County: Matanuska-Susitna Borough
Zip Code:
Latitude / Longitude: 62°36′53″N 150°00′43″W / 62.61472°N 150.01194°W / 62.61472
Elevation: 554 ft (169 m)
Time Zone: Alaska (AKST) (UTC-9)
Established:
Disestablished:
Comments: The old townsite of Curry is now an uninhabited stop along the Alaska Railroad, about 22 miles north of Talkeetna. In 1922, this remote train station in the Alaska wilderness became a briefly popular luxury resort destination. Located halfway between Seward and Fairbanks and alongside the Sustina River, Curry was billed “a wilderness palace” when the Railroad opened the first hotel in 1923. Curry was the perfect overnight stop for rail passengers, and with the hotel and renowned fishing, became a destination spot of its own. The little town blossomed, and the resort became more popular as it expanded to include a golf course, a suspension bridge, and boasted magnificent views of Mount Denali.
Remains:
Current Status: Curry first appeared on the 1930 U.S. Census as an unincorporated village. It appeared just twice more in 1940 and 1950.
Remarks: Curry was plagued by a series of unfortunate events leading to its ultimate demise. A fire in 1926 destroyed the engine house and power plant. The engine house was again destroyed by fire in 1933. The construction of a larger hotel in Denali National Park in 1939 drew visitors away from Curry, but the Railroad continued investing in the town, housing employees there in 1945. Disaster came again in the way of a boiler explosion in 1946, completely destroying the power plant. Curry rebuilt, and added a ski area, which would be popular for years to come. The final disaster, however, was a fire in April 1957, in which fire burned down the town’s lifeblood, the 75-room hotel. Three people were killed in the blaze. The hotel was never rebuilt, and Curry faded away.
