We were making our way around from Anchorage to Fairbanks via Glenn Hwy/Richardson Hwy. There isn't…read moremuch lodging options in the Glenallen/Copper River area. I am so glad we booked a room here. It was about 12 miles south of Glenallen, and when I said it's virtually in the middle of nowhere, I am not kidding. Once we turned off from the highway as indicated by sign and started our drive up the hill, we did not expect to see such a grand looking lodge awaiting us at the end! The view from the main lobby is breathtaking. Combined with the huge stone fireplace, one can simply chill in the lobby forever. And you may end up in the lobby more often than you expect, as this is the only area with wifi (no wifi access in room). As you may already know, this is part of the Princess Cruises entity. It can get super busy on certain days, or super dead on others depending on cruise schedule. We were the rarity who came here on our own and not as part of a tour package. Room is basic but clean and comfortable. For $99 a night, I think it was of great value. We were visiting during Labor Day week, which is toward the end of the season. I booked directly on their website and prepaid online. We arrived early evening (around 7ish pm) and after a quick check-in, we were able to take a quick hike to Klutina River viewpoint. There are several trails for hiking around the lodge. For food, I was surprised that the pricing is about the same as other places. Since there isn't really anywhere else to go for food, thank you for not jacking up the prices. We had a drink in the bar the night we check-in (closes at 10). $7.50 for a vodka drink isn't all that bad. I also tried their smoked salmon chowder, it was tasty and served as a great late night small meal. We skipped breakfast but had an early lunch in the bar the next day (kitchen opens at 11am) before we headed out. I had the grilled salmon sandwich with fries. Good portion, unfortunately it was slightly overcooked and not as well seasoned as I like. Overall food and service were good enough. There is a laundry room upstairs (right across from our room). $5 a load (wash & dry) and $1.50 for detergent. And there is a little gift shop by the main entrance - good place to get some souvenir. The lodge isn't far from Wrangell St Elias National Park (biggest in the NP system), they offer a shuttle bus from lodge to visitor Center for $5 (assuming you came here as part of a tour group without a car). Overall I highly recommend Copper River Princess Wilderness Lodge for your stay in the area especially if the price is right. It was as close to luxury as you can get in the wilderness of Alaska! P.S. It will be closing for winter soon. Check online for their 2019 season. Tip: Even numbered rooms face the mountains - those in the middle of the building have the best view. We had Room 200 and we saw mostly trees (still better than parking lot)

Horrible, horrible management. The place is nothing special at all, and with the terrible…read moremanagement, it was a MISERABLE trip. Skip this place folks.

This is a hard one to write. Three stars because of the history of the lodge and family owned is…read morelovely... Shawn who is running it is as kind as can be with some good conversation but breakfast as the season winds down wasn't edible. The over easy eggs had full runny whites, the hash browns were put in the microwave to rehydrate and there wasn't enough salt or hot sauce to be able to eat them. It was rough... I ate my sausage and toast but that was it. Coffee was good too. I imagine in the summer when it's busier, they have things prepped in advance... at least I hope so. $20+ per meal is a bit much when it's that bad.

My girlfriend and I had blown a tire on the side of the road and busted two studs. When walking…read moreback from town one of the employees here not only gave us a ride but brought us in and gave us a place to stay and food for our bellies. We can't express how grateful we were to be taken in by these great people. Not to mention it was he best bed me and my partner had slept in in some time. God bless these people and give them a try the canoe on the lake is amazing also!

Very clean and friendly staff. We love a family own and ran business. Restaurant on site a what we…read morehad was tasty. We stayed here on the recommendation of Mat--Su Jolly Roger fishing. Pictures of out side and fish caught will be attached.

Rude and unfriendly experience. We walked in and were greeted with "What do you want?" When we…read moreasked if we could get something to eat, the response was, "No you don't, not here." It was 3pm, no kitchen hours posted, and no reason for the rudeness. It's really sad to see this place decline. It used to hold such special memories of my childhood, camping with my dad and going to the lodge for a soda and something to eat. Now, it's just another unfriendly place that doesn't live up to the welcoming vibe it used to have.

Great food and portion sizes. It was a warm and cozy place to be after a long day of driving and…read morevisit to Wrangell St Elias Natl Park. We started with dessert first (why not) of a delicious homemade rhubarb pie in a little mini tin with vanilla ice cream on top. They also had blueberry and apple as choices. Then we shared the piping hot corn fritters that came with honey butter. Super good but super filling. The Reuben was amazing. Very tender meat and delicious homemade sauce with hand cut French fries. Seems like the local hangout spot. And was greeted by a very friendly dog on the way in! Wine and beer options as well.

Cute place with great food. I got the Reuben and it was amazing. The French fries are some of the…read morebest I've ever had, and this is coming from someone who considers the potato an actual food group. If you're inclined to venture far from the beaten path, then head to Copper Center and check this place out!

I waited in the lobby to check in for almost an hour no one was around I used the walky talky at…read morethe front desk numerous times to call for service. I called the phone and still couldn't get anyone to show up and help me. The water in the room was nasty and slimy and smelled like suffer you feel way nastier after showering then not showering at all. The rooms are super old and dated. They do not clean your room even if you stay there a month they charge you 50 bucks if you want your room cleaned.

This was the best hotel/stay of our 3 week Alaska trip. It's such a charming, old historic lodge!…read moreIt's got beautiful views, it's clean and we had a wonderful breakfast the next morning. The owners were running the kitchen and they were so modest and kind. We wished we could have joined for dinner the night before but we showed up a few minutes after the kitchen had closed. The atmoshpere in the saloon/bar and the restaurant bring you back to long lost times. It's charming and authentic. You can tell the people running this place really care. It's clean, they think of everything you could want/need and I believe they undersell themselves. They could charge a lot more than what they're charging right now. It was our cheapest and best hotel stay. These types of places would be $400plus in California. Thanks for the lovely stay!

Options are limited when it comes to finding a place to stay in this corner of the state...but…read morethere is none better, I dare say, in the entire state as Gakona Lodge! We pulled in later than I wanted and had to leave way too early, but the time we had in Cabin #3 was fantastic! Ample room for a family of five in a rustic cabin set in this amazing valley, alongside a swift moving creek, within walking distance of good eats...it is a perfect roadside oasis! We ate at the bar that night since the restaurant dining room was closed...mostly pub fare...but healthy portions and with a touch of someone who cares hand cut fries, a hint of tarragon in the tartar sauce,...best damn cheese curds I've ever had...holy crap...the curds were like garlic nuggets...and cheese! Someone is doing great things with somewhat limited offerings. Even the tap list is subject to what's available...lucky for them there's Gakona Brewing (sounds like a guy in his basement) down the road knocking out a couple kegs of beer for them to keep the ale flowing! After dinner, we made it back to our cabin and watched a DVD on how to skin a bear...because...ALASKA! WTF NOT? Cozy warm beds and a good nights sleep...a simple, but adequate breakfast of fruit, AMAZING HOMEMADE SCONES, coffee and juices put us back on the road...I wish i could have spent days here in this little oasis...maybe next time when I have a little more time on my hands... Thank You for being the perfect little getaway from it all!

We stopped and had dinner here. It was one of the most satisfying and enjoyable dinner I ever…read morehad. Our server who's also the owner (and chef maybe?) is very nice and attentive. We ordered the Cornish hen with salad, Mushroom Medley with bread and homemade tea. The Mushroom medley arrived first, it was so good and full of flavor, matched perfectly with the toasted bread. The cornish hen was seasoned and cooked to perfection, crispy on the outside and tender and juicy inside. The homemade tea smelled so good and tasted divine! Although there is a For Sale sign in the front, not sure that will happen when it gets sold. So if you are in the area, stop by and check it out before it changes ownership!

A little gem hidden along the highway. We drove past this so many times over the years and have…read morealways been curious about it. We finally stopped for dinner. We had called to see if it was open and we're told to come after seven since they were feeding construction crews earlier. One other group was leaving just as we got there and we had the restaurant to ourselves. We got one entrée and one appetizer to split. We got the Machanka and the Russian style mushroom medley with chicken. It was more food than we could eat. Felt like comfort food, my husband was very happy with it. Recommend!

If you need a peaceful escape or a home base for outdoor adventures, this is the place. They are…read morebeyond friendly, pricing is super reasonable and the rooms are clean. This is not a fancy place, but it is clearly well cared for. The staff are local experts and tell you all the places to go for food and fun.

I have stayed at Nelchina Lodge a few times. Always super welcoming. Very relaxed environment and I…read morewill stay there again in the future