We Dare You To Take This Road Trip To Alaska’s Most Abandoned Places
Alaska’s vibrant past combined with the advances in society has inevitably lead to many structures and entire towns becoming abandoned over the years. Add the fluctuating economy filled with the highest of the highs and the lowest of the lows, and you essentially have an entire state that has gone through the financial ringer. We can’t forget about Alaska’s gruesome and wildly unpredictable weather patterns. Natural disasters alone have attributed directly to entire communities being abandoned in the Last Frontier, many of which were never able to rebound or rebuild.
Although this road trip only graces the surface on the many abandoned places in Alaska, it’s a great start to ease you into the alarming and positively mind-blowing remnants from the past. This lengthy trip takes about 24 hours and covers roughly 1200 miles of terrain, making it best to break up into a few days period. Better yet, take your time and enjoy all the other incredible sights along the way. To view the map with accompanying driving directions, click HERE.
Because every good road trip is better when it starts on the beach, we're kicking off this awesome abandoned places road trip with a salty air drive along Lowell Point Beach in Seward. Look towards the beach and you're guaranteed to see three things: majestic mountain views, stunningly beautiful ocean views and the occasional abandoned beach house. Whether squatters or homesteaders originally built the houses is still a mystery, but the picturesque panoramic views shining through the abandoned structures are positively undeniable.
The Jesse Lee Home for Children in Seward was the second of three other child welfare institutions in Alaska with the same name. The first location was built and established in Unalaska (Dutch Harbor). In 1926, the home was moved to the coastal community of Seward on the head of Resurrection Bay. Damage from the 1964 Good Friday earthquake was too severe to rebuild, so the home was then relocated to its present location in Anchorage in 1965. Today the old abandoned building still remains in Seward and is a place where many children, teachers, caretakers and community members alike hold happy, fond memories from the past.
If you drive from Anchorage down to the Kenai Peninsula, you'll drive right through Portage and you might not even know it. The community of Portage was abandoned after the 1964 Good Friday earthquake and today isn't much more than an abandoned ghost town. It is however home to incredible places like the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, which definitely makes it worth stopping for.
Known as the 'weirdest city in the United States' where nearly the entire community lives under one roof, the town of Whittier is not for the faint of heart. Partially because of the isolation factor, and partially because of the super-creepy abandoned Buckner Building that is impossible to ignore from just about any vantage point in town. This old, abandoned military facility was abandoned in 1964 after it suffered immense damage in the Good Friday earthquake. Reports have even said that it is apparently very expensive to demolish because it is bomb-proof and full of asbestos.
To get the full scoop on this intriguing place, be sure to watch this tour through an old gold mine in Alaska that will transport you back in time. Independence Mine State Historical Park is located in the Mat-Su Valley, up the scenic mountain pass of Hatcher Pass and deep into the Talkeetna Mountains. Although the old gold mine is abandoned, it's still possible to enjoy very interactive walking tours all around the historic grounds.
These beautiful, rustic cabins sit abandoned and overlook the picturesque Lake Louise. They are said to be U.S. Army cabins and were built when Lake Louise was only accessible via float plane. In fact, rumor has it that President Eisenhower stayed in one of these many, many years ago. A true touch of Alaska's rich history, located on the shores of a spectacular natural landmark.
To get the full scoop on this wild place, be sure to check out this eerie abandoned hotel in Alaska that's guaranteed to give you the chills. Located off the George Parks Highway on the way to Fairbanks heading north from Anchorage, you won't be able to miss this massive white structure that mimics an igloo. It was supposed to be a hotel but required permitting delayed the processes which eventually led to the building sitting abandoned for many, many years. In our opinion, this neat place is a 'dreamers paradise' as the possibilities for a completed masterpiece are truly endless.
This abandoned gold mining town has been transformed over the years and completely comes to life during the summer months. Visitors love experiencing all of the remnants from the past while many choose to stay in old miners barracks have been restored to hotel rooms. This remote area truly offers a one-of-a-kind visitors experience.
The South Fork of the Fortymile National Wild, Scenic and Recreational River is where Alaskans and visitors alike can go to enjoy a touch of the past. It's the final stop on the road trip that also requires a touch of 'water baby' spirit. Hop on a raft and enjoy a relaxing float trip while experiencing remnants from Alaska's 1886 Gold Rush Era. You won't believe your eyes when you see the abandoned gold-mining dredges, turn-of-the-century trapper cabins and townsites along the way.
Living and loving life in Alaska, Courtney enjoys living a happy life based on simple principles; work hard, be kind, stay humble. She is an avid dog lover with hobbies that include running, fly fishing, hiking & snowboarding.
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