Alaska Grizzly Lodge

Great place to get away to. Far enough outside the city but still close enough to easily get to activities. Served wonderful breakfast to get your day started. Very knowledgeable host couple. Would absolutely stay again.

We had a great stay here last week! I was worried ahead of time as their website was no up and I was afraid they were out of business. They are indeed still there and are getting a new website up soon. Once you book, you really don't hear back until about the week before your stay, but it worked out well. Janet and Fred are the nicest people and really want to make sure your trip is the best it can be. Breakfasts were good, and had a. lot of healthy options. Different items each day too, which is nice vs a regular hotel breakfast. Our room was clean, comfy, spacious and well kept. It even had boot warmers! Janet will knock only our door (if you want) if the aurora is out, which we very much appreciated. The road to get to the lodge is easy and not on one of the restricted roads from the car rental companies. We will definitely stay here again!

We enjoyed our Grizzly Lodge 3 day stay in March 2025 immensely. We came to see the Aurora Borealis. ||When we arrived, the owner greeted us and explained the special setup for viewing. She had access to a University of Alaska, Fairbanks website that had a camera several miles away. The camera was on all night and showed when the lights were strongest and where in the sky they were. One of her chores was to make preparations for the next morning's breakfast which her husband would then be in charge of. She chose to do this late at night so that she could monitor the camera and alert all guests when the aurora borealis showed up. One night it was 2 a.m. and another night it was 3. Since the Grizzly Lodge was 10 miles or so away from Fairbanks, the view of the lights was outstanding.||Breakfast each morning was served from 9 to 10. One morning it was quiche, another it was scrambled eggs, and another hash, all prepared fresh. Along with this was a number of other options such as pastries, oatmeal, cereal, and other things I forget. ||Do bring your own transportation for other meals or tours.||I have stayed at a number of B&B's and this one was among the best.

We spent four nights here in March of 2025 specifically to see the Aurora Borealis. The lodge is in the middle of 20 acres just off Chena Hot Springs Road. It's not quite a wilderness experience, as you can hear traffic from that road and there are homes on lots in neighborhood. That doesn't really detract from the experience and it is very convenient to Fairbanks. We even saw a momma moose and her yearling calf one afternoon. The lodge is rustic and the rooms have an old fashioned decor. Our room (#3) on the bottom floor, was comfortable and had it's own bathroom. The upstairs common room is very large and is a great place to hang out if you get tired of your room. This is where you eat breakfast and there are couches and comfortable chairs, games, books, etc. The hosts, Fred, Janet, and BJ do a great job tending to your needs and making you comfortable. All are knowledgeable about the Aurora, especially Janet, and her dedication and enthusiasm is commendable. She is the one that knocks on your door to let you know when the Aurora is out. Breakfast is very good, prepared by either Fred or BJ. There are cold breakfast items and hot drinks for early risers, and the hot breakfast comes out at 9am. There are mini fridges in the rooms to keep snacks or drinks for later. Since Fairbanks was so near, it was easy to go eat lunch and dinner in town. Keep in mind that the Aurora is only visible late at night, so that leaves you all day to find things to do. Janet and Fred have great suggestions for daily activities or places that you can visit during the day. It was very cold during our visit, so dress appropriately. We witnessed the Aurora on two of the four nights, two of the nights were cloudy. I have to be honest and say that we were somewhat disappointed that we couldn't see the colors and shape of the Aurora with our naked eyes. Janet explained that only during the most intense sun activity is that possible. The optics in our cell phone camera or regular cameras are far superior to our eyes. So while we did not see them with our eyes, the pictures were fantastic. Now for the reason I just gave a four star rating. While the experience and the hosts are deserving of five stars, there is an issue of the grounds being untidy. There are tractor implements and miscellaneous equipment strung all around the property. Some temporary shelters were caved in and in disrepair. There was a large trailer loaded with heavy wood timbers parked just outside our room, distracting from the view. These will be used to build a structure over the well this summer, but that trailer could have been parked further out of the way. There are plans to build a big shop or barn to store things in. They should put all of that stuff in an area out of the way before the snow falls if the shop doesn't get built. Also, to get to the rooms on the bottom floor, you must pass through an office/kitchen area. That is not a problem except that the office area is very cluttered and unorganized. We never saw anyone using it, so why not clean it up and put things away? Some guests would not be bothered by these things, but they are a reflection on the overall experience. That being said, I can highly recommend staying here!

We stayed 7 days at the Grizzly Lodge! The location was perfect! 20 miles away from Fairbanks, so no city lights! We saw the northern lights every night except one night due to cloud cover! The breakfasts every morning were incredible! The rooms were nice and the beds were very comfortable! We had a party of 6 and everyone were very happy with their rooms! Janet and Fred were terrific! They provided us with recommended activities in the Fairbanks area! They were quite knowledgeable about the Aurora Borealis and did wake-calls to let their guests know the Aurora Borealis was in the night sky! They have an amazing deck to go out on to see the show each night! Riley, their very sweet dog, was such a bonus! He loved greeting the guests as we returned from activities each day! Our experience at the lodge and the many activities available in and around Fairbanks was amazing! Thank you Janet and Fred for making our adventure so special! ❤️

Time: 2:15 AM. Knock, knock, knock! "The Aurora is alive!" said the innkeeper as we realized this is the reason we came to the Grizzly Lodge in the first place. The Aurora is unpredictable so the innkeeper awakes you - on request - when the lights come out to dazzle, providing scientific explanations of the spectacle and stories of Auroras' past, as well as offering to take pictures of you with a brilliant Aurora background. The Lodge offers three viewing decks for immediate access with hot chocolate and light snacks always available. We investigated several other lodges and this one has everything: friendly, cozy environment with guests interacting at dinner and in the evening; only twenty minutes on good roads from the restaurants and sights of Fairbanks yet far enough for a dark sky; and delicious homemade breakfasts. "We'll be back!"

Fantastic, cozy lodge. We loved the common space, cereal and such out for breakfast at 6am, hot breakfast at 9am. They have staff on rotation so someone stays up until 3am to alert guests about the Aurora / Northern Lights. The location outside of Fairbanks is ideal, no light pollution so great visibility. They also have a live streamed webcam inside on a TV so you can see where specifically the lights appear, and go outside to see them in person. If you get lucky and lights are bright enough, and sky is clear, they kind of dance, amazing to see!!

I love everything about this place! Great hosts, clean comfortable rooms/beds, great breakfast, coffee/tea anytime, sometimes cookies in the evening...plus Bailey, the best dog ever! Janet and Fred the hosts are the nicest people and so knowledgeable, not only about the aurora but the Alaska culture and activities in the area. Plus you can rent cold weather gear, parkas, boots, pants... from them as well at a very reasonable price. I wouldn't stay anywhere else in the Fairbanks area. And we saw the aurora 3 nights out of our 5 night stay! It was perfect and yes Janet wakes you up for viewing so you don't have to stay up all night. We also enjoyed the other guests at the B and B, just a perfect stay! It was like being with family members you really like.

UPDATE! As I write this, I am sitting in the lovely common area of the lodge, watching the sun come up. I am updating my review because once we got here, the hosts were wonderful, and the lodge is exactly what we wanted. Very comfy, nice amenities, cozy chairs for reading, etc. The hosts, Janet and Fred, are very friendly and knowledgeable about both the local area and aurora viewing. Fred handles the hot breakfast every day and has been eager to accommodate my dietary requests, even tho I offered to bring my own items. Janet handles the night shift and happily wakes guests personally if and when the aurora decides to pop up. As others mentioned, there are multiple viewing balconies so you can see the lights wherever they decide to show themselves. Who knew that the "northern" lights are sometimes in the south? Well, now I know! In short, the place is great. I wish we could stay longer! Hopefully they get the website back online and get the other communication issues resolved soon. They are working very hard to keep up with everything (Fairbanks is not the most gentle climate for a big ol' wooden building!) and I wish them all the best with the business.

Janet and Fred are amazing. Wealth of knowledge with Alaska and life. The breakfast service was fantastic! Loved all of the local suggestions and recommendations. The viewing of the northern lights was exceptional. There are a multitude of balconies to see the light from. I cannot recommend this stay enough. Made our vacation.

Had an amazing stay here! Hosts are very helpful, personable and kind. It is a beautiful location not far north of Fairbanks. You will definitely need a car to get here. Room was very comfortable - bed and bedding lovely.

Prior to becoming the proprietors of Alaska Grizzly Lodge in 2019, the current owners had worked as Alaskan guides and in a variety of University of Alaska and governmental agencies in the natural resources and archeology field all while raising a family of three in Fairbanks. Janet and Fred are knowledgable educators and well versed in about all things natural, Alasakan history, and Alaska's many cultures. We echo the positive comments about Fred's fresh delicious breakfasts and easy conversational style, Janet's excellent wakeup service when the Northern LIghts come out, personable help with photography, taking group photos for guests, and exceptionally warm amiable hospitality from both hosts. We stayed for a week at the beginning of March with a group that included 6 days of a variety of guided tours hosted by Janet who guided our daily excursions while safely driving of one of their vans. She never failed to be ready on time in the morning or to set out the extra step for getting in and out of the van. Along the way, Janet provided a wide ranging narrative and exhibited her detailed expertise of wide range of all things Alaskan. Using an easy to hear amplified microphone headset through the van radio, she never ran out of interesting and entertaining stories and there was hardly a topic or question she didn't have a concise knowledgeable answer or perspective. As a minimum she always provided a short concise introduction to every indoor museum, eatery, and venue balanced against offering each guest time to explore on at their own pace. The innkeepers keep a room full of warm clothing and winter boots they will rent if you need one or more items. The Lodge is clean and comfortable in both the accomodations and large common areas. Take time to notice and enjoy the artwork and personal Alaskan touches all around the Lodge.

The hosts, Janet & Fred were friendly, and Janet ensures you are up for the Aurora viewing. The blankets on the bed were warm and cozy. Breakfast was oatmeal, Danish, toast, and egg, sausage, English muffin sandwiches. Now the reasons why we would never stay at Alaska Grizzly Lodge again. We paid $275.40 per night. We did not expect to use a space heater to keep the room warm. We did not expect to use the shower head to fill the toilet tank with water so we could flush the toilet. This was Fred's recommendation because the waterline from the sink to the toilet "was frozen". We did not expect the breakers to keep blowing causing no electricity in our room. We did not expect the door to the room to not secure because "the house is settling" and the lock does not line up with the strike plate. The room was advertised as having a kitchenette. We did not expect to be told the water for the sink did not work. We were fearful of using the microwave as we needed the space heater to keep the room warm because it is Alaska in the winter. When we asked about the heat, the wall heaters are for the Lodge central heat and "they either do not work or the heat is so hot you can't breathe". Our second night was when we experienced the electricity and plumbing issues. When Fred said we would have to fill the toilet tank with the shower head to flush the toilet, I said this is not what we expected for the price we are paying. Fred was quick to offer another room, but it would not have the king bed that we were paying for. Considering the numerous issues, it is sad there was no offer to discount the $550.80 that we pre-paid in July. Alaska Grizzly Lodge requires full payment for reservations at the time of booking and one night's stay is non-refundable. This should have been a red flag. The Fairbanks area has a variety of places to stay for less money with working electricity, plumbing, and heat. Be suspicious of the 3.9 ratings.

We have been trying unsuccessfully to contact Grizzly Lodge by phone, email,Facebook about our upcoming reservation - NO LUCK

The one thing they do well is they wake you when the lights are out. There are a lot of issues (too long to list). Wrote to them to discuss our stay, but they never wrote back. Just do not expect a typical bed & breakfast experience. Do expect poor communication. On our last night, no plugs worked but the staff member said it would be fine which is not the case if you want your car to start so you can get to the airport on time for your flight.

Great place to stay in the middle of nowhere (but close to all the sights in Fairbanks). The lodge is not fancy but the perfect place to lay your head at night. It is clean and comfortable. Fred and Janet were the perfect hosts and very knowledgeable about all things Alaska. Although we arrived late at night, Janet greeted us with a smile and made us feel welcome. Fred cooked up a delicious breakfast each morning which was a great start to each day before we headed out to make the most of our Alaskan adventure. We were lucky to see the "lights" every night with the third night being the most spectacular of them all. If we're lucky enough to ever do it all over again, we would definitely stay at Alaska Grizzly Lodge again.

The staff was so friendly and accommodating. The room was cozy and had everything we needed. The breakfast was terrific, and made special for us being vegan. So glad we stumbled upon this nice B&B. Recommend or sure

We really enjoyed our recent 3 night stay. Janet was very knowledgable about the Northern Lights and offered to wake us if she saw them. She really went the extra mile when she sent several texts alerting us to the Lights even when we had moved to our next lodging. Now that's service! Breakfast was great. Each morning we had a different, individual egg skillet. There was also a variety of fruit and other breakfast items. We especially enjoyed the large common room. Comfortable chairs, good lighting and a TV with Netflix. Be sure to wait "Into the Wild". It's based on a true Alaska story. We found it to be riveting.

Room- 4 stars! Clean room, nice bed, own bathroom, and shared patio deck which you can walk out on to view the northern skies. It's nice that there is no light pollution from Fairbanks, but the lodge is only a 15 minute drive from the city. Unfortunately, the cloudy skies obscured the northern lights during my stay. The lodge is family-owned and they rent out some rooms for some long-term tenants. The family and their 3 dogs are caring and hospitable. Continental breakfast is available all the time. 3 stars- You really feel like you're staying at home as the common areas could use some organizing and cleaning. It's nice that you can use their kitchen to cook and store food in the fridge, but the cookware is quite used. I loved my room, but I also felt like I was staying at a hostel but at hotel prices. Note: I heard the breakfast is delicious, but I opted out of it.

Fantastic location, fantastic accommodations, and the best part is the owner, Anita! The rooms are spacious and comfortable! There is a downstairs kitchen for guests use as well as the upstairs living area where guests from all over the world can sit and meet each other. The breakfasts are homemade and delicious. There's a den with Netflix and all the movies you would like (and a tv in your room as well). A full library with a wide range of reading material, and every possible type of musical instrument is available for your use. Plus there's a wonderful large dog, Kiva who is docile and available for hugs. While it feels remote, it's only 20 minutes outside of Fairbanks. On the nights that were not cloudy, we were able to see the northern lights from the balcony outside of our bedroom! We met other travelers who stay here every time they come to Fairbanks and we understand why! Thank you so much to Anita and Peter for your wonderful hospitality!

I just made a reservation last Thursday. I got an email saying the reservation was received but "not confirmed". They have charged my credit card. I have called 5 times over 4 days and 3 emails. NO RESPONSE AT ALL. I am concerned that I have been scammed. Not sure what is going on but I hope they don't steal my money.

We stopped here for one night While traveling through the Fairbanks area. Anita was extremely helpful when I reached out to her regarding the accommodations. Our room was great for a family of four. It was roomy, clean and had a great deck that enabled us to look for the northern lights at 2am. We enjoyed breakfast in the morning and meeting the rest of people in the house.

This is the best place we stayed in our 2 week AK vacation! The hostess, Anita, made us feel absolutely welcome in her home, cooks an excellent breakfast and has a relaxed energy that really contributed to our enjoyment. The lodge location is killer: close enough to Fairbanks that we didn't spend valuable time/gas driving, yet it's far enough away from Fairbanks that we saw clear night skies and heard quiet countryside. Our room was awesome: two queen beds kept our party of 4 cozy and well-rested, decorations are wildlife related but not overdone, and there are two different decks we could use to bake ourselves golden brown (we had sun that day). We REALLY wanted to stay longer and just... DO NOTHING but hang out there. If that isn't a great endorsement, I don't know what is! :-)