Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18
The property was originally built as the "Big Lake Fish Hatchery". Today some of the historic hatchery still remains but the property has been upgraded to include comfortable natural gas central heating to keep you warm year round and designed to be business traveler friendly with independent Wifi.
The Fort has its own Beaver/Moose Hiking trail. This trail leads to the "Beavers' playground" and splits off to "Moose Club", a perfect gathering point of moose on Alaska State Lands. Come for a quiet stroll and listen to nature for once.
With close access to the Big Lake recreation area, the property offers a quiet wooded escape with a wrap around deck overlooking Meadows Creek, one of Alaska's anadromous salmon bearing streams.
Being on Meadows Creek, "Fort Alaska" is a natural home to moose, river otter, trout, and salmon. Fish and kayak Meadows Creek within 100 feet of the unit. Situated on a private 9 acre parcel bordered by state owned 400 acre undeveloped forest. Now known as "Fort Alaska", the property offers the wild feel of Alaska yet is in close proximity to Big Lake and Wasilla. The paved road offers year-round access to Alaskan adventure but being a private 9 acre compound you have your own space to enjoy. Our quote includes a fee for kayaks, bikes and a small freezer for the storage of your fish.
With modern comforts and upgrades completed this single unit can be expanded and opened up to be a large double unit. To reserve this as a duplex unit to sleep up to 18 people please send an inquiry. Fort Alaska provides a nice location to relax and call your outpost to adventure. In Summer of 2024 the second unit can be rented to allow larger parties to stay together, however, it is NEVER rented to separate parties at the same time. We are currently working on our fitness center and Fort Alaska gym will be available to add into your stay. We will be posting pictures as soon as it is completed.
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Please use cutting boards provided - do not use knives on countertops
No Smoking on property!
Important information
You need to know
Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
On-site parties or group events are strictly prohibited
Host has indicated that there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property
Host has indicated that there is a smoke detector on the property
Safety features at this property include a fire extinguisher, a first aid kit and a deadlock
About the area
Big Lake
Located in Big Lake, this cabin is in a rural area and on the waterfront. The area's natural beauty can be seen at Rocky Lake State Recreation Site and Big Lake South State Recreation Site, while Alaska Museum of Transportation & Industry and Iditarod Trail Headquarters are cultural highlights. Kayaking and water tubing offer great chances to get out on the surrounding water, or you can seek out an adventure with mountain biking and ecotours nearby.
Rocky Lake State Recreation Site - 10 min walk - 0.9 km
Stepan Lake - 13 min walk - 1.1 km
Lynda Lake - 2 min drive - 1.7 km
Lazy Lake - 3 min drive - 2.0 km
Alaska Regional Hospital - 61 min drive - 103.3 km
Getting around
Wasilla Alaska Railroad Depot - 19 min drive
Anchorage, AK (MRI-Merrill Field) - 62 min drive
Restaurants
Floaters - 3 min drive
Silver Fox Inn - 10 min drive
Aardvark Catering and Pizza Thyme - 3 min drive
Roadside Inn - 10 min drive
Susitna Lodge - 16 min drive
Frequently asked questions
Is Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18 pet-friendly?
No, pets are not allowed at this property.
How much does it cost to stay at Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18?
As of 13 Apr 2026, prices found for a 1-night stay for 2 adults at Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18 on 28 Apr 2026 start from AU$515, including taxes and fees. This price is based on the lowest nightly price found in the last 24 hours for stays in the next 30 days. Prices are subject to change. Choose your dates for more accurate prices.
How much is parking at Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18?
On-site parking is available at the property.
What time is check-in at Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18?
Check-in begins at 3:00 PM.
What time is check-out at Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18?
Checkout is at 10:00 AM.
Where is Private Wooded Acres at Fort Alaska - Sleeps 10 comfortably expandable to18 located?
This family-friendly Big Lake cabin is located on the waterfront, within a 15-minute walk of Stepan Lake and Rocky Lake State Recreation Site. Lynda Lake and Lazy Lake are also within 1 mile (2 km).
Reviews
10
Exceptional
Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
What a wonderful place to stay! Very clean, kitchen has everything we needed, lots of nice towels, kayaks, fishing poles, comfortable beds, beautiful place to grill outside and nice fire area and great communication from the owners. We will definitely stay here again!
Very secluded and peaceful property, but not too far from town. Absolutely loved the inclusion of the creek and kayaks to go exploring. Plenty of space for a whole family or group of friends, but still small enough to feel homey.
Pictures don’t do this place justice. Very roomy and comfortable house with everything you need to cook meals. Nice stream on the property for kayaking. Will definitely stay here again.
Our stay at Fort Alaska was awesome!! We loved kayaking the stream and exploring the woods!! It was a great home base for all of our Alaska adventures!!
Shawn W.
Stayed 7 nights in May 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 12 June 2021
So glad ya'll enjoyed yourselves Shawn. Thanks for being awesome guests, especially with all those teenagers :) Hope you got some good R&R!
This was the second time that we stayed at this property! It is just as beautiful as last time, right on the river! Defiantly rent their kayaks and do on the river!!! Will book again next time we visit!
Brittni K.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug 2023
Thanks for staying Brit, glad you guys had time to enjoy the kayaks and the creek!
This property was clean and welcoming, with a great host and quaint views of the river. The check in process was easy and we were welcomed with muffins, Alaskan coffee, a bottle of wine and the history of the property. We didn't utilize the kayaks but did use the fire pit. The bedrooms where set up wonderfully with more than enough room of our group of 6.
Brittni K.
Stayed 3 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 1 July 2021
Thank you for the wonderful review Brittni. Hope you throughly enjoyed your weekend!
Great location for our needs and nice set up for our extended family. Private and quiet location without being too remote. Short drive to Wasilla, manageable drive to Anchorage for airport pick up and drop off, groceries and restaurant just around the corner in Big Lake. House was clean and offered all the basics we needed. Enjoyed having access to a washer and dryer, the iron was an added bonus!
Mary C.
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Mar 2021
Glad we could help with the iron need Mary! Thanks for the informative review.
This property worked well for our stay and travel purposes. Pro: We were able to do the Matanuska Glacier Hike/Tour—highly recommend!! Cons: The house is a duplex so you might have another rental group on the property with you…there was no hot tub, although it was listed as an amenity. More pros: The creek behind the house is beautiful, peaceful, and fun for kayaking/fishing. Would stay here again!
Madelyn L.
Stayed 4 nights in May 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 1 June 2024
So glad you enjoyed your stay Madelyn! As I mentioned, the hot tub listing was a glitch in the system I THOUGHT we got corrected with VRBO. Hopefully it has finally been done. As far as another rental group in the duplex at the same time, we clearly state we do not do that in our listings, the other side of the unit is only rented when we have large parties.
This is probably the most cleanest and comfortable house I’ve been so far!!! It feels like home, very peaceful here. Don’t know what else to add, other reviewers described everything already. Highly recommend you won’t regret it. Home owners are truly great people 😊…
Our stay at Fort Alaska was amazing! The host worked with us for payment options and was available for any questions. They left us some goodies upon arrival and that was so appreciated to have breakfast ready before we went to the grocery store. The girls loved having the lower level of the house to themselves and all being together. The views were amazing, beds were comfortable and the history of the property was interesting. We took the kayaks upstream and were able to see the beaver and a flock of willow ptarmigan (relative to the puffin). We would definitely recommend this home to others. Thank you for a wonderful stay.
Cindy C.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 10 June 2022
Hello Cindy, so glad you guys had time to actually ENJOY THE PROPERTY. So many folks miss out on what is actually here because they are so busy touring about! Glad you enjoyed it!
Carrie
From the ease of the check in/check out process, location of this property, access to all top of the line amenities as well as bicycles and kayaks, and availability/responsiveness of the property manager; this was by far our most superior stay. Don was outstanding! He went above and beyond by helping to make sure our needs were met on every level. It was our first time to Alaska and this property helped make sure our trip was unforgettable! Thank you for everything. Chip, Sara, and Chris.
Raymond P.
Stayed 5 nights in Jun 2022
Response from VrboOwner on 28 June 2022
Hey guys, so glad you really enjoyed yourselves. I heard you made excellent use of our kayaks - best feature the place has to offer in my opinion! Thanks for you kind words about Don too, good to know his work is appreciated. 😉
Carrie
I rented the space for myself and four other work buddies. We realized when we got there that five grown men each wanted their own space. The hosts were kind enough to open an extra bedroom for us to use last minute. The place was extra clean and the beds comfy. We used the heck out of the BBQ, plenty of spices etc to help us cook. We enjoyed fishing on a pontoon boat on Big Lake, and the Nature Conservancy about an hour away. Kobuk the Bear is quite an entertainer when in the mood! The property itself is right on a creek, so we waded in the water to catch a bite. They also have bikes, fishing poles, and kayaks for use which was cool. We were even provided a dozen muffins, coffee and creamer, which was great since we got in at 2am.
Oh — also, one of our party forgot their AirPods at the house. They were shipped back to us from the hosts! Thank you, Carrie!
Dylan M.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2024
Response from VrboOwner on 16 Aug 2024
Thank you Dylan. Glad you and your crew had a great time. Hopefully the AirPods made it back ok!
The house is simply beautiful on the inside. The floors and furniture were a lovely dark wood and the artwork was really pretty. The house is well stocked and very comfortable. There was even a firepit that was all set up with plenty of wood, though it did rain the entire time we were there so we couldn't take advantage of it. The creek is very close and it had many salmon when we stayed in mid-August. The location was great, about an hour from Anchorage, three hours from Denali and 30-40 minutes from a couple of other places we visited. There were also several little towns nearby where we found plenty of restaurants.
The owner was responsive and even stopped by to make sure that our stay was going smoothly and that we didn't need anything. She also cared enough to make sure we had contingency plans when she realized that my sister was returning to Florida while a hurricane was hitting the state.
One downside was that the road was nearby when outside by the creek and so traffic noise was frequent and louder than we'd have liked. That was a minor issue compared to the positive aspects of the property.
Fort Alaksa was an amazing place to stay and far exceeded our expectations.
Space and accommodations. The Fort slept our family of four adults and two children very comfortably. We even had room for more! From pizza pans, games, and bug spray, the Fort really does have it all
Location. For us, the location could not have been better. We were there to visit family in Palmer, but also ventured out to Anchorage and other surrounding areas.
The property Fort Alaksa is located on is beautiful and secluded. And did I mention the Fort has it all! Bikes, balls, kayaks, fire pit, lots of outdoor seating! Easy access to the creek made kayak launching simple and so fun. We saw what we thought were beavers, but after some googling, we learned they were muskrats.
The hosts are really good people. It's obvious they want your stay to be comfortable, enjoyable and memorable. They were available and easy to communicate with when needed. They really did go above and beyond!!
We would definitely stay here again and highly recommend as THE place you must stay!!
Stephen S.
Stayed 8 nights in Jun 2023
Response from VrboOwner on 2 July 2023
Hello Christine and Stephen,
Thanks so much for your kind comments. We really do strive to think of everything to make our guests comfortable. Glad you made good use of our pizza pan! Kiddos do like their pizza 😉 So happy you guys had time to actually enjoy the property itself. It is a fun place to explore.
We had a great time and this property was perfect for my family! Plenty of things to do for the adults and children! Carrie was very accommodating and helpful!
Our visit was brief, but we had a great stay. Thanks for the accommodating extras! examples; coffee, shampoo, trash bags. Simple...but VERY appreciated.
We booked this duplex for a nearby wedding and could not have been more pleased with this property. The home was exceptionally clean and well cared for. We found it fully stocked with toilet paper, laundry detergent, and other necessities. The fluffy towels were a nice touch! Our week was full of festivities so we didn’t make use of the patio, but it looks like a nice place for an evening fire. Highly recommend to anyone looking to stay in the Big Lake area!
Artur W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 21 Aug 2021
Thank you for your kind words Art. Glad you enjoyed your stay.
Fort Alaska was an ideal location for our vacation in Alaska! We were able to drive to Anchorage, Palmer and even Denali without issue. The property is clean, well-stocked and beautiful. Thanks for sharing your Alaska home with us!
Jennifer V.
Stayed 8 nights in Jul 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug 2021
Your quite welcome Jenn. So happy to hear all met your expectations!
We had a great time. Beautiful property, beautiful home. Lots of space and amenities. Kayaks and bikes were an awesome plus. Close enough to town, yet secluded enough. Saw wildlife on the property. Overall wonderful time.
Taylor W.
Stayed 7 nights in Jun 2021
Response from VrboOwner on 10 Aug 2021
Thanks for the kind words Taylor. Glad you enjoyed your time :)
The house slept 11 adults (3 couples, could have been 4) and were extremely comfortable. Kitchen was nicely stocked with some of the necessities and utensils - there are 12 large coffee cups. Two bathrooms with beautiful showers worked great and we never ran out of hot water.
Outside has a nice fire pit with wood, a comfortable seating area under a metal patio. Bikes, kayaks and other equipment is available for use (some for a fee).
The location is a former fish hatchery so you'll see remnants of it about. There are some trails, a small creek and a nested pair of Swallows in a bird house.
There is a road near the house, but we weren't disturbed by the traffic during the day or night.
Like the title eludes, what more do you need? Yes, there's even a variety of mosquito sprays.
Robert P.
Response from VrboOwner on 1 July 2021
Robert, thanks for the very informative review. I'm sure some travelers will really appreciate the detail! Although, I do think there are only ten coffee cups, but, if it felt like 12 that's ok too.
Hope you guys had a great stay.
Thanks, 😊 Carrie
My family loved this place, in fact we're already planning to come back next year. There's a creek with salmon in it literally steps away from the back door.
We kayaked down to Big Lake in the creek. It's four miles each way.
The house was fully equipped, and nicely furnished, and we enjoyed eating our meals outside.
There's a Three Bears market (mini Costco) right around the corner. Which is a good place to get for food.
Did I mention we're already planning to come back next year?
Another plus is the Ardvark restaurant, they have good food. The town of Wasilla is just minutes away.
Did I mention we're already planning to come back next year?
Brad G.
Stayed 4 nights in Aug 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Mar 2021
Glad you enjoyed your stay Brad! Thank you for your kind words and helpful insights!
Our hosts were very friendly & accommodating. The age range for this trip was from 19 to 73 & the main activities were fishing & hiking. This location was great for that and also provided kayaks for the stream on the property. Groceries & etc were close by & we even went to Whittier for a day. We highly recommend this property.
Mary P.
Stayed 7 nights in Jul 2020
Response from VrboOwner on 9 Mar 2021
Glad you enjoyed your stay Mary.
About the host
Hosted by Jeff & Carrie Maichel
Jeff Maichel has owned the Fort for 15 years. Semi retired from the pipeline industry Jeff still has a pipeline company that operates and a tool building company in Oklahoma City. He has spent much time in Alaska and with properties in Ketchikan and Big Lake. In Jeff's younger years he King Crab fished out of Kodiak and spent time in the gold fields near Denali. The years have settled him down a bit with his wife and partner of 38 years Carrie who manages the details of the Fort. Come visit our beautiful retreat.
Why they chose this property
You can escape from the world at our Fort, but since the owners of this property are business people reliable communication and being able to run a business from the property is a priority. Advanced internet has been installed and is available throughout the whole property. The property consists of 9 private acres with lots of room to relax and explore. During the summer watch the wildlife and salmon and during the winter many winter sports and activities are near by. The property was once home to the Big Lake Fish Hatchery with some of the history remaining. The property was designed after the owner has spent 25 years on the road at various locations around America. The design offers clean and tasteful accommodations in classy comfort with a semi remote location where you can relax or work if you have to!
What makes this property unique
The Property is on a natural salmon bearing stream and with a private entrance to this natural compound we call "Fort Alaska". It is close to activities yet offers private 9 acres of isolated security. The property has natural gas central heating for easy temperature control. Easy access to Big Lake but without the loudness of the lake during the summer months. Downtown Wasilla is 20 minutes away but the Fort is remote enough to still feel like Alaska.
Languages:
English
Premier Host
They consistently provide great experiences for their guests