After having a late breakfast with Lee and Jeanne Faust in town we headed 60 miles northeast of
Fairbanks to Chena Hot Springs Resort. The beautiful drive is through the Chena Recreation Area and is a popular local camping, boating, fishing, and outdoor area.
Chena Hot Springs has been curing the aches of miners and tourists since the turn of the century with its mineral
hot springs. It includes its own airport, hotel, campground, the
Aurora Ice Museum, and of course the hot spring pools. The thermal
hot springs not only provide heat but through the use of a geothermal power plant produces 400kw of electricity to keep the
Aurora Ice Museum cool through the summer months.
We arrived in time for the 1:00PM tour of the Aurora Ice Museum that is the creation of world champion ice carver Steve Brice and his wife that includes an igloo, ice bar, and hotel. The
The Aurora is kept to a cool 20 degrees in the summer so wearing warm clothing is a must. The hotel includes 6 rooms that have been used three times, only once all night!
Some of the carvings represent Brice’s world winning designs and are all lighted with LED lights that generate no heat. 
The museum does not melt except for damage done to the bar’s surface by alcohol and some sublimation to smaller pieces like statues fingers that have been repaired. Several weddings have been held in the museum and receptions are held there. One event with 50 people raised the inside temperature 5 degrees and had to be cut short.
After the tour Sue headed for the hot pool while Jeff toured the resort including displays on geothermal energy. 
When we arrived and pulled into the parking lot there was a 20 year old van converted into an RV with a wood stove chimney sticking out the roof. 
Jeff discovered the owner, River Jack, selling stories and carvings outside the restaurant. Jack has done a little of everything in Alaska including prospecting, herding caribou, and mushing dog teams. He now winters in the wilderness near Chena Hot Springs in a tent and has photos galore of his winter home that he reaches by canoe. It was an interesting afternoon.
It was also a good afternoon for spotting moose. Two young moose strolled into the resort while we were there for a drink and we spotted two more on the way back to Fairbanks.
We drove back to Fairbanks for dinner and spent another relaxing evening in the RV park.
After having a late breakfast with Lee and Jeanne Faust in town we headed 60 miles northeast of 
Chena Hot Springs has been curing the aches of miners and tourists since the turn of the century with its mineral 
The museum does not melt except for damage done to the bar’s surface by alcohol and some sublimation to smaller pieces like statues fingers that have been repaired. Several weddings have been held in the museum and receptions are held there. One event with 50 people raised the inside temperature 5 degrees and had to be cut short.
Jeff discovered the owner, River Jack, selling stories and carvings outside the restaurant. Jack has done a little of everything in 
It was also a good afternoon for spotting moose. Two young moose strolled into the resort while we were there for a drink and we spotted two more on the way back to Fairbanks.
