Homestead Excursion

This lodge was initially established in 1898 as a hunting lodge to provide meat for railroad builders and miners. In its prime, the Wood River Lodge (formerly the Denali Wilderness Lodge) hosted thousands of guests (including many celebrities and global dignitaries) and offered a variety of different excursions. Much of the outbuildings were built by hand with basic tools and very little help from modern machinery. Many of the supplies were brought in with horses or dog teams until a larger airstrip was constructed and larger transport airplanes could assist in the carriage of supplies. Changing hands over the years lodge was most notably home to the infamous hunting guide Lynn Castle. Lynn made most of the modern improvements to the property including the Swiss Chalet, modeled after one his wife just adored while vacationing in Switzerland. After being sporadically operated for more than 100 years, the lodge was shuttered in the early 2000s. In 2018 a family from Southeast Alaska purchased and reopened the lodge and is excited to share the Alaskan Homesteader Experience with you.

This excursion provides one hour of round-trip scenic flight time over the gorgeous, untouched landscape east of Healy and Denali National Park. You’ll fly over beautiful rivers and mountains where Dall sheep, moose, and caribou roam. We’ll go the long way around taking you over the pristine Yanert glacier on the southern flanks of Mount Deborah in the heart of the Alaska Range. Next, we touch down at Wood River’s airstrip for a step back in time where your guide will meet you to begin the walking segment of your adventure. Your guide will offer an easy nature walk around the Wood River Lodge narrating the history of the area and discussing their experiences of living off the grid in remote Alaska. After your walk, join the crew and the rest of your group around a bonfire to roast marshmallows or enjoy a cocktail from the Lodge bar. Allow yourself to unwind and unplug in the Alaska wilderness while hearing the stories best told by the homesteaders of real, authentic Alaska. Finally, we conclude your excursion with a short flight back to present-day reality in Healy, Alaska.