Alaska wilderness lodge
| country: | Alaska |
| location: | 10 boat miles South of Homer, Alaska |
| price: | Summer: US $275 per person per night (all inclusive). Winter: US $300 per guest per night (all inclusive). Access is by helicopter only and would be about US $150 per person additional. |
read 1 travellers review
description
A sheltered oasis in untamed Kachemak Bay State Park, the lodge lies just north of Tutka Bay, midway between Seldovia and Halibut Cove, and only 10 miles by boat from Homer, Alaska, the "Bear Viewing Capital of the World".
Custom built in the mid 1970's by owner/operator Keith Iverson and accessible only by boat, float plane, or helicopter, our wilderness lodge offers the visitor a unique opportunity to comfortably participate in Alaska's wilderness lifestyle with a couple of true Alaskan sourdoughs. The lodge is run completely on a non-polluting alternative energy system of wind and hydro power which supply the entire grounds with energy to spare.
As guardians of our environment, we are pleased to be able to eliminate this need for fossil fuels in our lives and our business. The crystal clear mountain spring water is the purest on earth and the entire system is approved for public use.
Nestled between the dramatic vertical peaks of Sadie fjord are a variety of accommodations in private, hand-crafted cabins - a sauna and bath house next to a rushing creek; a family entertainment and T.V. lounge; a dining hall complete with professional chef/waitress; and an Alaskan sized Barbecue/fire pit. The atmosphere is casual elegance, a great place for a wedding, a honeymoon, a holiday or a family reunion.
In hand crafted cabins, visitors to this beautiful wilderness lodge are transported to a place where the troubles of the outside world fall away like leaves in the wind.
Reminiscent of the bygone Viking era with details so often seen in the Norwegian countryside, construction of the lodge has been an ongoing labor of love for owner/operators Keith and Randi Iverson. Each building is unique, elegant, and comfortable, with stunning views of the cove and far off Mt. Augustine. From the lodge and throughout the extensive view, you will see no other man-made objects as we are one of the very few pieces of private property inside the State Park.
Custom built in the mid 1970's by owner/operator Keith Iverson and accessible only by boat, float plane, or helicopter, our wilderness lodge offers the visitor a unique opportunity to comfortably participate in Alaska's wilderness lifestyle with a couple of true Alaskan sourdoughs. The lodge is run completely on a non-polluting alternative energy system of wind and hydro power which supply the entire grounds with energy to spare.
As guardians of our environment, we are pleased to be able to eliminate this need for fossil fuels in our lives and our business. The crystal clear mountain spring water is the purest on earth and the entire system is approved for public use.
Nestled between the dramatic vertical peaks of Sadie fjord are a variety of accommodations in private, hand-crafted cabins - a sauna and bath house next to a rushing creek; a family entertainment and T.V. lounge; a dining hall complete with professional chef/waitress; and an Alaskan sized Barbecue/fire pit. The atmosphere is casual elegance, a great place for a wedding, a honeymoon, a holiday or a family reunion.In hand crafted cabins, visitors to this beautiful wilderness lodge are transported to a place where the troubles of the outside world fall away like leaves in the wind.
Reminiscent of the bygone Viking era with details so often seen in the Norwegian countryside, construction of the lodge has been an ongoing labor of love for owner/operators Keith and Randi Iverson. Each building is unique, elegant, and comfortable, with stunning views of the cove and far off Mt. Augustine. From the lodge and throughout the extensive view, you will see no other man-made objects as we are one of the very few pieces of private property inside the State Park.
travellers' tales
Our cabin was comfortable, the view from our bed was to die for!!! Snow covered mountains on each side, ocean in between, dolphins and otters playing in the cove, islands and a steaming volcano in the distance. (more)
rooms, food and facilities
Standard American electricity is provided by an in-house hydroelectric system operating from a clear and swift stream which tumbles down the mountains from the high snowy peaks. Self-sustaining and independent, we are completely off the "grid".Lodge guests (no more than 10) are housed in 5 handcrafted private cabins. Wonderful meals are served in the dining room and on the outer deck. A cozy, spacious lounge is available to guests for reading, gaming, visiting, or just relaxing and enjoying the sunset.Organic architecture has helped the lodge buildings to blend into the environment and become an integral part of the vista.
Family friendly:
Families find that our wilderness lodge can be an excellent experience for young adults and children who enjoy the natural world and, for some who have never been out of the city, staying here can be a life-changing experience. The Iversons enjoy sharing their home with families and helping all family members see what joy there is in a simple life lived with nature. Children and adults can see first-hand how the Iversons have created a lovely home and accommodation totally by hand from natural materials using no preservatives or chemicals and doing as little as possible to change the natural landscape. Vegetable gardens and greenhouses are tended daily and all are welcome to help and learn. Beaches allow for hours of entertainment and the huge tide changes of 20 to 30 vertical feet in 6 hours make for the unique opportunity to walk on the bottom of the ocean at the low tides and explore these otherwise unseen areas firsthand. Clamming is an interesting way for young ones to collect and eat their own dinner and the Iversons are on call to supply instruction, encouragement and digging tools.
With a reputation for tidiness, comfort and sparkling clean windows (all 110 of them) you can't get much closer to nature than a peaceful yet adventurous stay here.
special things to do and see here
Activities include bear viewing, beachcombing, hiking secret nature trails for use of lodge guests only, wildlife photography, sea kayaking, glacier kayaking, river rafting, clamming, fishing, touring the neighboring villages of Seldovia and Halibut Cove, glacier touring, flightseeing, beach fires, saunas, or just relaxing in the hammock with a good book. Sea kayaks and shore-fishing gear are provided to guests at no extra charge. Comfortable in every aspect, our accommodation is unique, personal, fun, adventurous and positively memorable
how to find us
By air:The nearest airport is Homer Airport. It is 10 miles by boat and then 5 miles by car from the lodge. It is a small local airport. The nearest International airport is Anchorage International. It is a 30 minute plane ride from Homer. By boat: Access is by boat or water taxi, floatplane, or helicopter with the most popular access being by boat or water taxi. It is also the least expensive. We have no roads so cars are parked in Homer at the Harbor.
how this holiday makes a difference
 We hire local Alaskans as our small, but dedicated staff and optional tours are guided by local Alaskans. The lodge offers walking tours of the neighbouring native villages where guests see alternative lifestyles and have an opportunity to shop for local crafts. Alaskan and Arctic adventurers stop by the lodge from time to time to share stories of the wilderness and the frozen North with guests who are interested in participating. The lodge owners and staff keep the local environment in a pristine condition. The lodge is run completely on alternative energy in the form of non-polluting hydroelectric and wind power. The lodge owners have installed a Pelton Wheel for the hydro system and it runs courtesy of the year-round stream that is on the lodge property. The Lodge serves as the home as well as the business of the owners and for the 30 years that they have lived there they have lived an eco-conscious lifestyle. Keith Iverson was fortunate enough to acquire the land in the 1970's just before Kachemak Bay State Park was declared and today the Iverson's are living in a vast wilderness together with but one year-round neighbour in the surrounding 10 miles. Unlike so many Alaskan bush residents who eventually create a dump on or near their property for the convenience of getting trash out of the way, the Iversons have chosen, from the very beginning, to re-use whatever they can and recycle the remainder at the nearest landfill 15 boat miles away. Food scraps are fed to the local Bald Eagles and other wildlife on the beach in the morning. Plastics, glass, metals, and any hazardous wastes such as used fuel oils or batteries are all recycled at the Homer landfill in the appropriate containers. Eco-friendly cleaning supplies are used exclusively as well as recycled paper supplies. The lodge maintains a policy of "leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs." This policy extends to the guests as well who come to the lodge with that ideal already a part of their lives. Due to the fact that the Internet has let advertisers show more of their personality through vast web sites rather than tiny, generic brochures, the lodge website attracts the Eco-conscious visitor with its photos and text. The Iversons have been working with the Alaska Department of Fish and game to have the cove itself declared a wildlife sanctuary because of the proximity of the wild mountain goats to the shores of the cove. It is the best, and often the only accessible place, inside Kachemak Bay State Park to view these magnificent animals and well worth preserving for wildlife viewers. Because of a strong desire to protect the natural beauty and privacy of their home, the Iversons have limited the number of guests they will host at the lodge at any one time. Private parties who take the entire lodge number no more than 16. Mixed groups are limited to 8 guests. |
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