We stumbled upon Icy Strait Lodge completely by accident when we visited Icy Strait Point in…read moreHoonah, Alaska. We were originally planning on visiting Icy Strait Brewing to sample some Alaskan beers. We walked 30 minutes along a beautiful waterfront trail to the brewer only to find out they were closed! We decided to head down to the waterfront as there appeared to be a restaurant there (The Fisherman's Daughter). When we got to the window, the server immediately stated, "You're looking at an hour wait at least for food." On top of that, they didn't have the Alaskan beers we wanted to try. We walked next door to a tourist spot and asked if they had Alaskan beers. "Nope, but it's about a 7-minute walk up to Icy Strait Lodge; you can try some beers there."
Google Maps to the rescue! We plugged Icy Strait Lodge into the gps and headed out on our walk to the lodge.
First impressions: The lodge is unassuming. No big signage to ruin the beautiful Alaskan landscape; rather, just a simple sign that invited you into the lodge, bar, and restaurant (gift shop, coming soon). When we got to the door, we saw a Summer Hours sign advertising the fact that the restaurant and bar run a "split shift" that gives their staff a break in the middle of the day - which was right when we got there. Our hearts sank.
We walked in and stood in the lobby. I'm sure we looked a bit lost. A friendly worker came out of the office and asked if she could help us. When we explained our situation, she apologized and reiterated the hours on the sign. Disappointed, we thanked her and wished her well. It was at this point, the miracle of Alaskan hospitality kicked in. "You've come all this way, let me grab the keys to the bar." She disappeared back into the office momentarily and came back with a ring of keys. She led us through the closed restaurant to a locked gate that sealed off the bar, unlocked it and turned on the lights. "What would you like?" she asked.
The bar was very well stocked. In addition to all of your staples, they had Alaskan seltzers, IPAs, ales, and more. I picked out a Cherry Grapefruit hard seltzer from Alaskan Brewing Company. My cruise partner got the Island Ale, also from the same brewer; his was brewed with tangerine, passionfruit and guava. The friendly worker led us out to the back patio, asked for our names, and headed back inside while we took in the views.
After about 20 minutes, the worker came back out to check on us and see if we needed refills. Of course! For our second round, we tried Alaskan Brewing Company WHITE and Mango Peach hard seltzer. She followed us back outside and shared with us that she owned the lodge! We proceeded to learn about the lodge, Hoonah, and how challenging it can be finding staff. The love for Alaska and Hoonah was clear in the owner's stories. We couldn't believe the luck we had stumbled on finding this place.
After we finished our second round, the owner asked us if we'd like a ride back to the cruise port! We paid our bill ($24 for 4 local beers, very reasonable) and loaded up in her vehicle with her blind dog and best friend. She then drove us around Hoonah, sharing more history of the town, waving at everyone she saw - it's clear, the she knows the locals and the locals know the lodge! We stopped by a local park to take in the beautiful views before finally heading back to the cruise port.
Upon arrival back at the drop-off spot, we thanked her for the hospitality and promised that if we ever come back to Icy Strait Point we'd visit. What a truly unexpected day and experience in Hoonah, Alaska. If you ever get a chance to visit, swing by Icy Strait Lodge!! Whether you stop in for a quick visit like us, or book a room at the lodge, you won't regret it. The Alaskan hospitality is so genuine and welcoming. Even weeks after our visit, I can't help but smile as I type this.