Hatcher Pass Lodge

Sixty miles north of Anchorage, above the tree line at 3,000 feet in the Talkeetna Mountains, a sturdy adventurer named Karl “Hap” Wurlitzer built himself a cozy lodge.

A fervent hiker, skier, and snowmobile buff, Wurlitzer first set eyes on the property that would become Hatcher Pass Lodge during a ski trip in 1963. He imagined a fine site for an alpine ski resort and remote Alaskan getaway. Upon suggestion that he should realize his vision, he went to the Department of the Interior in Anchorage.

After thorough negotiations, extensive paperwork, and a helping hand from his senator, Wurlitzer staked his claim on ten acres of land for the princely sum of ten dollars, granting him five years to build on the property. With the help of some of his army buddies, he went on to construct a 28- by 48-foot A-frame lodge.

In the years that followed, Wurlitzer expanded and built several private guest cabins, attracting visitors from all fifty states and beyond. Though Hap has since passed, an able and openhearted staff still remains. They include Irene, who drove up Hatcher Pass in a Volkswagen van in 1992, got stuck in the snow, tromped two miles to the safety of the lodge, and in short order got a job cleaning cabins. Her two grown children are also still there, as is her husband, John Phillips, an Anchorage contractor who puts in close to 100,000 miles a year, making supply runs up and down the mountain (while keeping an eye out for stranded vans).

Hap’s vision of a bare-bones, rustic lodge lives on. Best to take those values into consideration before booking a cabin. Luxuries such as running water or stairs (rather than a ladder) will not be yours, nor is it recommended that you attempt to cook. Bears and other critters are presumed to find the combo of the adorable red exterior and the aroma of a hot meal too irresistible to ignore.

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