Wasilla, Alaska Information

Sandwiched between Wasilla Lake and Lake Lucille, Wasilla, Alaska is the largest city in the Matanuska Valley. It is one of Alaska's fastest growing areas and is only 43 miles from the metropolis of Anchorage. Nearly 10,000 people call Wasilla home as of 2007, which is almost double the population of 2000. Midway between the Matanuska Valley and the Susitna Valley; Wasilla is the fourth largest town in Alaska and a popular gateway to Alaskan adventure.

Wasilla was named after Dena'ina Indian Chief Wasilla. In native Athabaskan the word means "breath of fresh air," which is quite fitting because Wasilla is a great jumping off point for all sorts of Alaskan adventure. It's one of the first place you reach after leaving "big city" Anchorage, Alaska.

Wasilla sits in the middle of the Mat-Su valley, surrounded by the Alaska Range, Chugach, and Talkeetna mountains. Wasilla has been the home of all sorts of people over the years. Indians, miners, trappers, traders, hunters, farmers, merchants, and fishermen have all played a role in shaping Wasilla. As the headquarters of the Iditarod, Wasilla has long been a stopping point for mail and goods traveling from the south central coast to the Interior, to the Northern, and to the Western parts of Alaska.

Like the Iditarod Trail, Wasilla is a great place for you to get your feet wet in some good old Alaska activities. Mountain biking, hiking, and camping are fun things to do at nearby Hatcher Pass. You can go waterskiing, canoeing, fishing, and kayaking at Lake Lucille or Wasilla Lake. Try dog sledding on part of the Iditarod Trail. Spend a few days in the Talkeetna range hunting for caribou or grizzly bears.

Did You Know?
The Matanuska Glacier is 24 miles long and 4 miles across.

The Mat-Su valley is famous for farming and giant produce. It is also a fantastic place to see wildlife, especially if you like to hunt. It is a glacial valley that has all sorts of eco-systems - alpine tundra, marshy wetlands, river deltas, and rugged mountains. The wildlife here is abundant. There are two huge herds of caribou - the Rainy Pass herd and the Nelchina herd. The Nelchina herd has over 35,000 caribou and the Rainy Pass herd has roughly 2,500 caribou.

About 700 to 900 dall sheep, large percentages are full-curl rams, live in the Alaska Range near Wasilla. The Valley isn't exactly a bear haven compared to other parts of the state, but there are still a lot of black and brown bears roaming the area. With 6,500 moose in the area, this may be where Wasilla local, Alaska Governor, and 2008 Vice President nominee, Sarah Palin, learned how to field dress a moose.

Town Information:

City of Wasilla
290 E Herning Ave. Wasilla 99654
(907) 373-9050
http://www.cityofwasilla.com/

Greater Wasilla Chamber of Commerce
415 E Railroad Ave. Wasilla 99654
(907) 376-1299
http://www.wasillachamber.org/

Population: 5,469 (2000 census)
Annual Precipitation: 17 in. annually (50 in of snowfall)
July Averages: Temperature 78 F high / 47 F low;

Lodging:

Best Western Lake Lucille Inn
1300 W Lake Lucille Dr. Wasilla 99654
(907) 373-1776 / (800) 528-1234
http://www.bestwestern.com/lakelucilleinn

Pioneer Ridge Bed & Breakfast Inn
2221 Yukon Cir., HC31, Box 5083K, Wasilla 99654
(907) 376-7472 / (800) 478-7472
http://www.pioneerridge.com/

Wasilla International Hostel
Mile 50.2 Parks Hwy Wasilla 99654
(907) 841-6444

Camping:

Alaska R&R Laundry & RV
7362 W Parks Hwy #202 Wasilla 99654
(907) 373-7286

Big Bear Campground & RV Park
Trunk Rd Exit Park, Wasilla 99654
(907) 745-7445

Alaska Trails RV & Camper Park
Mile 48.2 Parks Hwy., Wasilla 99654
(907) 376-5504

Did You Know?
Wasilla is where the Iditarod Dog Sled Race begins.

What to See:

The Museum of Alaska Transportation & Industry
Mile 47 off Parks Hwy. onto Museum Dr., west of Wasilla
(907) 376-1211
http://www.museumofalaska.org/

Iditarod Trail Headquarters
Mile 2.2, Knik Rd.
(907) 376-5155
http://www.iditarod.com/

Restaurants & Bars:

Evangelo's Trattoria
301 Parks Hwy. Wasilla 99654
(907) 376-1212

Cadillac Cafe
Mile 49, Parks Hwy. at Pittman St. Wasilla 99654
(907) 357-5533

Internet Access:

Wasilla Public Library
(907) 376-5913
391 N Main St. Wasilla 99654
http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=72

Transportation:

Diamond Cab
424 W Gail Dr. Wasilla 99654
(907) 376-5592

Mat-Su Community Transit
PO Box 871590
(907) 376-5000
http://www.matsutransit.com/

Classy Car Rentals
1960 E Industrial Dr. Wasilla 99654
(907) 373-3023
http://www.classycarrentals.com/

Enterprise Rent-a-Car
4535 E Greenstreet Cr. #1 Wasilla 99654
(907) 373-2080
http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?gpbr=45V4&bid=004&cnty=US

Airport:

Wasilla Municipal Airport
290 E Herning Ave. Wasilla 99654
(907) 373-9010 (city of Wasilla)
http://www.cityofwasilla.com/index.aspx?page=108

Newspaper:

Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman
5751 E Mayflower Ct., Wasilla 99654
(907) 352-2250
http://www.frontiersman.com/

Hospital:

Mat-Su Regional Medical Center
2500 S Woodworth Loop, Palmer, AK 99654
(907) 861-6000
http://matsuregional.com/index_flash.php

Did You Know?
Some moose in the Mat-Su Valley have over 50-inch antlers.

Fish & Game:

Alaska Dept of Fish & Game, Anchorage Office
333 Raspberry Rd. Anchorage 99518
http://www.sf.adfg.state.ak.us/statewide/index.cfm

Forest Service:

U.S. Forest Service, Anchorage Office
3301 C St. Anchorage 99503
(907) 743-9500
http://www.fs.fed.us/r10/

 

If you're feeling adventurous, the world-class Alaska train will take you to exciting destinations like Valdez, Fairbanks, Denali, and beyond. Drive to the Matanuska glacier, which is the largest car-accessible glacier in Alaska. Take a tour of the Mat-Su valley. Wasilla is ideal for exciting activity. Let the adventure begin.