Butte

“Residents love living in what we call The Butte,” says Gary Becker, Realtor with Keller Williams, who grew up in Alaska and has been selling here since 2014, “because you have this gorgeous natural land feature you can hike to reach its flat top. It’s like our own mini-mountain. And all across Butte, you’ll see reindeer farms, you-pick farms and plant nurseries because the soil is so rich. It’s rare terrain in Alaska.”

Whether you choose Butte to satisfy your wanderlust, retire in a picturesque setting, or work at the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, you’ll discover Butte is remarkably peaceful. Says Becker, “If you don’t mind the commute to Anchorage — because most people work in Anchorage — you can find a very rural home in Butte, with lots of privacy.”

Architectural variety includes beautiful three-bedroom log homes built in the 1980s on more than an acre, some with clear views of Pioneer Peak near walking trails, for between $400,000 and $450,000. Larger, five-bedroom homes built in 2022 with sophisticated stonework and a mountain range backdrop can ask from $850,000 to $950,000. “It’s the fastest-growing area in Alaska,” adds Becker, “from Wasilla eastward because you still can find a lot of land, whereas your choices in Anchorage are confined.” In Butte, you can still find level 1-acre lots for around $90,000. And because builders have room, you’ll see sizable Craftsman mansions as well as sprawling ranch styles. Becker, who has been featured on HGTV's Living Alaska, adds, “I have clients who moved here from Kansas and chose Butte because they could build their own ADA-compliant ranch home for less than it would cost in Eagle River or closer to Anchorage. The tradeoff is the commute, but you reap the affordability and buildability. What’s interesting, too, is that most new builds are people moving here from the lower 48 to retire. It’s somewhat of a bucket-list destination. And often, it’s folks who lived here a short while and were relocated, and have come back because they fell in love.”

Public schools are within the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District, and students can start at Butte Elementary School, which earns a B grade from Niche. Students then move on to Palmer Middle School, graded a C+ by Niche. Older students head to Palmer High, which earns a solid B from Niche. In 2022, art students at Palmer High made it to the Top 50 round out of 250 schools in the 2022 Vans Custom Culture contest with their original shoe designs.

Outdoor recreation is synonymous with Butte. Hikers delight in stunning 360-degree views of the Mat-Su Valley and surrounding peaks from Bodenburg Butte, nicknamed “The Butte” by locals. You can reach the summit from West Butte Trail or via the Butte Trailhead into the Sandvik Family Trail. Says Becker, “You’ll see a lot of people here enjoying the wilderness with ATVs or off-roading at Jim Creek. You can park RVs near the bridge on the Knik River beach or go dogsledding at the Eklutana Trailrace.” From Mother’s Day to Labor Day, Butte’s Alaska Raceway Park buzzes with high-octane motorsports. Becker adds, “It can get pretty noisy – especially during weekend races — so you have to like that kind of thing if you live right by it.”

Locals prefer Butte for its natural features far more than for any commercial activity, so you’ll only find a few eateries in Butte. The Butte Burger Place, in a small wood cabin with a long front porch, is a favorite stop-in for burgers-your-way and a side of onion rings. Says Becker, “Most people drive to all the neat places in Palmer for date nights or to dine out. The Palmer Alehouse is a great spot for live music, and Turkey Red in Palmer serves organic craft foods. Feather and Flour is a great choice for brunch.”

You can stock your fridge and pantry at home with grocery essentials from Alaska International Market or visit Bushes Bunches Produce Stand or Arctic Organics for farm-fresh fare. And even though some trails in Butte are so wild you could lose your way, those seeking valley serenity around a scenic elevation may find that their search leads home to Butte.

Written By

Lia Girard

Photography Contributed By

Chad Jackson

Video By

Jeffrey Knight