New Lodge in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park
Staff at The Great St. Elias Station pick up guests in shuttles near the McCarthy airport and bring them to the property, which features ten private cabins.
Photo Credit: Adam Policky
The family that operates the most remote lodge in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve has a new offering, slightly more accessible but still off the end of the road. The Great St. Elias Station opened this month in McCarthy as a new venture from the owners of Ultima Thule Lodge.
Whereas the older lodge was established in the ‘80s at the headwaters of the Chitina River, the new destination is practically at the end of the McCarthy airstrip. However, the property is only reachable via footbridge over a glacial river, followed by shuttle service.
Wilderness Restoration
Upon arrival at The Great St. Elias Station, guests find ten private cabins and The Hall, an onsite restaurant and bar open to both guests and the public.
“The Hall is the heart of the property, serving as a basecamp for our overnight guests and a welcoming table for the community,” says co-owner Ellie Gray, whose family founded Ultima Thule Lodge. “It’s where days begin, stories are shared, and the place everyone returns to at night.”
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Each private cabin includes a mudroom to keep gear at the door, a writing desk next to a cozy chair, high-speed WiFi, a walk-in shower, and a custom copper sink. The focal point of each accommodation is a nine-foot-wide window seat with views of the mountains and two glaciers, including the second highest icefall in the world. Two cabin styles are available: Glacier Guest Cabins, which sleep two in a king bed, and Alpine Guest Cabins, which sleep up to four and have a lofted second bedroom.
The focal point of each private cabin at The Great St. Elias Station is a picture window with views of the country’s largest national park.
Photo Credit: Adam Policky
Down the trail from each accommodation, The Hall serves chef-led meals using local, foraged ingredients and produce. Menus might include handmade ramen with all the fixings, beef with polenta and charred vegetables, halibut with pasta in a lemon and white wine sauce, and a signature hamburger. The restaurant is open to Great St. Elias Station guests and to the public in McCarthy.
The new lodge has been three years in the making, designed by the team that developed Ultima Thule Lodge into an acclaimed destination. Staff tailor guests’ adventures into Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and share all the best local spots in McCarthy. For adventures further afield, the lodge works with local partners to facilitate journeys such as ice-climbing, kayaking amidst the icebergs, guided hikes with wild animal sightings, flightseeing, stargazing, and blueberry picking.
“Here at Great St. Elias Station, wilderness and refuge exist in harmony,” says Gray. “The wild exposes guests, and the right kind of shelter restores them. Together, they create an experience that neither could alone.”
The Hall is a bar and restaurant in McCarthy serving lunch and dinner daily, also serving as a rally point for lodge guests’ adventures.
Photo Credit: Adam Policky
Following its initial season, the property will be open annually from May through September. In the years to come, owners plan to expand The Great St. Elias Station with ten more accommodations, a guest lodge, and an onsite spa.
What happens when a city with fewer than 300 residents becomes a major freight and tourism hub, despite being accessible only by boat, plane, or a one-lane highway/railroad tunnel managed on a strict schedule?
If you’re in the City of Whittier, you get busy. The city has two separate transportation planning efforts underway, including a safety action plan under the federal Safe Streets and Roads for All initiative, which focuses on improving safety for pedestrians, cyclists, motorists, and emergency responders. The second is Whittier Moves, the city’s transportation master plan, which serves as the long-term roadmap for growth.