Hope: A town rich in history with an old Alaska feel

Ken Smith/Turnagain Times The Hope-Sunrise Historical Museum allows visitors to experience the Gold Rush era. Sunrise no longer exists as a town, but Hope does, and provides a quieter setting where visitors can step back in time and get away from the summer crowds.

By Fayrene Sherritt
Turnagain Times Hope Correspondent

Hope, a small Alaskan community of 130, is located 88 miles south of Anchorage. The Hope Highway turns off the scenic Seward Highway at mile 56.7. Normally the busy traffic continues on down the Seward Highway leaving the traveler to take a slower pace as they drive the 15 miles in to discover one of Southcentral Alaska’s best-preserved gold rush communities. (Be sure to purchase gas before a trip to Hope, as there is no gasoline for sale in the community.)
The Hope Highway heads back towards Turnagain Arm and follows along Six-Mile Creek until it empties into the Arm. As you turn and head north to drive the remaining miles into Hope, there are several turnoffs along the way where you can see the majestic Chugach Mountains across the water. If you look closely, you can see the traffic traveling along the water’s edge on the other side.
From the turnoffs, it is possible to see eagles, belugas whales and even catch sight of a Bore Tide as the out-going tide hits the in-coming tide. At low tide, Turnagain Arm sometimes lures the unsuspecting to walk out onto the tide flats. Almost every summer, it seems someone is lost or narrowly escapes from the rapid incoming tides. As the tides come in, the mudflats turn into a mixture similar to quicksand, sometimes making it impossible to return to the safety of solid ground.

The former gold mining town of Sunrise on the Hope Highway
About 8 miles in is the community of Sunrise. This old gold mining town was, for a short while in the 1890’s, the largest city in Alaska. Not much remains of Sunrise today but there are a few businesses and homes scattered right along the Hope Highway.
Angle 45 Adventures, at 8.1 Hope Highway, offers fishing/float/raft trips on Kasilof River or the Upper Kenai River. For more information call 782-3175. Chugach Outdoor Center located in Sunrise at 7.5 Hope Highway provides rafting on the very exciting class 4/5 Sixmile Creek where some of Alaska’s best whitewater rafting is found. More exciting than a roller coaster ride! For reservations call 782-3456. Nova Riverrunners raft Sixmile Creek along with a variety of other Alaskan rivers call (800) 746-5753. All three provide all the gear needed to raft the cold waters of Alaska.

Gold rush history is an important part of Hope
There are several reasons to include a visit to Hope while traveling the Kenai Peninsula. History of the early gold rush days is one of the drawing cards. Gold was discovered in the Hope and Sunrise areas around 1888. Over time, the stateside miners heard the news of the discovery and miners returned to Hope area creating a tent city in 1894. By 1886, the community had gold claims, cabins where the miners could wait out the winter months and had named its self-Hope after one of the early prospectors.

So much to do while in Hope
Today the Hope & Sunrise Historical Mining Museum, with over 100 years of local history, gives a story of life in both communities in those early days. Some of the old mining equipment is on display and the mining buildings from the Bruhn-Ray Mine, originally located where the Hope Highway and the Seward Highway intersect today; we’re moved to the museum property in 1994 to recreate the mining camp.
The Museum is open to the public daily noon to 4 p.m. Admission is free to visit the museum, however, donations are gratefully accepted. The museum offers guided tours of the items displayed on the museum property along with a tour of the first schoolhouse, the bunkhouse and the blacksmith shop from the Bruhn-Ray Mine. While at the museum, check in with “Gold Digga Dallas” for a lesson on how to pan for gold. There is always gold to be found in one of the pans of dirt—and the gold that you pan is yours to keep. Walking tours are also available with two daily tours at noon and 3 p.m. The famous “Gold Rush Peck”, as seen on TV with the Travel Channel will be giving walking tours of the quaint little town while telling the local history of Hope.

Hiking, bird watching, peace and serenity
Hiking either Gull Rock Trail or Resurrection Trail is another attractive reason for visitors make the drive into Hope. One-third-of-a-mile walk, south from the Resurrection Trail parking area, will take you to part of the creek where extensive reclamation work has been done by the US Forest Service. It can be viewed from the trail along the creek for 1.3 river miles. The purpose of this work is to create slower and shallow waters for salmon spawning.
The Gull Rock trailhead is located at the very end of the Hope Road and at the back of the Porcupine Campgrounds. It is a five-mile trail that follows along the Turnagain Arm. There are no official fire pits along Gull Trail so open burning is not allowed. There is also no water available along the trail so be sure to take some with you.
Travel by boat could be dangerous and slow for the miners; this made the Resurrection Trail a safer route from the Kenai to the Hope area. The 38-mile trail connects Hope and Cooper Landing. Hikers come from all over the world to walk or mountain-bike this trail. Several cabins along the trail can be reserved by contacting the US Forest Service. To locate the trailhead, take Palmer Creek Road (turn left off the Hope Highway just past the 16 mile maker) and follow the road to the parking area. The trailhead is about 4 miles off the Hope Highway.

Services and businesses in Hope
From 1938 to 1986 school was taught in the one-room schoolhouse located at Second and A Street. 1986 a new modern school was built and the old building was remodeled for the Hope Community Library. The library, gift shop and the book shed, operated by volunteers, are open most days noon to four during the summer. Copies, faxes or Internet (DSL) access is available in the library, for a small donation.
The Library Gift Shop, located next door to the Hope Community Library, is a non-profit gift shop where a portion of each sale helps to financially support the library. Work by local artists and craftsmen are featured in the shop with many items made in Hope.
Visit the library’s Book shed located near the gift shop. Hardback books are $2 (unless priced differently) and the paperback books are $1 each. This stop is a very popular one with travelers, as there is always room for a good book or two. The sales from both help keep our community library open year-round.
Sourdough Dru’s gift shop located on Main Street is open daily from around noon until her “open” sign is turned off. The shop features gold nugget jewelry made by Dru along with other Alaskan items. Stop by for a lively visit with Dru!

Camping, meals, lodging and more
Note: due to a high fire danger in the Hope area (also on the Kenai Peninsula) open burning is not allowed. Please check with the Fire Chief for special permission when the humidity is below 30 percent. In the campgrounds, do not leave fires unattended in the burn pits and please be sure that the fire has been completely extinguished before leaving your site.
Hope offers several campgrounds for campers and RVs. US Forest Service Porcupine Campground is at mile 17.5 at the end of the road. There are 24 campsites. Reservations can be made over the Internet by contacting the US Forest Service web site at least two weeks ahead of your planned visit. This campground is very popular and sites can be hard to get.
The SeaView Café has camping off Main Street along Resurrection Creek. To make arrangements for a camping spot, please contact Renna Martin at the Sea View.
Full hook-up (30 & 50 amp and 110 & 220) for campers is available at Alaska Dacha’s motel, laundry, store and RV park located at mile 15.8 on the Hope Highway. The newly remodeled, non-smoking, motel rooms are located over the store and one of the rooms has a new Jacuzzi tub. Plus there is a cabin rental with a small kitchen. There are picnic tables, BBQ and tent sites available.
Alaska Dacha’s store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. during the summer season with the laundry/shower on site. Hunting and fishing licenses can be purchased in the store. High-speed Internet is available 24 hours for visitors to check for emails. ATM, propane and ice are available there as well.
The main run of pink salmon comes into Resurrection Creek from mid July to mid August. Along with fishing, gold panning is a favorite activity of visitors and there are several places where the quest for gold can be filled.
For the more adventurous soul, mining can also be done in designated recreational areas. Please review the regulations before panning for gold. It is important to note that Hope has many gold claims, and panning for gold without permission on these claims is not recommended!

Dining and Accommodations
Check out Black Bear B&B, Alaska Dacha’s motel-store-laundry, Alaskan Byways B&B, Discovery Cabins, Bowman’s Bear Creek Lodge, The Green Cabin, Hope’s Hide-away, the hostel at HHH of Hope, Hope Fishing Charter’s cabin on Palmer Creek Road and in Sunrise at Angle 45 before arriving in Hope. Pick up Hope’s brochure for more information on all the services available in Hope.
HHH of Hope rents/sells supplies for prospecting, camping, trail and fishing. Local gold nugget jewelry and crafts are sold in their gift shop. RV parking or storage is available and they offer hostel-bunkhouse facilities. 782-9733.
Meals or snacks can be found at three local cafes, an ice cream shop and coffee shop. “Grounds for Hope” Espresso is located in the Hope Library/Gift Shop/Book Shed area on A Street. Here, owners Bianca and Michael Durrant offer handcrafted organic espresso drinks, teas, bagels, croissants, and paninis. Open Friday through Monday 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Owners Kent and Melanie Bowman welcome you to visit Bowman’s Bear Creek Lodge and Dinner House located at mile 15.9 on Hope Highway. Your destination in Hope for fine dining, the dinner house opens 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. daily (closed Mondays) featuring Steaks, fresh Alaskan Seafood, homemade soups, appetizers, pastas and Chef Carols’ nightly special entrees.
The Bowmans also invite you to Sweet Mo’s Simple Pleasures Ice Cream and Candy shop across from the Hope Museum. Sweet Mo is featuring Alaska Supreme ice cream, fresh baked cookies, popcorn and locally made chocolates.
Next door to Sweet Mo’s is the brand new yoga center. Hope’s resident yoga teacher, Shelley Cassidy, has spent this spring remodeling the old Hope post office, transforming it into the new Hope Yoga Shala. This summer a variety of classes will be offered for all levels of experience. Yoga classes are $12 for drop-ins or $50 for a five-class punch card. Contact Shelly at 947-4067.
The SeaView Café, located on Main Street, is open from noon to 9 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday and noon to 11 p.m., Thursday through Saturday. The café is known for their fish and chips and huge burgers. Their deck is a comfy spot for a meal or to enjoy a glass of wine while enjoying the beautiful view. Check out their RV park, cabins and camping where Resurrection Creek meets Turnagain Arm.
The Sea View Bar located in one of the oldest building in Hope, hosts “Jamn-night” every Thursday evening. All are invited to join locals and visitors for a diversity of music in addition there is live music every Saturday night all summer long. The smoke-free bar or their outside deck is a great spot to relax and enjoy meeting visitors and local residents alike.
Tito’s Discovery Café, 16.5 Hope Highway, is open daily 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. serving wonderful burgers, wraps, great soups, homemade pies and ice cream sundaes. The original café burned to the ground, January 1999, and had been the central meeting place for the community. Tito is known around the world for his philosophy, kindness and generosity. Following the fire, the community stepped up to help him. With donations and volunteer help, a larger café was built. Most of the paintings featured in the café are by local artist Scott Sherritt.

Arts and Leisure
Hope Healing Arts offers massages for the locals and travelers alike. Gina Motoyama licensed, for over 10 years, operates in the small cabin behind Tito’s Discovery Café. Available weekends and weekdays by appointment, some modalities are practiced including Swedish/deep tissue and myofascial release. For more information or to schedule an appointment please call 229-4697.
The Sherritt Fine Art Gallery & Gifts features paintings by Hope oil artist Scott Sherritt and pastel artist Erica Miller, bronze pieces by Alaskan artists Jacques and Mary Regat and Patrick Garley and jewelry by Susan Anderson and Fayrene Sherritt. The gallery is next door to the Hirshey Barn, located on 2nd Street between the Hope Museum and the Hope Library. The gallery is open daily as well as most evenings too. A great spot to visit as you take an evening stroll around the historic part of Hope.

The Wagon Trail Run
The Wagon Trail Run weekend is July 18 and 19. All activities are held on Main Street at the Hope Social Hall built in 1902. The weekend’s activities include a bazaar, pancake breakfast, a music program, cakewalk, barbecue and much more. The main event, a 5.3K fun-run, begins at 11 am on Sunday in front of the Social Hall.
Along with the run on Sunday, there is a raffle drawing at 1:15 p.m. at the Hope Social Hall for many donated items. One of the most popular items, a paper-pieced Stain-Glass-Floral quilt is on display in the Hope Library Gift Shop. The $2 raffle tickets are available at several locations, Alaska Dacha, Bear Creek Dinner House, the Museum, Library gift shop, Sherritt Fine Art Gallery & Gifts, Grounds for Hope, Sweet Mo’s and on the porch at Tito’s Discovery Café most weekends. The community’s fund-raiser is an annual event held to benefit the non-profits groups in Hope.

New Post Office and web site for Hope Chamber
Hope has a new Post Office now located Palmer Creek and Logman just off Hope Highway at mile 16.5. There is a new web site for Hope: www.hopealaska.info. More information is available there.
Hope is a small, unique community where some say there isn’t much to do but most of our visitors say it is a spot they are surely glad they didn’t miss. Stop by for a Hope visit, where you’ll find the serenity of a distant past.

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