Alaska Spotlight: Stikine Inn & Restaurant

The Stikine Inn & Restaurant is a notable establishment in Wrangell, Alaska, serving as a key center for lodging and dining in the community.

What Makes It Unique

• Waterfront Location: The inn boasts an unbeatable location right on the city dock, providing guests with waterfront and mountain views of the Zimovia Strait and easy access to Wrangell’s maritime activities and coastal charm. It’s across the street from the primary pick-up dock for many local tours and excursions.
• Wrangell’s Waterfront Hotel: Operating for over 50 years, the Stikine Inn is often cited as the only formal hotel in Wrangell, distinguishing it from the area’s lodges and B&Bs.
• Convenience: Located adjacent to “City Dock” and the summer floats, everything in Wrangell’s downtown, including shops, restaurants, and historical landmarks, is within walking distance. It also offers a complimentary shuttle service to and from the airport, which is only one mile away.
• Multiple Dining Options: It houses both a full-service restaurant, known as “The Stik,” which offers a pub-style dining experience, and The Stik Cafe, a popular coffee shop serving Alaskan roasted coffee, breakfast, and lunch items.

History

The Stikine Inn has been an operational waterfront hotel in Wrangell for over 50 years. It has been family-operated and locally owned since 2006, with a commitment to continually evolving and upgrading while maintaining the integrity of the community’s small-town feel. It is named after the mighty Stikine River, the fastest free-flowing, navigable river in North America, which has been a major historical trade route and is a gateway to vast wilderness.

Customer Feedback Highlights

Customer feedback generally praises the Inn for:

• Location: The prime waterfront setting and proximity to downtown attractions and tour operators.
• Staff: Friendly and accommodating staff are frequently mentioned.
• Dining: The convenience and quality of the on-site dining at “The Stik” Restaurant and the coffee/breakfast options at The Stik Cafe are often highlighted. The restaurant is noted for its “locally caught seafood,” including yellow eye and ling cod.
• Alaskan Experience: Customers appreciate the “no-frills Alaskan experience” it offers.

Highlight Menu Items (Restaurant and Cafe)

While menus are subject to change, popular offerings at the restaurant often feature locally inspired dishes and hearty comfort food.

Restaurant (“The Stik”): Known for a “no-frills waterfront pub style dining” experience, highlights have included:

• Locally Caught Seafood: Mentioned as a staple, featuring fresh catches like yellow eye and ling cod.
• Appetizers: Items like Stik Wings, Stik Quesadillas, and Shrimp Poppers.
• Sandwiches & Wraps: Including the Grown-Up Grilled Cheese and The Loin Dip.
• Desserts: Like New York Cheesecake and the shareable Six Layer Chocolate Cake or The Stik Mud Pie.

Cafe (“The Stik Cafe”): Focuses on quick, fresh options with an emphasis on coffee:

• Coffee: Featuring Alaskan roasted Heritage coffee.
• Breakfast/Lunch: Including pastries, panini’s, homemade soups, salads, and breakfast sandwiches/burritos.

Significant Events That Took Place There

There is limited public information detailing significant historical events that specifically occurred within the walls of the Stikine Inn structure over the decades. However, its location in Wrangell, on the Stikine River, ties it directly to major historical events in the area:

• Gold Rushes: Wrangell was the base of operations for three major Alaskan Gold Rushes—the Stikine River (1861), Cassiar (1872), and Klondike (1898)—with thousands of prospectors traveling up the Stikine River. The Inn sits at the heart of the town that served as the economic center for these historic events, providing lodging and supplies.
• Community Hub: As a long-standing, primary hotel and restaurant, the Inn has consistently served as a gathering place and hub for the small, close-knit community, hosting local meetings, like the “Our town, Our future” community discussions on Wrangell’s economy.

Location and Contact Information