Kenny Creek Lodge

07/20/2017

Unless we get some miracle by August 1st,
KENNY CREEK LODGE IS CLOSING

Fellow Alaskans,

As you all know, most of Alaska has not enjoyed a decent winter for many years. Petersville, which used to be known for its consistently good snowfall, has been significantly impacted. Less snow means less riders, which translates to less income. Our winter season at the lodge has dropped from six months to barely more than three. Despite our investments to become more efficient, using only a quarter of the energy/fuel we did just six years ago, it is still extremely expensive to maintain and operate our remote property and the fleet of trucks, snow machines, ATVs, and various equipment required to support Kenny Creek Lodge. We have operated at a loss for most of the last decade.

For the past few years, we have been to various banks, credit unions, and other lending institutions to try to get the funding needed to expand our summer operation, in order to keep the lodge alive. Unfortunately, we have been unable to secure even a modest loan against a remote property like Kenny Creek Lodge.

We are truly heartbroken to announce that after twenty five years in business, barring a miracle in the next week, Kenny Creek Lodge will join the long and ever growing list of former backcountry lodges in Alaska. We deeply feel the loss of another uniquely Alaskan place, but we simply can no longer afford to keep the doors open. We've been neglecting our personal bills and health to keep the lodge going, waiting for the snow to return, and have reached a point where we are just out of options.

If anyone is interested in acquiring our property in Petersville or any of the afore mentioned vehicles and equipment, please send us a private message. You’ll find everything priced to move so we can try to get back on our feet financially.

We would like to thank our many loyal customers, our generous and supportive neighbors, our ever helpful friends, and our amazing and hardworking staff over the years. Thanks to all of you for your help in our living the dream for so long. This has been an incredible experience! As painful as it is to let go of the lodge, we don't regret falling in love with her in the first place. We hope the memories of Kenny Creek Lodge will always have a special place in your hearts as it will in ours.

With heavy hearts,

The owners of Kenny Creek Lodge

03/30/2017

Do you like groomed trails? If so, come enjoy a day of riding them while helping raise the funding needed to maintain our trail system. See you Saturday.

WE ARE SUPPORTING OUR LOCAL COMMUNITY AND SNOWMOBILE CLUBS!! IF YOU SHOW PROOF OF MEMBERSHIP TO A SNOWMOBILE CLUB AND YOU PARTICIPATE BY ENTERING THE FUN RUN YOU GET A FREE EXTRA CARD TO DRAW! IF YOU SHOW PROOF YOU JOINED OR RENEWED YOUR MEMBERSHIP FOR THE CURRY RIDGE RIDERS ON APRIL 1ST BY ATTENDING THEIR BBQ YOU GET A FREE EXTRA HAND!! IF YOU VISIT OR STAY AT GATE CREEK CABINS APRIL 1ST ASK SUSIE FOR HER LOGO AND YOU WILL GET A FREE EXTRA CARD! IF STAY OR MAKE A PURCHASE AT KENNY CREK LODGE AND ASK TIM FOR HIS LOGO YOU GET A FREE EXTRA CARD! WE HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!!!

03/29/2017

A few inches of fresh snow so far on top of the very firm base. Trails are still in excellent condition, so should be some great spring riding this weekend. We still have a cabin and a couple of rooms available so call the lodge soon to book yours.

03/23/2017

It's a blue bird day in Petersville. The forecast calls for more of the same throughout the weekend. The trail system is perfectly groomed, the base is set so you can go wherever you like, and the weather will be perfect for spring trail riding. Come Enjoy the Ride!

03/13/2017

Happy Spring Break Alaska. It's sunny and beautiful here in South Denali. The trails are in great condition and the lodge is open all week. Monday night we have a surprise, guest chef. Our friend Jason Lee, is cooking us an amazing Game Loaf (elk, venison, pork, and caribou meatloaf) served with mashed potatoes with gravy and Normandy vegetables. There is very limited seating so call to reserve your spot. Dinner will be served around 7:30 on Monday.

02/24/2017

We still have a couple of rooms/cabins available this weekend. Call the lodge to book. Yay snow!!!

Snow..snow.. and more snow!!! Yes it has been snowing quite a bit in the Petersville area, starting last weekend and continuing through the week. Tuesday was a blue bird day though and it was spectacular. While still not epic snow levels of the 80s and 90s, we do have more snow than we have had in quite a few years and it really nice stuff.

All trails were groomed this week except the Rabiduex Trail and I did receive a trail report that the snow bridge at Sawmill Creek, just south of the mile 110 highway crossing, has collapsed. Don't worry it is marked well and there is a small log bridge just to the left(downstream) that easily gets you across and on your way.

Here is a photo of the Peter Hills taken tuesday near Lunch Box Hill on the Deep Creek Trail.

02/01/2017

Finally, we get a Petersville snowfall. The lodge staff rode our snowmachines to Talkeetna yesterday, and rode back to the lodge in this snow storm. Apparently we need to do this more often!

Snow report: it's been snowing consistently for days now. The snow stick shows 3.5 feet and it's supposed to continue through the night. Fingers crossed we hit 4 feet by morning. (To my lovely and crazy Snow Dancing Girls, well done and keep shakin' it!) Keep in mind our snow stick is in the wind and represents the minimum snow level. Lots of snowdrifts out there, as you can see in one of the pics below. As well, the trail system is now set and, as you can see, groomed as well. Thank you Alaska Snow Cat!

The weather this weekend will be bright sun and temps in the low thirties. Perfect weather to complement the great snowfall. We will open Thursday at 5pm, so come by and try Denali Brewing Company's new Petersville Pilsner and Enjoy the Ride!

01/28/2017

At long last...and still snowing...

01/28/2017

Snow Conditions:

Some fresh snow to report this week with 6" plus or minus throughout the area. Deepest new snow is north and west.
Temps have risen during the week and are currently 37 above but are expected to go back down by friday.

Groomed up through Deep Creek and then down the Jim/Mar trail monday and it is still somewhat brushy in spots and be careful near the south end as the big boulders are still poking out some.

The P-ville Road is in excellent shape all the way through the canyon with a little overflow on the trail near the bridge. The trails through Kenny Creek are in.

The Tokositna trails were put in and all the crossings of Bunco and the Tokositna are in very good shape. There are wands placed north of Bunco Creek to identify a soft spot in the trail where a spring/creek has open water. Go around as necessary.

The E/W Express and Safari Lake Trail were groomed and are in very good condition but the snow is still thin so be aware of stumps along the edges of the trail.

The CBT will be groomed before the weekend but no grooming south on the Rabiduex in order to protect the snow bridges from collapsing during this warm spell.

All in all the trails are in good shape and riding off trail is improving but the snow is still a little thin.