Rika’s Roadhouse
This State Historical Park on the way to Delta Junction is named for the Swedish woman who ran the roadhouse.
She apparently walked quite a distance to start working for the Czechoslovakian man who opened the roadhouse in 1910. He was gone a lot and she ran the place, starting in 1917. Eventually, he owed her so much in back wages, he deeded it over to her in 1923. She ran it until the late 1940’s and continued to live there until her death in 1969.
The roadhouses were essential between Valdez and Fairbanks in the early days. They provided beds and hot meals to the weary travelers and were located about every 25 miles along the way - about a day’s journey. It was built on the Tanana River, and there was a ferry there.
Rika was a hard worker, and came up with inventive ways to grow her garden, keep her dairy cows and other animals healthy and productive in the winter, and creative approaches for producing lumber, etc. Experts often studied her methods. Kept a pretty nice house, too.
The original reason for the roadhouses became less relevant as the road was improved, and a permanent bridge was built high above the river to prevent it from being taken out in the spring ice breakup.
(Just had to include this fox fur hat!)
Someone I know can identify the make of this car!
So, Rika reinvented her roadhouse. She became the postmistress, opened a liquor store, and created a really great restaurant. The telegraph company opened an office on her property, and when the Alaska Highway was built, Rika’s was an important place for its workers. Most roadhouses were abandoned and what remains is dilapidated. However, Rika’s place is a 10-acre park with a thriving restaurant, and well-kept museum buildings. It’s a popular place for tourists and locals.
Guess what! The lilacs are still blooming!
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