A Place to Rest

Miners and prospectors traveling to the gold fields of Interior Alaska used the Valdez to Fairbanks Trail, now called the Richardson Highway, and found food and shelter at roadhouses along the way, including Rika's Roadhouse. On the 380-mile trip from Valdez to Fairbanks, travelers could pay one dollar for a spruce bough bunk, a place on the floor, or a bench or table for a blanket, and another two dollars for a hot meal such as sourdough pancakes or rabbit stew. Whether arriving on foot, by horse-drawn sled, or by dog team, weary travelers could expect a hot meal and a place to sleep. Most roadhouses were one-story log structures, though some were tents or hastily built lean-tos, and they appeared every 15-20 miles, about a day's travel apart. As the trail improved, the journey from Valdez to Fairbanks was reduced to two days by 1932, lowering the need for overnight stops. To attract customers, many roadhouses added more refined lodging such as separate bedrooms, while others, including Rika's Roadhouse, also served as trading posts, liquor stores, and post offices. Rika's Roadhouse adapted to changing times and met the needs of travelers, trappers, traders, and prospectors moving along the Richardson Highway and the Tanana River, and it continues to offer a glimpse into Alaska's past.

Big Delta, Alaska · United States