.
In the early 1950s, pilots saw significant
wintertime business emerge in the form
of predator control of large packs of wolves
that roamed the area. Both air services
engaged in pursuing a bounty of $50 per
wolf. While it was common to discharge
long rifles out the side door of aircraft,
Sheldon, a former tail gunner during the
war, rigged semiautomatic shotguns to
the wings of his Piper aircraft. Photographs,
wolf pelts and the actual guns Sheldon
12 Talkeetna Visitor Guide
utilized are available for viewing at the
Talkeetna Museum.
It was also during this period that aviation
became substantially more sophisticated
with the advent of retractable landing
skis. Similar to those in use today, the
ability to take off from the Talkeetna village
airstrip on wheels, and then land on skis
where late snows lingered or glaciers
beckoned, extended the traditional skibased season and birthed glacier and high
country landing during the summer and
fall months. In the mid 1950s, additional
revenue opportunities multiplied with the
appearance of Dr. Brad Washburn of the
Boston Museum of Science. His mandate
to map Denali and the surrounding Alaska
Range not only brought substantial
revenue to the air services, it definitively
established the best approaches and
climbing routes on Denali and neighboring
peaks. This powerful combination of skis,
capital, and experience firmly established
practices, tactics, and methods for modern
day flightseeing, glacier landings, and
mountaineering still in use today.
As the 1960s progressed, mountaineering
expeditions arrived in Talkeetna with
greater frequency to pursue the powerful
presence, and achieve the title of the first
of their nationality to summit the tallest
mountain in North America, 20,310’ Denali.
Until 1966, about 300 mountaineers had
tested themselves on the “Great One” and
other peaks in the Alaska Range, including
Foraker, Huntington, and Hunter. The late
1960s saw a dramatic rise in the number
of climbing groups making their way to
Talkeetna from literally all over the world.
By the end of the 1970s, over 500
mountaineers attempted climbs each year,
and, since 2010, between 1,100 and 1,250
make the journey each year.
On the strength of incremental demand
for mountaineering, the 1970s saw three
new air services established in Talkeetna.
Kenny and Doris Holland began operations,
Talkeetna Air Taxi was formed, and Kitty
Banner and Kimball Forest formed K2
Aviation. In 1975, after the passing of Don
Sheldon of cancer, the air certificate for
Talkeetna Air Service was briefly transferred
to a third party after which the air certificate
© Mark Westman
www.markwestmanimages.com
Alaska Bush Float Plane Service
K2 Aviation
N2 Alaska
Sheldon Air Serice
Talkeetna Air Taxi
became obsolete and ceased to exist. This
period also saw the firm establishment of
touring via airplane for the purpose of
flightseeing without necessarily landing.
A number of other air services have formed
over the following decades with notable
entrants including Doug Geeting Aviation,
Talkeetna Aero Services, and most recently,
Sheldon Air Service. Sheldon Air Service
purchased the historic Hudson Air Service
in 2009.
Despite unpredictable weather and
unforgiving terrain that are frequently the
cause of misfortune to the uninitiated, the
pilots of Talkeetna are extremely proficient
at their trade and lead adventurous lives.
Remarkably, whether new or seasoned, each
flight service employs pilots with decades
of flying experience and knowledge. This
rich tradition furthers the storied history of
Talkeetna, a community where the concept
of “flightseeing” emerged.
Courtesy: Kate and Robert Sheldon with contributions
from Roberta Sheldon’s “The Heritage of Talkeetna”
Denali
Denali: The High One
The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger
Station, located on B Street in downtown
Talkeetna, serves as the support center
for Denali National Park and Preserve’s
mountaineering operations. Each spring,
mountain climbers from all over the world
come to Talkeetna before testing their skills
in the Alaska Range, including expeditions
on Denali, North America’s highest peak at
20,310 feet (6,190 meters).
Adventurers have been drawn to these
mountains since the early 1900s. The
Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
was renamed in July 2014 to honor the
native Athabaskan mountaineer who was
first to set foot on the true summit of Denali
in June 1913. Nowadays, each year between
late April and early July, over 1,000 climbers
attempt to reach the top of Denali.
An ascent of Denali is no “walk in the park.”
The average expedition length is 17 to 21
days, and in a typical year, only one-half of
the climbers reach the summit. Reasons for
turning around are many, including extreme
winds, cold temperatures, equipment failure,
fatigue, injuries, and altitude-related illness.
In the past 100 years, almost 42,000 climbers
have attempted Denali, and as of 2015,123
climbers have lost their lives in the effort.
All climbers attempting Denali or Mount
Foraker (17,400-feet) must stop by the
ranger station for an orientation with a NPS
mountaineering ranger and to obtain their
climbing permit. Rangers also provide route
information and other resources to climbers
headed to the many other technical peaks
of the Alaska Range.
The Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
is open year round. Hours of operation from
mid-April to Labor Day are 8am to 5:30pm
daily. The remainder of year, the station is
open Monday to Friday from 8 am to 4:30pm.
Is it Denali or McKinley?
The Native Athabaskans have for centuries
referred to the peak as Denali, meaning “the
high one.” In 1896, a gold prospector named
it Mt. McKinley in political support for thenpresidential candidate William McKinley, who
became president the following year. The
United States formally recognized that name
after President Wilson signed the Mount
McKinley National Park Act of February 26,
1917. In 1975, the State of Alaska’s Board of
Geographic Names changed the official state
© Aurora Dora
www.auroradora.com
name back to Denali. On a federal level,
however, multiple attempts to change
the name were routinely blocked by the
congressional delegation from McKinley’s
home state of Ohio. On August 30, 2015,
in advance of President Barack Obama’s
visit to Alaska, Secretary of the Interior
Sally Jewell, under authority of federal
law, issued a Secretarial Order officially
changing the name to Denali.
Courtesy: The Walter Harper
Talkeetna Ranger Station
Talkeetna Air Taxi
Summer Planning
Plan Your Perfect
Summer Day in Talkeetna
Fast and Furious
Flying High
Rails and Trails
Get a jump on the day with
a home-cooked breakfast
at Latitude 62. Grab a quick bite at the
f a m o u s Ta l k e e t n a
Roadhouse, they offer
great pastries and large
breakfasts. The Swiss Alaska Inn
should be your first stop for
the best schnitzel in town.
Head over to Mahay’s
Jetboat Adventures for
the thrill of the ultimate
Alaskan river experience,
the Devil’s Canyon Tour. Once back from your river
adventure, make your
way out to Kahiltna
Birchworks and sample
Alaska’s finest Birch Syrup
products. A half mile up the road is
Denali Brewing Company.
Stop in to the tasting room
and try one of their awardwinning craft beers. Enjoy a gourmet dinner
and spectatular views of
Denali at the Talkeetna
Alaskan Lodge . Finish your night off with
an evening flightseeing
tour. Choose from K2
Aviation, Sheldon Air
Service, Alaska Bush
Floatplane Service or
Talkeetna Air Taxi. 18 Talkeetna Visitor Guide
Stop by the Northern
Susitna Institute, and
while you’re there, pick up
a Quest (a clue-based
scavenger hunt about
Talkeetna). Your next adventure
begins with a flightseeing
tour of Denali. Choose
from Talkeetna Air Taxi,
K2 Avaiation, Sheldon
Air or Alaska Bush
Floatplane Service. After your flight, browse
the Artisan’s Open Air
Market (Sat-Mon) and
pick up a few handcrafted
gifts to take home. Next, it’s time to strap in
and soar above the
treetops with Denali
Z i p l i n e To u r s - a n
experience you won’t
soon forget. Start your morning
adventure at the Susitna
Salmon Center, learn
about preserving native
fish and their habitat, take
an interpretive nature
walk. Hop aboard one of the
last flagstop trains in
North America, the
Hurricane Turn Train,
experience the beauty
of the remote Alaskan
backcountry by rail.
The Denali Brewpub
serves up large portions
of local grown grub and
great beer to wash it down.
Enjoy a leisurely walk
down to the river. Bring
your camera, great photo
opportunities await you.
Winter Day in Talkeetna
A Crazy Day
A Historic Day
A Lazy Day
Start your morning off with
a hardy breakfast at one
of our local restaurants.
Enjoy a home-cooked
breakfast at the historic
Talkeetna Roadhouse.
Wake up to a full breakfast
of your choosing at the
Denali Overlook Inn. After breakfast and a
short walk to the National
Park Service, you’ll
watch a presentation
about Denali. After breakfast, take a
short stroll over to the
Talkeetna Historical
Museum & Gift Shop. The Heritage of Alaska
Gift Shop offers some of
the most unique gifts in all
of Alaska. Next, put on your cold
weather gear for a sled
dog tour with Hardcore
Huskies’ owner Heather
Siirtola, Iditarod musher.
Enjoy a slice from
Mountain High Pizza
Pie, the best pizza in
Alaska. Next, head over to
Sheldon Air for an
amazing flightseeing tour
of Denali and the Alaska
Range. Enjoy a cup of homemade
soup and craft-made
sandwiches at the Flying
Squirrel Bakery & Cafe.
Afterwards, take a little
stroll around town
shopping for gifts at
Talkeetna Gifts and
Collectibles. Have a relaxing dinner at
Denali Brewpub and
try one of their awardwinning craft beers. End the day learning to
photograph the northern
lights with world famous
Aurora Dora. Stop by historic Nagley’s
General Store for a
chance to meet Stubbs
the cat, our Mayor. Take a stroll around back
to the West Rib Pub &
Grill for some unique
Alaskan dishes such
as reindeer meatloaf,
homemade mac and
cheese, caribou chili or the
mighty Seward’s Folly, the
biggest burger in Alaska,
weighing in around 5 lbs. Finish the day off with live
music or karaoke at the
historic Fairview Inn. Winter Planning
Plan Your Perfect
After lunch, rent a fat tire
bike at K2 Aviation and
enjoy the miles of winter
trails. Need to warm up after
that bike ride? Stop into
one of our local pubs for
a hot buttered rum or
mulled wine. Try a delicious Alaskan
style dinner at the
Kahiltna Bistro and get
a chance to meet 11-time
Iditarod finisher Jerry
Sousa. After dinner, enjoy live
music at one of the pubs
or check out what’s
happening at Denali Arts
Council. © Aurora Dora
www.auroradora.com
Alaska on Your Table
From farm, forest or ocean, Talkeetna restaurants and shops offer Alaska foods
At Summer Solstice, Talkeetna gets almost
20 hours of daylight: wild berries ripen;
salmon swim up the Susitna, and industrious
folks with local farms start to harvest
vegetables. Although the harvest season
is only about 3 months long, Alaska foods
are enjoyed in Talkeetna year round, fresh
during summer and fall, or stored, frozen,
pickled and canned the rest of the year.
Visitors to Talkeetna can also enjoy Alaska’s
bounty: at a restaurant, next to a peaceful
lake, or as a gift for friends back home. To
find Alaska grown fare, just ask for it! Asking
also supports Alaskan farmers and
fisherman by letting businesses know that
local foods are in demand. And, guess
what? Alaska grown foods are sweet,
unique and delicious.
Seafood
Most local restaurants are proud to serve
in season wild caught Sockeye (Red) or
Chinook (King) salmon from Alaska waters.
Make sure to try smoked salmon, which in
Alaska is salty, sweet and firmer than its
East Coast cousin, lox. Other seafood often
on local menus: halibut, cod, rockfish,
shrimp/prawns, and several mouth-watering
varieties of crab.
Birch Syrup
Alaska’s wild, natural sweetener, birch
syrup, is fruity, spicy-sweet and earthy. Try
it on pancakes, as a glaze for meat, or in
one of the candies, mustards and sauces
made by local producers, Alaska Wild
Harvest (Mile 1 Talkeetna Spur). Harvested
from local paper birch trees in spring, it
takes over 100 gallons of sap to produce
one gallon of syrup (compare to 40:1 for
maple), so savor every drop!
Vegetables and Fruits
Recently, fresh foods in innovative farmto-table restaurants are drawing attention
to the tough task of growing America’s food.
In Alaska, it’s even harder, with frosts in
early June and late August. The cabbages,
kale and rhubarb can be huge, but so are
the pests; a moose can munch half the
broccoli in one night despite fences! But
farming in Alaska results in some of the
biggest, best tasting vegetables anywhere.
Look for the Alaska Grown symbol on
produce and dairy in stores, buy from farm
stands and farmer’s markets, or find out
where local produce is on local menus.
At Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe (Mile 11
Talkeetna Spur) produce from the owner’s
Talkeetna family farm as well as wild
berries, barley, and Alaska-raised meats
are featured in pastries, breads, soups,
wood-fired pizzas, sandwiches, and even
soda! Several other restaurants including
the Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge, take
advantage of locally available produce,
using ingredients in salads, side vegetables
and appetizers. At Denali Brewpub, a beer
is brewed with wild blueberries in the
summer, and local produce is served when
available.
Local restaurants can acquire fresh
eggs, wild blueberries, cranberries and
mushrooms, Alaska-made tortillas, Alaskaroasted coffee beans, and many other
products from Alaska’s farms, forests, and
kitchens.
Of course, after a long day of driving, sight
seeing, rafting, hiking or visiting, maybe all
you want is a burger. Don’t worry, Talkeetna
has those too! But hopefully you’ll also ask
what is on the menu that’s Alaskan and
local. It will make your visit to Talkeetna
memorable and delicious, and will help
support the people that farm, fish, and
harvest the Alaska that’s on your table.
Courtesy Anita Golton,
Flying Squirrel Bakery Cafe
© Anita Golton
www.flyingsquirrelcafe.com
Dining & Pubs
No Matter Where You Dine, Ask For...
Dining & Pubs
DENALI BREWING COMPANY
Brewing Award-Winning Handcrafted Beer
Mile 2 on the Talkeetna Spur Rd.
info@denalibrewingco.com
VFW POST 3836
Veterans Organization
Address: 13764 Veterans way
907-733-3836 | trapper@mtaonline.net
CUBBY’S MARKETPLACE & DELI
Fresh-made subs, sandwiches and more.
Mile 99 of the Parks Highway
Mon-Sat 8am-10pm & Sun 9am-8pm
SWISS ALASKA INN
Swiss & Alaskan Specialities.
(907) 733-2424
www.swissalaska.com
SHIRLEY’S BURGER BARN
Fresh handmade burgers, homemade
fries, local homemade ice cream, honey
& jelly.
(907) 315-8838 | Downtown Talkeetna
LATITUDE 62 RESTAURANT & LOUNGE
Seving Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner.
Prime Rib Saturday | Full Bar
(907) 733-2262
WILDFLOWER CAFE
A delicious dining experience.
Downtown Talkeetna - Come See Us!
(907) 733-2695 | jeromelongo@hotmail.com
Shopping
ANTLER OUTPOST
Alaskan Gifts such as Jewelry, Knives
Antler Carvings and much more.
(907) 733-2880 | antleroutpost@live.com
K2 MOOSE’S TOOTH
Downtown Main Street
(907) 733-6667
info@flyk2.com
BEARS & BEYOND GIFT SHOP
A “Beary” wonderful place to come see!
(907) 733-7100
NAGLEY’S GENERAL STORE
Groceries, Fresh Coffee, Ice Cream Cones.
(907) 733-3663
THE MOUNTAIN GIFT SHOP
Denali, Railroad and Moose-themed gifts.
Downtown Across from Post Office
(907) 733-1686
SUSITNA RIVER TRADING COMPANY
Second to last cabin on Main St.
Providing quality Clothing, Gear and
Gifts for locals and travelers alike.
MOSTLY MOOSE GIFT SHOP
Pottery, Rustic Decor, Ornaments & more.
(907) 733-3722
SILVERBEAR SUNDRIES & DENALI
HEMP CO.
Devil’s Club Salve & Goat Milk Soaps
Alaskan Made Pottery on Main Street
Past the Roadhouse across from K2.
Adventure
talkeetna
© K2 Aviation
www.flyk2.com
...gateway to adventure
ALASKA EDGE WILDERNESS TOURS
Specializing in fishing, gold panning,
and many custom adventures.
(907) 707-3858 | fred@alaskaedge.com
SUSITNA SALMON CENTER
Art Gallery, Aquaria, Movies, Gifts.
Guided river walks on Mon., Wed., Fri.,
at 9am.
13512 E. First St. | Call (907) 733-FISH
TALKEETNA TRAVEL
Helping to Create your Alaska Adventure.
(907) 733-8728 | www.talkeetnatravel.com
agent@talkeetnatravel.com
Lodging
GIGGLEWOOD LAKESIDE INN
Enjoy fishing and bird watching on a
quiet secluded lake. (907) 495-1014
gigglewood@mtaonline.net
HOUSE OF SEVEN TREES
Great accommodations in a convenient
downtown location. Bunks for $25.
(907) 733-7733
EYE OF DENALI
Hand-crafted log cabin on the banks of
the Susitna River.
(907) 733-8728 | www.eyeofdenali.com
BIRCH VIEW CABIN - 6 miles from town
Enjoy a quiet stay in the birch forest.
www.birchviewcabintalkeetna.com
(907) 733-1222 | birchviewcabin@yahoo.com
NORTHERN GUEST HOUSE (907) 715-4868
Nightly single. $80 double.
Pets welcome. Free Bicycles.
Downtown location. Open year round!
$60/
LATITUDE 62 LODGE & RESTAURANT
Offering eleven rooms & a suite and an
off-site log house rental in downtown.
(907) 733-2262 | lat62@alaska.net
TALKEETNA COTTAGE
Fun and affordable, two great locations.
Talkeetnacottages.com (907) 891-9063
sarah@talkeetnacottages.com
MY ALASKA CABIN
Panoramic view of Denali.
(907) 733-2553
www.myalaskacabin.com
CHINOOK WIND CABINS
Short walk to everything in Talkeetna.
Open year around. (907) 733-1899
www.chinookwindcabins.com
TALKEETNA CABINS
Quality Lodging in downtown Talkeetna.
22137 C St. | cabin@mtaonline.net
(907) 733-2227 | www.talkeetnacabins.org
Services
AJ SOLUTIONS
Offering Thai Yoga, Bodywork, Reaki
and Reflexology. (907) 250-9642
aj.ajssolutions@gmail.com
WALTER HARPER RANGER STATION
Mountaineering & General Park Visitor
Information, Exhibits & Climbing Books.
(907) 733-2231 | denali_info@nps.gov
TALKEETNA POST OFFICE
Mon-Fri: 9am-1pm, 2pm-5pm
(907) 733-2275
TALKEETNA PUBLIC LIBRARY
11am-6pm, Mon-Sat
(907) 861-7645
SUNSHINE COMMUNITY HEALTH CLINIC
9am-5pm, Mon-Sat
(907) 733-2273
Mile 3.8 Talkeetna Spur Rd.
4
5
8
15
95
9
11
6
7
50
13
18
16
12
14
17
19
84
A
J
F
C
N
I
M
B
D
G
O
39
40
E
P
V
K
ACTIVITIES
Alaska Bush Float Plane Service
Alaska Edge Tours
Alaska Mountaineering School
Alaska Nature Guides
Alaska Off-Road Adventure
Alaska Wilderness ATV Tours
Alpine Ascents International
Black Bear ATV Adventures
Dave Fish Alaska
Denali Arts Council
Denali Southside River Guides
Denali Zipline Tours
Fishbone Charters
Hardcore Huskies Dog Sled Tours
K2 Aviation
Mahay’s Jetboat Adventures
N2 Alaska
NOVA River Runners, Inc.
Phantom Tri-River Charters, Inc.
Sheldon Air Service
Susitna Salmon Center
Talkeetna Air Taxi
Talkeetna Bike Rentals
Talkeetna Historical Society
Talkeetna River Guides
Talkeetna Sundog Kennel
Trapped in Talkeetna
DINING & PUBS
Denali Brewpub
Denali Brewing Company
Fairview Inn
Flying Squirrel Bakery and Cafe
Kahiltna Bistro
Latitude 62 Restaurant and Lounge
Mountain High Pizza Pie
Salted Pickle
Sheep Creek Lodge
Shirley’s Burger Barn
Subway
Swiss Alaska Inn
Talkeetna Roadhouse
Talkeetna Spinach Bread
TeePee Lounge
VFW Post 3836
West Pub & Grill
TRANSPORTATION
Alaska Bus Guy
Alaska Park Connection Motorcoach
Alaska Railroad
Alaska Train
Sunshine Transit
Talkeetna Taxi
20
21
22
69
23
24
57
25
93
42
26
49
58
30
31
32
33
34
75
35
36
46
99
37
38
39
41
43
44
53
96
27
45
29
48
54
82
55
56
40
51
47
28
52
60
AA
BB
CC
DD
EE
ACCOMMODATIONS
A B&B on C
Alpaca Cabins
Belle’s Cabin
Birch View Cabin
Caribou Lodge
Chinook Wind Cabins
Denali Fireside Cabins & Suites
Denali Overlook Inn
Eye of Denali Inn
Gate Creek Lodging
Gigglewood Lakeside Inn
Grace & Bill’s Freedom Hills
Hale Kolea Cabin
House of Seven Trees Hostel
McKinley View B&B
Meandering Moose Lodging
Montana Creek Campground
Mt. McKinley Pricess Wilderness Lodge
My Alaska Cabin
North Country B&B
Northern Guest House
Paradise Lodge
Rockies Cabin
Rustic Elegance
Sunshine Lake B&B
Susitna River Lodge
Swiss Alaska Inn
Talkeetna Alaskan Lodge
Talkeetna Cabins
Talkeetna Camper Park
Talkeetna Chalet B&B
Talkeetna Cottages
Talkeetna Dall House
Talkeetna Denali View Lodge
Talkeetna Eastside Cabins
Talkeetna Hostel
Talkeetna Lakeside Cabins
Talkeetna Love-Lee Cabins
Talkeetna Majestic and Loft
Talkeetna Motel
Talkeetna Roadhouse
Talkeetna Treetop Chalet
Talkeetna Wolf Den Cabin
The Laughing Moose
Traleika Denali View Cabins
Trapper Creek Inn & RV Park
Member Directory
2
1
3
CHURCHES
Church on the Rock, North Campus
Montana Creek Baptist Church
St. Benard’s Catholic Church
Talkeetna Assembly of God
Talkeetna Baptist Church
*The letters and numbers next to each business denote the number and
location of that business on the Talkeetna Town and Trail Map. Stop by most
any local business and pick up your copy of the map.
Member Directory
SERVICES
AS Air Service Alaska, Inc.
AJ Solutions
Alaska Tour & Travel
All Aspects Construction
American Lung Association
81 Crowley’s Petroleum
Crow’s View Photography
Friends of the Library
Jessica Stevens Community Foundation
Kashwitna Construction, Inc.
83 KTNA Community Radio
Mat-Su CVB
85 Matanuska Valley Federal Credit Union
86 McKinley View Real Estate
87 Northern Susitna Institute
88 Princess Tours Guest Services
10 Studio Z Yoga
90 Stylin’ Talkeetna Hair Salon
H Sunshine Community Health Center
92 Sunshine Station Child Care Center
Talkeetna Bachelor Society
Talkeetna Denali Visitor Center
Talkeetna Travel
94 Upper Susitna Senior Center
Walter Harper Talkeetna Ranger Station
Warren Manor
Wendy Battino - Live Your Adventure
59
63
61
78
98
62
64
66
73
67
74
72
68
70
71
76
97
80
77
65
79
SHOPPING
Antler Outpost
Aurora Dora
Beadberry Patch
Bears and Beyond Gift Shop
Cubby’s Marketplace & Deli
Denali Dry Goods
Denali Images Art Gallery
Frontier Gifts
Glacier Landing Gift Shop
Heritage of Alaska Gift Shop
K2 Mooses Tooth
Kahlitna Birchworks Syrup & Gifts
Moores’ Hardware
Mostly Moose Gift Shop
Mountain Gift Shop
Nagley’s General Store
Silverbear Sundries, Denali Hemp Co.
Susitna River Trading Company
Talkeetna Gifts and Collectables
The Junque Lady
Village Arts and Crafts

Click here to the 2016 Talkeetna Visitor Guide

Transcription

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