A few days into Summer Teachers Camp, campers left Dream a Dream Dog Farm located at mile 64.5 and headed north on the Parks Highway to Talkeetna.  The Talkeetna Spur Road takes a right off the Parks at mile 98.7; fourteen miles later the caravan of vehicles passed the well-known Welcome to Talkeetna road sign.    With a population of 876, which on any day of the summer can increase by several hundred, Talkeetna has just recently received the Channel 2 Viewer’s Choice Award for being the Best Day Trip Destination of 2015.  

The ageless Welcome Sign of Talkeetna

It’s a small town with a unique welcoming atmosphere that offers abundant adventure, excellent cuisine and unique gift shops.  Back in 1896, a trading post was established in the area and expanded into a riverboat supply base during the Susitna River gold rush of 1910.  The village continued to grow far beyond today’s numbers during the construction of the railroad.  The core of Talkeetna’s downtown is designated as a National Historic Site.  Several buildings, Nagley’s General Store, Fairview Inn and the Talkeetna Roadhouse date back to the early 1900s.    

Today, Talkeetna is home to several museums and the Walter Harper Ranger Station.  It’s the “jumping off” point for climbing the nearby peaks.  All climbers must secure permits at the ranger station before attempting McKinley or Foraker.  The station was named after the first person to summit Mt. McKinley, or Denali, as most Alaskans call her.

Views of the Alaska Range, especially Mt. McKinley, Mt. Foraker and and Mt. Hunter are stunning from many locations in the village.  Three rivers, the Talkeetna, Susitna and Chulitna converge and flow past the town.  Opportunities for jet boat river excursions, flightseeing and fishing are abundant.  To quote the Milepost, “Talkeetna is known for its highly creative citizenry (they officially elected a cat as mayor of the town), imaginative shops and businesses and the mystique of its mountaineering community.”  Current Talkeetna Roadhouse owner Trisha Costella says, “Talkeetna has everything but whales.”

View of McKinley, Foraker and Hunter from Talkeetna

As might be expected, the teachers had a “mushing” reason for visiting the quaint frontier village.  Owner and chef of the Wildflower Cafe, Jerome Longo, finished the Iditarod five consecutive years between 1997 and 2001.  Summer camp for teachers would not be complete without dining at the Wildflower and experiencing Longo’s notable cuisine created with locally produced, fresh, organic meats and vegetables.  We look forward to Jerome’s delicious carrot cake as dessert.  Word has it that Longo packed carrot cake for his personal meals while on the trail.  Excellent choice!

Before coming to Talkeetna, Longo worked at a prestigious restaurant in Kennebunkport, Maine.  One day, Vice President George Bush Sr., walked into the restaurant and ordered lobster which Jerome prepared.  When a chef’s position opened at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Bush Sr. asked Longo to apply. Jerome served up meals in the White House to Bush as the Vice President and for three years during his presidency.  

Twenty some years ago Longo, answering his inner call for adventure, departed the White House kitchen and ventured to the last frontier of Alaska to run dogs and climb mountains.  In his five Iditarod races his best finish was 27th in 1999; his best time in year Y2K, 12 days, 4 hours, 21 minutes and five seconds.  Fast forward fifteen years to the 2015 race where that time would have brought Longo to Nome between Lisbet Norris and Rob Cook who finished 49th and 50th respectively.  Since his last Iditarod, Jerome has made his mark on the restaurant scene of Talkeetna with the Wildflower Cafe.  

When eating at the Wildflower you’re just as likely to be sitting next to a climber from France who’s just returned from the summit of Denali or a tourist from Florida who’s enjoying the artistic nature of Talkeetna.  You’re as likely to be sitting next to a patron devouring a scrumptious burger, a patron feasting on salad or a patron savoring the crab stuffed halibut.  Whatever your choice, you’ll appreciate the fresh, local foods and the care that Longo puts into the meals served at the Wildflower.  The food, atmosphere and service received hearty praise from the teachers.