Fairbanks AK-Rika’s Roadhouse

Enroute from Fairbanks to Delta Junction is a place called Rika’s Roadhouse. The roadhouses were a vital part of Alaska’s infrastructure. They were built about every 20 or 30 miles – about a days travel by foot. The roadhouses were places to eat, stay, and get warm while passing the news with other travelers.

 

Salcha River AK is the site of a ferry crossing before the bridge was built. Ongoing battles between government toll collectors and independent minded Alaskan travelers escalated when travelers commandeered the ferry, holding the toll collectors at gunpoint. The trans-alaska pipeline also crosses the river near this point.

The pipeline also crosses the Tanana river here. The bends ad twists in the pipeline are intentional, both to control the pressures of the oil, and to mitigate the impact of earthquakes by allowing the pipeline room to flex as needed.

All the old buildings have been kept and restored.

What a great sense of humor!

The interior furnishings are all original.

It’s fun to imagine travelers sitting down to a meal in the roadhouse!

Progress!

We loved the sense of humor about bears!

Rustic.

But if not…