Page 85 - Parks Highway Bearfoot

Parks Highway 0 with Bearfoot
NORTH POLE
North Pole Visitor Center The North Pole Visitor Center is a quaint log cabin visitor center with a sod roof. That's an Alaskan tradition , as many visitor centers in small local towns (or even downtown Anchorage) use a trapper cabin for their headquarters.
Inside the Visitor Center, local volunteers will guide you to activities in the area and can cue you in about Santa themed photo-ops or places to hike, fish, or even go swimming. The Visitor Center is on Mistletoe Drive, just off the Richardson Highway.
A Residential Town
Even with the perennial holiday theme, North Pole takes itself seriously. North Pole received its name in a bid to lure a toy factory to the area in the 1950 's. The toy manufacturer never materialized. But North Pole is now a residential com- munity that prides itself on attracting people who work in Fairbanks to come live in a more open environment. More importantly, North Pole also is home to many of the military families who serve at nearby Eielson Air Force Base which houses many advanced fighter jets. A famous former resident of North Pole was the PBS painter Bob Ross, who demonstrated easy-to-follow painting techniques on television.
Flat Boats and Rivers
The river country near North Pole is a popular rec- reation activity for Fairbanks locals on warm sum- mer days. The Tanana, Chena, and Salcha Rivers are all an easy drive from North Pole. Every Friday, there's a rush out of town to spend the weekend on these wild rivers.
North Pole Visitor Center