CHENA HOT SPRINGS

The source of the hot water

        We love hot springs, and when we see one on the map, we automatically steer towards it.   Chena is located just under 100 kilometres from Fairbanks, an easy and scenic drive.  Along the way we say another moose grazing in a swamp .  

        Chena is an interesting place.  The hot spring pool is  a natural pool surrounded by large boulders. The temperature of the water at source is 160 F. , in the pool it is cooled down to a comfortable 110. F degree.   When we arrived it was raining and the sulphur smell was therefore a bit unpleasant.  The hot temperatures of the water and the sulphur in the air just zapped the energy out of you. 

Enjoying the cool mist that is being sprayed out, cause the water is hot!

        Chena Hot Springs used to be owned by the Alaskan government, who lost one million dollars annual because of the fuel cost for keeping the place running.  In the mid 90’s a Bernie Karl bought the place.  Bernie is very much into alternative energy.  The resort offers a renewable energy tour that we went on.  It was very interesting. 

Getting a warm water jet massage

The resort  now has its own power plant, using the naturally hot springs water they heat it even more using refrigerant and create power.   Apology to my science geek friends, but I can’t explain it better then that.   

Power Plant

The resort now produces more power then it needs and Bernie is trying to get access to the power grid to sell the excess, because they have no way of storing the excess power. 

The resort also has its own green house; it is the most northernly year round green house in the world.  We toured this as well. They produce more lettuce and tomatoes that they can use in the restaurant that they sell it to stores in Fairbanks.  

Green house with lettuce plants

Tomatoes in Chena Hot Springs Greenhouse

Around the property were several outdoor vegetable gardens were they grown their own potatoes and assortment of vegetable and herbs.  It is Bernie’s goal to have the resort become totally self sufficient.  This year they are putting in a fish farm.   With the extra power they build a refrigeration for an ice museum.  Henry really wanted to see this, I didn’t really care, but we went on the tour and wow. 

Horses

  It was beautiful !.  They have two 5 time world champion ice carvers, as husband and wife team, who do all the carving. 

Henry in Budha pose on ice bed

For a mere $600. a night you can sleep on an ice bed with caribou hide blankets. 

Henry on the Ice John, with Ice door open

Thanks but no thanks, I will sleep in my trailer.  They served green apple martini in a souvenir ice glass.

At the Ice Bar 

Yes you guest it, I now have a frozen ice martini glass in my trailer freezer. 

Drinking my martini, on ice stools, next to ice fireplace

Not sure what to do with it though.  With the daily temperature around 26 C, I do not think it will last long enough for me to finish a drink.    

Ice Christmas Tree

Ice Rose 

        So if any of you are thinking of coming to Chena Hot Springs resort, they have 80 rooms, horseback riding, ATV tours, hiking, massage therapy and an airstrip, so travel the way the Alaskans do, just fly in, there is plenty of parking at the end of the air strip.   Book far ahead if travelling in the winter because the resort is full with Japanese tourist who come for the hot springs and northern light. They even have an Aurorium.  

And of course, after the ice museum, back to the Hot Spring Pool