Sheldon Chalet
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Bespoke Winter, Elevated Alaska
Hand-built by the Hopper family, the Lodge at Black Rapids offers quintessential Alaskan luxury. Showcasing the wilderness of the Eastern Alaskan Range, this elegant lodge is uniquely situated to offer a truly magical experience for those who love the winter season. With a variety of winter outdoor activities including dog sledding, snowmachining to ice caves, northern lights viewing, flightseeing opportunities and even ice fishing, you can experience the best of winter in Alaska surrounded by warm hospitality and luxurious comfort.
Historic Luxury in the Alaska Range
Day 1
Arrive in Fairbanks
Touch down in Fairbanks in America’s “Last Frontier” today and meet your private driver/guide. Get a taste of this northern city, known as “the Gateway to the Arctic” and a highlight to any winter visit to Alaska as your guide provides you with a private tour of Fairbanks. Tonight, try one of the local brewpubs or warm up with a hearty dinner at one of Fairbanks’ many tasty restaurants.
Overnight along the shores of the Chena River in Fairbanks.
Day 2
Travel Back in History on the Gold Rush Trail
Your host at the Lodge at Black Rapids will greet you in your hotel lobby this morning and will escort you by private vehicle to Delta Junction as they regale you with amusing stories about the historical significance of this region in Alaska’s north. You’ll make several interesting stops along the Richardson Highway on your way to the lodge – your ‘home’ for the next few nights. And tonight, if you wish, your hosts will give you a wake-up call if the northern lights decide to make an appearance.
Overnight at the Lodge at Black Rapids, your resting spot for the next four nights.
Day 3
Choose Your Winter Adventure!
The Eastern Alaskan Range offers guests a spectacular and vast wilderness little explored by many visitors to Alaska. Today, this playground is yours as you choose the winter outdoor adventures you most love from the many available to you at the Lodge.
Take off on a dog sled and travel through glacier carved valleys to an ice cave. Duck inside and see ice formations created thousands of years ago. Then, settle into a warm tent outside the cave and enjoy a gourmet lunch prepared just for you. Looking for more excitement? Jump on a snow machine to experience the thrill of ripping across the tundra.
This evening, join your lodge hosts on the banks of Black Rapids Lake for ice skating by torch light, complete with a crackling bonfire and s’mores.
Day 4
Play Hard, Rest Easy
While the Lodge at Black Rapids boasts an extensive array of winter outdoor activities from which to choose from, you are never without all the luxurious amenities associated with a deluxe lodge. Relax after each day’s adventures with a massage provided by the lodge masseuse followed by a delicious glass of champagne. Or choose to warm up after one of your frosty excursions with a warm dip in the lodge’s wood-fired hot tub or relax in the timber-framed sauna. Tonight, settle into your bed and rest contentedly, knowing your hosts will wake you the moment the northern lights pop out.
Day 5
Indulge Yourself in Culinary Delights
The Chef at the Lodge at Black Rapids welcomes visitors from all over the world and the dining room is often the favorite meeting spot of many guests at the lodge. Over unique, freshly-prepared meals, you can share stories with your travel companions about the day’s adventures. Created by lifelong Alaskan, Chef Helen McLean, also known as “Martha of the Arctic”, each delicious meal at the Lodge reflects the winter season and highlights local Alaskan favorites. Join Helen in the kitchen and learn the tricks to making beautiful salads and, if you’re lucky, she might even share her infamous blueberry cheesecake recipe!
Day 6
Return to Fairbanks and Depart for Home
Your winter adventure in Alaska’s north continues today as you bid goodbye to the Lodge staff and make your way back to Fairbanks. As you travel by private vehicle back to town, the area of Delta Junction showcases landscapes filled with fertile farm lands as your host takes you on a backroads “behind the scenes” tour. You’ll make fun stops at a buffalo ranch, visit the Meat and Sausage Factory or the local flour company on a true “insider’s” experience sharing with you authentic Alaska. In Fairbanks, you’ll still have a bit of time to explore the interesting displays at the Museum of the North before your flight home.
Amenities, nearby adventures and more...
Price range: $1500 - $2000 per person, per day
The timber-frame lodge was built through the grace and ingenuity of many good friends and family members. The property features panoramic views and two stone fireplaces, perfect for enjoying the magnificent surroundings from the comfort of the indoors. The unique, hand-welded staircase features several Alaskan scenes and provides access to the upper-level belvedere. Surrounded by stain-glass panels and windows, the library is a cozy place to rest, relax, or even take in the late-night auroras.
The Lodge at Black Rapids offers a menu of wellness opportunities. Conclude your adventures with a private in-room massage. Other relaxation amenities include a wood-fired hot tub and a timber framed sauna on site.
Guest Rooms
The Lodge at Black Rapids features six guest rooms, all with deluxe private baths you wouldn’t expect to find in this remote place. There are also 2 other guest rooms on the lower level that together share a full bathroom and living area.
The Lodge at Black Rapids is accessible by lodge vehicle from Fairbanks (about 3 hours). The lodge can also be reached by a chartered bush plane, although it is recommended you travel to the lodge by vehicle to get the full sightseeing experience.
Delicious homestyle meals are included during your stay at the lodge and no two meals will be the same. Head chef Helene Mclean overseas each meal to ensure they are healthy and flavorful. The Lodge uses fresh local produce in season, Alaskan seafood, and local meats to keep your taste buds happy throughout your stay. If you are setting out into the wilderness you can expect a fully catered lunch during your adventure, keeping you energized and warm.
Your winter activities at the lodge will be tailored to your party and to the weather conditions. You can enjoy dog mushing to Cantwell Glacier, visiting glacier caves with a gourmet lunch, aurora photography, flightseeing across the Alaska Range, and even reindeer sleigh rides to a trapper cabin!
In the evening kick sledding, ice fishing, and ice skating are available on nearby Black Rapids Lake, with an open fire for warmth and torchlight to light your way. Or take a drive to Donnelly dome to look for the northern lights.
For those interested in a bit of learning The Lodge at Black Rapids is located at the site of a historic roadhouse and along Alaska’s oldest highway providing a fantastic base to learn about the history of Alaska. Or you may follow the tracks of Alaska’s smaller wildlife with a university wildlife expert. In the evening presentations by professors on the nearby geologic forces make way for in-depth conversation.
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