DENALI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE & VISITORS CENTER DISCOVER 2019 BUSINESS DIRECTORY AND MAP WWW.DENALICHAMBER.COM © Jimmy Tohill / Old Sourdough Studio ~ Denali © Jimmy Tohill / Old Sourdough Studio ~ Denali From the local community, I am pleased to welcome you to Denali! We hope you find this land as interesting and inspiring as we do each day. Denali provides residents and visitors alike a wealth of opportunities, experiences, wonders and, at times, challenges. Take a bit of advice from those who call it home and embrace the challenge! Few places in the world challenge your senses as does Denali. A land of unparalleled vastness is at the same time close and intimate. Please take the time to explore the many facets of this special place we are fortunate to call home. Whether we call it home for a night or a lifetime, Denali always leaves us richer for the experience. Thank you for coming. Over 8.2 million acres of vast tundra and taiga, rugged mountains, and raging rivers comprise the Denali Borough. While the Borough is home to 1,900 residents, they are far out- numbered by grizzly bears, moose, caribou, dall sheep, wolves, fox, bald eagles and other wildlife! Best known as the gateway to Denali National Park, the Denali Borough is the proud steward of Denali, the highest mountain in North America at 20,310 feet. The Denali Borough was formed in 1990 and contains the communities of Anderson, Clear, Cantwell, Healy, McKinley Park, & a number of smaller settlements, as well as a the entrance to Denali National Park. Clay Walker WELCOME TO THE DENALI BOROUGH! A WORD FROM THE DENALI BOROUGH MAYOR... The Denali Chamber of Commerce is located at Mile .4 Healy Spur Road in Healy, Alaska. The building is open year-round for information about residing in and visiting the Denali area and it’s communities. In the summer, you can also visit our information kiosk on the boardwalk in the Denali Canyon. Whether you are a resident, relocating to the area, or are planning the Alaska trip of a lifetime, we are here to assist you! The Denali Borough is appealing for small and large businesses alike. Much of the commerce in the borough is dominated by the Usibelli Coal Mine, Golden Valley Electric Association Power Plant, and the National Park Service. Small family-owned businesses play a large role as well - cozy Bed & Breakfasts, welcoming lodging, summer tour operators, and home-style restaurants. DENALI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE (907) 683-INFO (4636) From milepost 248.8 Parks Hwy in Healy, Alaska, turn on Healy Spur Road. The Chamber building is .4 miles from the highway, on the left side of the road. Both residents and visitors take part in the array of summer and winter activities: HIKING RAFTING FISHING FLIGHT TOURS ATV TOURS BUS TOURS MOUNTAIN BIKING NORTHERN LIGHTS FAT TIRE BIKING CROSS COUNTRY SKIING FLIGHT TOURS DOG SLEDDING STAR GAZING SNOW SHOEING [email protected] denalichamber.com @denalichamber VISIT US IN OUR LOG CABIN! LOCAL HISTORY GOING TO DENALI NATIONAL PARK COOL FACTS • Alaska is BIG! Everyone knows it is bigger than Texas – but did you know that Maine, Louisiana, Virginia, Florida, Vermont, New York, Massachusetts, Kentucky, Indiana, Connecticut, New Jersey, Tennessee, Oklahoma, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Delaware, Rhode Island and South Carolina could all fit with room to spare? • Did you know that Alaska is the only state to have 2 separate time zones? The Aleutian Islands extend so far from the continent that some of them are on Hawaii time! • The largest earthquake ever recorded in Alaska was a 9.2 in 1964, but on average, Alaska experiences 1000 earthquakes per month. • Alaska is home to 8 different indigenous populations. They include the Iñupiat, Yupik, Athabascan, Eyak, Aleut, Tlingit, Tsimshian and Haida cultures. • North to south, Alaska is 1400 miles long! The longest stretch of road is 1077 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Homer Alaska, which equates driving from Seattle to San Diego. • Alaska doesn’t have counties it has boroughs. The Denali Borough, home to some of Denali National Park is one of the smallest boroughs in the State yet will still fit 10 Rhode Islands! • Denali National Park is one of 8 National Parks across Alaska. The others include Gates of the Arctic, Glacier Bay, Katmai, Kenai Fjords, Kobuk Valley, Lake Clark & Wrangell-St. Elias National Parks. They combine for over 41 million acres of protected land, about 11% of Alaska’s total area. NMLS# 640297 FNBAlaska.com We Believe in Alaska Healy Branch 683-7750 DENALI HORSEBACK TOURS PH. 907.322.3886 Guided 1 Hour, 2 Hour and Half-day Rides · Small Groups www.DenaliHorsebackTours.com Locally Owned & Operated · Advance Reservations Only Located in Healy, 12 Miles North of Denali Park Entrance [email protected] Personalized and fully oufitted fly fishing excursions in the Alaska Range 907-768-1127 www.denaliflyfishing.com Located on the Boardwalk in Denali Ask about our Gift Cards (907)683-6002 Denali . Face to Face Since 1973 www.denaliair.com 907-683-2261 Flightseeing Denali– a Breathtaking, Once-in-a-Lifetime Experience! Parks Highway Towing The only local towing service 907-832-5583 1-800-478-TOWS (8697) 24/7 tows, recoveries, lock-outs, emergency roadside assistance DENALIBACKCOUNTRYADVENTURE.COM www.denaliraft.com ~ Email: [email protected] 907-683-2234 ~ 1-888-683-2234 907.683.2904 [email protected] huskyhomestead.com Tours offered Three times/day 8:30am / 2pm / 7pm TOTEM INN Motel, Restaurant, Pub & Game Room thetoteminn.com Mile 248.7 Parks Hwy 907-683-6500 DENALI WINTERFEST / FEBRUARY 22-24 TH This community wide event, spearheaded by National Park Service, has skiing, dog sledding, ice sculpting, luminary walks and more! It’s a great time to see what winter in Denali is all about. DENALI SEASON / MAY 15 TH - SEPT. 15 TH Opening and closing dates for seasonal businesses. 4TH OF JULY PARADE / JULY 4 TH Come and watch a small-town parade, through Healy’s main street. Afterwards hang around for kids’ games and then join the community at Otto Lake for a cookout sponsored by Healy Lion’s Club. This year, it will be combined with Healy’s Centennial Celebration! DENALI BLUEBERRY FESTIVAL / AUGUST 16 TH Listen to live music and enjoy a BBQ on the shore of Otto Lake, while kids play games and earn prizes. DENALI WHITEWATER FESTIVAL / AUGUST 17 TH The longest running event of its kind in the State, this event is open to any experienced rafter or kayaker and can be viewed from the Nenana River pedestrian bridge. DENALI BLUEBERRY 5K DASH / AUGUST 17 TH This 5k race through the Nenana River canyon, is a fundraiser for the Children’s Organ Transplant Association. WINTER SOLSTICE SKI & STROLL / DECEMBER 21 ST Join Park Rangers for an experience you'll never forget, enveloped by the serenity of winter on the shortest day of the year! Denali National Park charges a $10 entrance fee, year-round, for individuals 16 and over, which provides 7-day access. Holders of the nationwide America the Beautiful Annual Pass, Senior Pass or Access Pass do not need to pay the park entrance fee. There is only one road for access into Denali National Park, known as Denali Park Road. The first 15 miles of this road are paved and accessible by private vehicle. Beyond this point, known as Savage River, access is available by bus. There are many different options for bus access – some narrated, some not – some 5 hours, some 12 – some just for transit. When making a reservation, tell the operator your plans and make sure to ask questions to find the tour best for you. Again, reservations are recommended. There are many campgrounds within the park, all with different requirements and options. If you are planning to camp inside the park, reservations can be made after December 1st of the year prior to your visit. The Senior Pass and Access Pass also provide a 50% nightly discount on camping in Denali. Hiking in Denali Park has a multitude of options. There are many trails for all ages and skill levels. Back country permits are also a possibility for the more adventurous travelers. These can be arranged in person at the Denali Visitor Center. You can book bus tours and campsites at: www.reservedenali.com / 800-622-7275 DENALI IS OPEN YEAR-ROUND! Denali National Park welcomes visitors for skiing, snowshoeing and winter camping. The Denali area is a fabulous location to view Aurora. Services are available in nearby Healy for overnight accommodations, dining and even winter tours. Visit www.denalichamber.com/winter-in-denali-park/ for a list of what is available. The Alaska Railroad offers year-round service to the Denali area. With multiple arrival and departure dates each week, it’s a great option for visitors! www.alaskarailroad.com. Healy celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2019! Healy began its existence as a railroad camp community in 1919 when railroad construction began in the area. Most of the construction camps closed when the railroad was completed, but Healy became a permanent railroad station. Freight trains overnighted in Healy. Passenger trains overnighted in Curry and stopped to eat lunch in Healy. Coal mines were equally important to the regions development. The railroad needed coal for its steam engines. Residents of Fairbanks needed coal to heat their homes and to generate electricity. Healy River Coal Corporation began mining at Camp Healy in 1919. In 1921, HRCC moved their operation three miles up the Healy River. Their mining camp was called Suntrana. Mining continues in the area today, with Usibelli Coal Mine, in operation for 75 years, as the only operating coal mine in Alaska. Healy is the largest town in the Denali Borough and has a population of just over 1000 residents. Denali Park is home to dozens of archaeological sites, which show that human habitation in the area has existed for more than 11,000 years. The presence of Athabascan people is documented in hunting camps rather than traditional settlements. The beginning of the National Park started in 1906 with Charles Sheldon, a conservationist. It was a slow process, that resulted in the formation of Mount McKinley National Park in 19161. The national park has seen expansion of its boundaries in 1949 and 1980, to currently encompass more than 6 million acres. It was also in 1980 that the name of the park was changed to its current title of Denali National Park, which honors the Athabascan name for the mountain, as Denali means “the high one”. The area known as McKinley Village, 8 miles south of Denali Park entrance was the result of residents who participated in various Homestead programs between 1958 and 1985. Over time property in the area was sold, subdivided and ultimately has become its own unofficial town, where locals and tourism business co-exist. Cantwell and the surrounding area have been home to Athabascan and Tanana Native Americans for thousands of years. The town of Cantwell was established in the 1950’s as a flag stop on the Alaska Railroad. It is the southernmost community in the Denali Borough and the west end of the Denali Highway. Year-round population is about 200 people. Anderson was homesteaded in the 1950’s and eventually subdivided into lots for homes in 1961, with the completion of Clear Air Force Station. It is the northernmost community in the Denali Borough. Today it is home to about 250 people year-round. WINTER VISITATION EVENTS DENALI ROAD LOTTERY DATES / SEPT 13, 15, 16, 17 TH Each year a road lottery is held, for a chance to drive the length of Denali Park Road. Applications are accepted during the months of May and 400 vehicles per day are randomly chosen. Fees are assessed for the application and park entry.