The Stikine Inn celebrated a decade under its current management on Friday, a stretch of time marked by an extensive remodel and plans for future expansion.
Located on the commercial district’s waterfront, Bill and Cheryl Goodale of Southeast Properties purchased the Inn on April 15, 2006. At the time the hotel had just 15 employees on staff, aging amenities and an inefficient restaurant.
In the years since, the hotel now employs 45 during its peak season, the last room is being renovated, and the same kitchen is now feeding three times as many people.
“Every year we get to build, we get to add,” said Jake Harris, who has managed the hotel and restaurant for much of the past decade.
Arriving in Wrangell as a tourist that year, Harris had not expected to stay on. But stay he did, and coming on as the Stikine Inn’s manager worked hard with the Goodales at building the business.
He said the first thing was to balance the hotel’s books and restructure the restaurant.
“It was more of a cafe-style dining experience at that time,” he recalled, with a little banquet hall where the bar currently is and limited seating.
Aiming at a more upscale experience, Harris wanted to develop a menu that appealed to the local palette in addition to tourists. The end goal was to keep the menu “as Alaskan as possible,” featuring seafood, game and other ingredients sourced from the state.
On the hotel side, the entry area was remodeled and 34 rooms given a facelift.
“Down to the studs in every single room. It’s been a complete transition,” stated Harris.
Emphasis was focused on the marine side, making the most of Wrangell’s location, its views and water access. “I tried to continue working that into the projects,” said Harris. “We really just wanted to emphasize the experience that I had, coming up here as a tourist in 2006.”
He pointed out that for a growing number of visitors, Wrangell is their primary destination. In the most recently available data, approximately 14,720 tourists came to Wrangell during the summer of 2014, a 26-percent increase over 2011.
Tourism is the second-largest private sector industry in Wrangell, making up eight percent of its jobs and bringing in four percent of its wages, or $1.7 million. Visitors contributed approximately $4.1 million to the local economy in 2014, a 36-percent increase over 2011.
The largest proportion of visitor spending – about $3.1 million – comes from independent travelers, who primarily come for the sights – the Stikine River and Anan Wildlife Observatory are two of the most popular – but also for the fishing and recreation.
Harris noted a growing number of his patrons are coming for maritime maintenance as well, bringing their boats for various projects at The Marine Service Center. One of the primary challenges he sees to increasing business opportunity in the community is accommodation. In addition to the Stikine Inn, the Wrangell Chamber of Commerce lists 15 other lodgings available to travelers, which during the summer season tend to reach capacity.
A Convention and Visitors Bureau study found visitors spend between $500 and $1,000 per day on average, money which goes to outfitters, contractors, services and other local businesses.
“It makes a dramatic difference,” Harris commented.
Which is why the Stikine Inn is looking at doubling its lodging capacity within the next three to five years, with an expansion in the works which would add around 30 rooms to the hotel. First unveiled in March 2015, the plan would also add tenant lease space along the dockside cul-de-sac.
In April 2015, the Assembly approved proceeding with a request to sell city tidelands adjacent to the Goodales. An appraisal of the property’s value is being conducted, and Harris said after a price is reached the next, lengthier step will be securing an Army Corps of Engineers permit.
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