Journal Archives: Caribou Hotel Celebrated Its Grand Opening On September 21st, 1990

 Copper River History 

The Caribou Burns Down: November, 2025 

The Caribou Hotel, following a trend that has plagued roadhouses, lodges and hotels all over Alaska for a hundred years, burned down last week. 

Lodging has always been an issue along the trails and highways of the Copper Valley. When the Caribou Hotel was opened in the fall of 1990, although it was a major facility, it wasn't the lone year-round multi-room hotel in the region. Yes, the Ahtna Lodge had come and gone – its guest rooms replaced by offices at the Hub junction. 

But there were other lodging options – Gakona Lodge, which operated year-round; Copper Center Lodge; The Point, Wolverine and the other lodges at Lake Louise; Mentasta Lodge;  the Glenn-Rich; Mendeltna Lodge; Paxson Lodge, Summit Lake Lodge and Chistochina Lodge among them. 

Since then, Gakona has gone to a summer-only schedule. Copper Center, the Point, the Glenn-Rich, Mendeltna, Summit Lake and Chistochina have all burned down. Mentasta Lodge was closed. Paxson Lodge was abandoned and has fallen into grave disrepair.

This left the Caribou, as of last week, in the position of being the only major hotel operating throughout the year in the Copper Valley. Its loss is incalculable. 

Here's a look at the grand opening of the Caribou, back in September, 1990, from the Copper River Country Journal: