Talkeetna blends an artsy community with natural beauty
Located just over 100 miles north of Anchorage, Talkeetna sits at the confluence of the Susitna, Talkeetna and Chulitna rivers. Backdropped by the snowy caps of Mount Denali and surrounded by verdant forests, much of the lifestyle here centers around nature. “We are a small village filled with wonderful, quirky, backwoods people,” says Joy DeAnn Autrey, a local Realtor with Herrington and Company, who has lived in the area for over a decade. “We are also a tourist-driven community — people can come up here and be in this little town with cool gift shops and restaurants, and they see the northern lights.” Even after the busy summer season cools down, residents enjoy an active lifestyle through the winter.
Outdoor fun includes salmon fishing, boating and snowshoeing
Spending time outdoors is a part of daily life in Talkeetna. The town's location on the riverfront makes salmon fishing a popular activity, and local anglers can drop in at the Talkeetna Boat Launch and Campground. Talkeetna Riverfront Park has campsites and a trail along the Susitna River, offering distant views of Mount Denali. “This is probably one of the best towns to get a view of Denali,” Autrey says. “The best time to spot it is in the morning, when temperatures are low and clouds haven’t rolled in.” Rafts bob along the river in the spring and summer, and snowshoe prints cover hiking trails in the winter. “We do ice fishing and snow machining,” Autrey says. “You name the outdoor winter sport, and we are doing it.”
Talkeetna homes range from downtown lots to 40-acre spreads
Homes in Talkeetna blend in with the area’s natural terrain. Most come in cabin and chalet style and are framed by white spruce, balsam poplars and other native trees. Build dates stretch from the mid-to-late 20th century into the 2020s. Homes on streets near downtown sit close together on quarter-to full-acre lots. Farther out, properties can reach up to 40 acres. “I take clients on four-wheelers and snowmobiles to see rural properties,” Autrey says. It’s also common for many of these homes to be sold and used as vacation rentals for tourists. The median sales price is $280,000, less than the nearby city of Wasilla. Properties located in low-lying areas are at risk of flooding. Matanuska-Susitna Borough's official website offers flood insurance rate maps and other relevant resources.
Residents dine locally downtown and shop big-box stores in Wasilla
Once a hub for miners during the late 19th-century gold rush, downtown’s Talkeetna Historic District still presents a rustic aesthetic. Locally owned businesses like Nagley’s Store, which has served the community with daily essentials since 1921, sit within longstanding wood-clad buildings adorned with vintage signs and decor. Denali Brewing Company is a local favorite for fish and chips and craft beer. At Mountain High Pizza, patrons enjoy slices out on the patio with occasional live music. Several art galleries also dot the district, alongside a few specialty stores. Groceries are available at Cubby’s Marketplace on the area’s south side, and Wasilla, 70 miles southeast, has big-box stores like Target and Walmart Supercenter.
Roads and railways connect residents to hospitals and airports
State Route 3 cuts through the community, leading 70 miles southeast to Wasilla, home to Mat-Su Regional Medical Center. From Wasilla, residents can use state Route 1 to reach Anchorage, roughly 115 miles south, where commercial flights take off from Ted Stevens Anchorage International Airport. The Denali Star train carries tourists from Anchorage to Fairbanks, with stops at Talkeetna Station and Denali National Park. However, the Hurricane Turn train, Autrey says, serves "people living in the bush". "You get on the train in town and tell the conductor what mile marker you want to get off at," she says. "They will stop and let you off in the middle of nowhere.”
Seasonal events bring neighbors together
Locals celebrate Talkeetna Winterfest throughout the entire month of December. The annual event includes a Parade of Lights, gift shows and the anticipated Bachelor Society Ball and Auction. “We bring women from all over to bid on Alaskan men,” Autrey says. “It raises a ton of money, and it all goes back to the women and children in the community.” In early March, more than 700 Oosik Classic Ski Race participants take to the snow in brightly colored costumes for the annual tradition. The race features 10K, 25K and 50K routes that wrap around nearby lakes and through the Matanuska-Susitna Valley wilderness.
Education through the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District
Talkeetna Elementary School serves prekindergarten through fifth grade and receives a B from Niche. Susitna Valley Jr./Sr. High School also earns a B and enrolls sixth through 12th grade students. Each year in February and April, the school’s Native Youth Olympics team travels to Anchorage to compete against others across the state. Open to native and non-native students, the games celebrate the state’s indigenous traditions.
Written By
Matthew Simmons
