Chilkut Eagle Bed & Breakfast

We had a nice little drive into Haines after leaving the ferry. It had just recently snowed, so we felt we had a nice welcome from the state of Alaska. We wended our way along the coast until our trusty little GPS told us to turn right. We almost didn't believe our ears because this road right, was hardly traveled on. We put our faith in our little piece of technology and turned right and went down a driveway that did not have one single tire track on it, let alone two tire tracks . When we pulled around to the back we were looking smack dab at our home away from home for the night.


There it is, the Chilkut Bed and Breakfast. We took one look at each other, but before Rick could put the car into reverse a man came out apologizing for not having shoveled the steps and driveway. He immediately went in search for a shovel. We were stuck! It doesn't look too bad in this picture, but this was taken the morning just before we left. Check out the front porch - a little like Rick's garage (but don't tell him I said that, he! - he!).

We were welcomed right into the sitting room. Nice and cozy isn't it? The man, (sorry, can't remember his name) immediately went into a little history of Haines and how even though they are remote, they do have fine entertainment in the long winters. I took one look at Bryan and by the look in his eye I could just hear him saying, "Are you serious?" What you can't see is the garland that hung over the kitchen table, his rock collection, and the boxes and boxes of magazines, papers, etc... on the floor. That wood stove, we were told was the only source of heat in the house, but if we slept with the door open the warm air would rise upstairs and we would be comfortable enough. He promised that he would keep the fire going all night, which was nice of him.

The Sitka Rose Room, we did remember to keep the door open and we did sleep comfortably. There wasn't a blind on that bedroom window, but not to worry, there were no neighbors behind us. He provided gender appropriate bath towels, so he took care of us well enough. We did feel a little wierd and decided not to use the shower (nice pretty pink fixtures and more flowered wall paper) and good thing we did because we could not even get enough hot water in the sink to wash our faces in the morning.

We have our own little story about this man. We figure his mother started this little B&B business and had all the rooms fixed up nice and cozy. Her son was good to her and helped her in her endeavor. The years passed by and she eventually passed on, but it was all he knew so he just stayed and kept the B&B open. But in all the staying he never changed a thing. Everything was nice and clean relatively speaking, but I am guessing the dusting and dejunking were just not on his most "favorites" list.

By the way, although it was a bed and breakfast, he told us that he was not providing the breakfast. It was just too late in the season. He did discount our room $25.00, so that was alright. I don't know if we would have eaten there any way. We did drive up the road a ways to the Mountain Market and had a great breakfast burrito and some heavenly hot chocolate with whip cream.

This house does have a history. It was built in the early 1900's as housing for Fort Seward. The government built Fort Seward here, thinking that Haines was a port that needed protecting. Nothing ever really came of the port and so the fort was sold piece by piece later on. There were some homes very similar to this one that had been restored and were beautiful.