Black Rapids Roadhouse
Historic Alaskan roadhouse along the Richardson Highway, built 1902.
via Wikipedia: Black Rapids Roadhouse · see source
The Black Rapids Roadhouse, also known as the Rapids Roadhouse and the Rapids Hunting Lodge, is a historic Alaskan structure along the Richardson Highway in east-central Alaska. Built in 1902, it served travelers on the Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. The roadhouse continued to operate until 1993, though its peak years were in the early 20th century. A new, modern lodge was built nearby in 2001, and the original building is preserved as a historical curiosity and tourist attraction. The original roadhouse was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2001.
Quick Facts
- Location
- Mile 227.4 of Richardson Highway, about 35 mile south of Delta Junction
- Nearest city
- Delta Junction
- Built
- 1902
- Added
- February 2, 2001
- Area
- less than one acre
Facts from the source article.
Background
The Rapids Roadhouse opened at least by 1904 to serve travelers on the new Valdez-Fairbanks Trail. Of more than thirty roadhouses that operated along the route between 1902 and 1923, the Rapids Roadhouse is one of the few that survive. Its period of significance ended in 1923, as the construction of the Alaska Railroad led to a decline in the 1920s. Despite that, the original roadhouse continued to operate until 1993. Across the Delta River from the roadhouse is the Black Rapids Glacier. For three months in 1937, the glacier made national news by advancing across the valley at the rate of a mile a month—it was known as the 'galloping glacier.' The 27-mile-long glacier has since retreated, but the moraine can still be seen from the Richardson Highway pullout.
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