The Chatanika Lodge in the heart of downtown Chatanika, Alaska
When in Chatanika, one really should stop in and see Ron & Shirley at The Lodge. It is a collection of Alaskana; along with some spruce burls, Christmas lights, and a few dollar bills thrown in for good measure.
The bar at the Chatanika Lodge
The Lodge was originally part of the F.E. Company holdings. The current owners bought the building in 1974, the place had a fire in 1975, but was rebuilt and back in operation within three months. They have been adding things to the walls and ceilings ever since.
The Chatanika Lodge Ballroom, or dance floor…
The Lodge has 11 rooms for rent, as well as the full bar and restaurant. The Dredge Burger is quite popular. It’s also a popular place to go for live music on the weekends.
The T-Bird room
There is a 1956 Thunderbird in the back of the restaurant in the T-Bird Room. The car was brought up to Alaska in 1992.
One of the highlights of March in Interior Alaska is Chatanika Days, and the famed outhouse races. Contestants build an outhouse on skis, and a team pushes the outhouse around a “track”. One team member must be sitting on the throne, within the outhouse, as the team scampers about the track. Life is good, if a bit odd, in the Interior.
Chatanika’s historic “Outhouse Race”; Photo credit: AlaskaWx
July 4th, 2019 at 9:44 PM
A definite high point of my winter fun visiting the lodge for the out-house races… After a couple months of darkness I looked forward to… The North American and Yukon Quest dog sled races, the old world ice art championships and good food, good brew, good people and good fun at the Chatanika lodge!
June 13th, 2021 at 9:30 AM
[…] Turtle Club, Silver Gulch Brewery and Restaurant, Ivory Jack’s and Chatanika Lodge with its 1956 Thunderbirds. They are all located just outside of […]
June 13th, 2021 at 12:27 PM
[…] Turtle Club, Silver Gulch Brewery and Restaurant, Ivory Jack’s and Chatanika Lodge with its 1956 Thunderbirds. They are all located just outside of […]
June 13th, 2021 at 2:10 PM
[…] Turtle Club, Silver Gulch Brewery and Restaurant, Ivory Jack’s and Chatanika Lodge with its 1956 Thunderbirds. They are all located just outside of […]