Talkeetna Roadhouse

The Roadhouse is located on Main Street and famous for breakfast, cinnamon rolls, family-style seating and genuine frontier hospitality.   Overnight accommodations are available in simple private rooms, hostel-style bunks and two private cabins.  Bathrooms are down the hall with the exception of our Trapper Johns Cabin, which now has its very own bathroom..although the Outhouse still is functional!  There is also coin-op laundry and showers available for purchase, free unlimited Wi-Fi and an extensive collection of games, books and magazines.  And maps!  Get fed, get clean, get the low-down from fellow travelers and locals then get an idea of where you are going...that pretty much sums up a good old fashioned roadhouse!

 

 

History 

The original log buildings were built around 1917 when Talkeetna was a supply hub for gold mining and trapping activities. Brothers Frank and Ed Lee used the imposing Main Street cabin and the barn out back to run a freighting business. Meals were reportedly served out of the Roadhouse as early as 1918, most likely because Ed married Belle, who would later be known as Belle MacDonald and the lady behind Belles Barn and the Forks Roadhouse across the river. Frank Lee sold the original main log building and barn in 1946 to W.H. and Christine Darch who made improvements to the property that enabled the business to flourish as a boarding house and a place to get a hot meal. The rooms building (vintage ATCo.), kitchen and plumbing were added at this time.

 

 

Carroll & Verna Close

Perhaps the most well known owners of the Roadhouse are Carrol and Verna Close. They purchased the business in 1951 and retired from it in 1978. Over those years the Roadhouses reputation for no-nonsense food (order them any way you want, but they will come out scrambled!) and a fairly strict set of house rules (The proprietors of this establishment refrain from the use of profanity and request you do the same...) made them legend. It was said that Carroll used a meat cleaver wedged into the door jam to keep the front door shut at night. Anyone knocking at the door after hours would be greeted by a wirey, white haired man wielding a cleaver. Their family-style suppers brought locals and climbers and all sorts of visitors to the table...and they had to mind their manners!

 

 

Recent History

From 1978 until 1996 the Roadhouse changed hands four times. Trisha Costello, with help from her father, purchased the Roadhouse in 1996 at the age of 26. Breakfast became the focal point again and Carroll’s old bread pans were taken out of the barn and are being used daily to bake bread. Folks still sit family-style and eggs come out only scrambled (why mess with a good thing!). In addition to hearty breakfasts the bakery cases are now filled with cinnamon rolls, cookies, cakes, pies, brownies and all sorts of goodies made daily from scratch. We also feature a Not Breakfast menu of daily soups, Reindeer Chili, Mac-n-Cheese, lasagna, quiche, a variety of handmade pasties and the now famous Rudy-in-a-Parka  

Testimonials

Jack S - Willow, Alaska
Roadhouse - gotta love it! The best breakfasts - huge portions, fair prices and a fun easy going staff make the Roadhouse a must visit for anyone who is in Talkeetna during the AM. Great atmosphere and food are hard to beat. If you're in the doghouse with your spouse, take them to the Roadhouse, order your breakfast and close the deal with frosty - all sins will be forgiven (or at least forgotten for a moment).   Posted on Trip Advisor, March 2012

Mailing Address

13550 E. Main Street
P.O. Box 604
Talkeetna, Alaska 99676

Physical Address

13550 E Main Street
Talkeetna, AK 99676


http://www.talkeetnaroadhouse.com
907-733-1351



Open Daily 8am to 8pm