Black Rapids Lodge- the visit

On the way back from Arctic Man, I stopped at the lodge for the first time. its a beautiful timberframe structure with beds for about a dozen couples. It sits right next to Black Rapids Army Training Center so is a logical choice to partner with to add a bit of flair to our programs. Hence the visit. This weekend the lower level was occupied by 2 NatGeo videographers who were onsite to film Arctic Man for an upcoming episode of 'Alaska State Troopers'. I showed up and met Anne. The owner along with her husband Michael. The lodge is off grid which provides some serious challenges in interior Alaska. On this particular day their well had frozen solid and Michael was working to unfreeze it while his son hauled water from a neighbor to fill their 1000 gallon cistern in case Michael was unsuccessful. Mary, their new cook, the cordon bleu one didn't work out, was busy assembling dinner in the kitchen. And other assorted friends and guests were milling about. Anne and I made our way to the top of the lodge which is a birds nest of sorts surrounded 360 degrees in stained glass with all the hues of the rainbow. We talked about what they might be able to offer our patrons and I explained our ideas and the hurdles we face working for Uncle Sam. She invited me to stay for dinner since a couple guests had cancelled last minute, they had extra for sure. Our discussion ran the gamut from the weather, big fat flakes were falling, to her father's time in the military and at West Point, to her husbands skiing passion, attempts to climb Mt. Hayes, and everything in between. All the while I was eyeing the eclectic beauty of the lodge itself as well as the fine furnishings they'd chosen. Beautiful wood tables, stone fireplaces, leather couches, fine metal work in nature themes. The whole place was styled in a fashion reminiscent of the great National Park lodges of old, but especially on a famous lodge found in Yosemite. it was grand but cozy at the same time. The whole decor pulled together well and the views were stupendous with craggy peaks right out the back door towering overhead and the river and opposite side of the valley out the front windows. What a beautiful place. Dinner was actually pretty darn good also. We started with a house salad with oil and vinegar and piping hot fresh wheat bread. The main course was chicken over polenta with fresh greenbean side followed by an amazingly moist chocolate cake with a gooey center. i definitely messed up my paleo diet for the day. After dinner we sat around as a group talking about anything and everything again. The overall atmosphere was easy and relaxing.
And I paid for dinner to make sure everything was above board in case we use them as a government vendor in the future.

Here's their website if you want to see the lodge itself, I unfortunately left my camera in the car. I now have a ready excuse to visit again.

http://www.lodgeatblackrapids.com/