Fairbanks’ industrial district hosts new businesses, converted excavation sites
South Van Horn isn’t the prettiest or quietest part of Fairbanks, but it’s the central hub for many employers. “It’s the city’s industrial district,” says Anthony Musterd, who’s lived in the area for over three decades and works nearby. “But it’s growing fast, and there's a lot of new businesses coming in here. It’s still industrial, but you’re getting more places that are focused on comfort. There are a few restaurants, offices and supply stores now.” This neighborhood, on the city’s south side, is made up of large parcels with warehouses and mechanical shops, and trucks often come through here to pick up cargo. Manmade ponds are scattered throughout the district, serving as gravel pits for excavation companies. Some ponds, though, have been converted into residential areas, and a majority of homes are now on the water. Others have been converted into outdoor spaces, like the Tanana Lakes Recreation Area. “It was originally the site of a military radar station,” Musterd says. “Later it was dredged out for gravel that was being used in the landfill. Some people even used it as a dumping ground. Then Ducks Unlimited, a waterfowl conservation nonprofit, got involved, and they helped to do a lot of the cleanup work. They turned it into a good community asset, and now you have some Alaskan wilderness right here in town.”
The west lake of South Van Horn features beautiful reflective views of the water.
For luxurious comfort, there are larger homes on the west lake of South Van Horn.
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Manufactured homes on a small lake
While South Van Horn is mostly industrial, manufactured homes are on the neighborhood’s east end. These single- and double-wide trailers line either side of Lakeview Terrace, a wide road next to a gravel pit. This water-filled quarry serves as a small lake, and the closest homes are right on the bank. Birch and spruce trees mix in with this east-facing view, but a gravel excavation company operates on the other side of the lake. A waste facility and more industrial businesses are just west. Unlike more rural parts of Fairbanks, though, these properties are hooked up to city water and sewer, and a homeowners association deals with snow removal. Prices are between $20,000 and $150,000, and they’re much lower than the average home price for Alaska. Additional homes are on the neighborhood’s west end, in between Industrial Avenue and Peger Road. Sold prices aren't always disclosed in Alaska, so while no prices are available for this area, these ranch-styles and two-stories are more upscale than their manufactured counterparts. They wrap around a private lake, and their large driveways often feature boats and RVs. Overall, both area's properties sell after a few months on the market, slower than the national average. When properties are sold, they tend to stay off the market for a while, as supply is usually limited. The CAP Index Crime Score is a 2 out of 10, lower than the national average of 4.
South Van Horn has a few ranch-style homes by the west lake of the neighborhood.
South Van Horn has a variety of homes styles and comes in several sizes.
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Nearby restaurants and Downtown Fairbanks proximity
Mixed in with industrial yards and mechanical shops, South Van Horn’s restaurants cater to employees wanting a quick break. Spice It Up has counter-service Mediterranean food, for instance, and it can all be taken to-go. Popular with truckers passing through the neighborhood, Hotspot Café has hearty breakfast and lunch; it’s gone through several iterations, but the restaurant has been female-owned since it opened in the 1970s. Black Spruce Brewing Company has craft beers in a casual setting, and their Barrel-Aged Long Nights Imperial Stout won the gold at the 2023 Beer and Barleywine Festival. For shopping, Downtown Fairbanks is about 3 miles north of the neighborhood, and a Safeway is nearby.
South Van Horn residents dine at the historic and popular Pump House Restaurant.
Spice It Up serves savory Indian and Mediterranean food to South Van Horn residents.
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Getting outside: Tanana Lakes Recreation Area, South Davis Park
Cushman Lake is one of the most visited spots in Fairbanks, and it’s just south of the neighborhood. Part of the larger Tanana Lakes State Recreation Area, the lake is a former gravel pit that has been converted into a swimming hole. “We have a beach here that’s very popular,” says Musterd, who works on the lake. “Its parking lot holds four or five rows of cars, and during the summer, it’ll be full. The street next to it will be full. The secondary parking lot will be full. The parking lot next to our business will be full, and people will be lined up.” Musterd owns the lake’s kayak rental agency, Alaska Dream Adventures; some days, he says, they almost run out of boats. Fishing on the lake is also popular year-round, as the Alaska Department of Fish and Game frequently stocks it with rainbow trout, salmon and other fish. Migratory birds can be found in this park, too, or in the ponds, sloughs and gravel pits closer to South Van Horn’s industry. “A lot of bird traffic comes through here. It’s one of their stops as they migrate,” Musterd says. “We have a pair of bald eagles nesting right by the lake, and I see ospreys and peregrine falcons all the time.” Additionally, the Tanana River flows adjacent to the park, and jetskiers and motorboaters often use the launch nearby.
Ascension Rock Club and Fly Trampoline Park are on the neighborhood’s east side, closest to homes. On the north side, South Davis Park has a lot of fields for softball, football and soccer. This is because the park needs to accommodate a lot of players; it’s the headquarters for The Interior Adult Soccer Association, Fairbanks Youth Soccer Association and the Golden Heart Softball Association. Moreover, the park’s Big Dipper Ice Arena hosts youth and adult hockey leagues.
The Tanana Lakes Recreation Area has a boat ramp and canoe rentals to get out on the water.
The Elementary XC Running Race features all schools in the area for a race amongst students.
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Turning onto Van Horn Road and state Route 3
South Van Horn is a busy area without many sidewalks, so residents drive most places. Van Horn Road is the main east-west thoroughfare that connects to many businesses, and Lathrop Street goes north to the expressway. This expressway, state Route 3, goes along the south side of Fairbanks and connects to other major roads. Fairbanks International Airport is just west of the neighborhood, and it’s accessible from both state Route 3 and Van Horn Road. This airport offers storage and runways for private planes, but it also offers commercial flights to the Lower 48. Just north of the neighborhood, Fairbanks Memorial Hospital provides care in 25-plus specialties.
Short drives to Fairbanks North Star Borough Schools
University Park Elementary is about 5 miles northwest of the neighborhood, and it gets a B-minus from Niche. It has about 350 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. For grades six through eight, Ryan Middle has about 550 students and gets a C-plus. It’s closer to the middle of Fairbanks, about 3 miles from the neighborhood. Lathrop High is in the same area and gets a B, ranked by Niche as the No. 5 best public high school in the district. Nearest the elementary school, the University of Alaska Fairbanks offers majors in everything from accounting to the Yup’ik language.
University Park Elementary School serves 356 students from various neighborhoods in Fairbanks.
Randy Smith Middle School in Fairbanks has a dedicated student drop-off zone.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
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Reach out to
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Parks in this Area
Tanana Lakes Recreation Area
South Davis Park
Transit
Airport
Fairbanks International
18 min drive
Bus
Van Horn & Idea Home School Inbound
Bus
Peger & Alyeska Tire Inbound
Bus
Old Airport Rd & Air Cargo
Bus
Van Horn & Industrial Inbound
Bus
Van Horn & International Inbound
Bus
Van Horn & Frontier Plumbing & Bank Inbound
Bus
Old Airport Rd & Fedex
South Van Horn Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in South Van Horn, Fairbanks sell after 27 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in South Van Horn, Fairbanks over the last 12 months is $558,000.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Bobby Desrochers,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Owners
Demographics
Total Population
529
Median Age
39
Population under 18
24%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
18.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$88,709
Above the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$111,651
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
91.5%
College Graduates
25%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.7%
Below the national average
13.3%
% Population in Labor Force
63.9%
Area Factors
Somewhat Bikeable
Bike Score®
42/ 100
Car-Dependent
Walk Score®
21/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
