Looking for Trapper Creek Opinions on Moving to Trapper Creek (Anchorage: houses, neighborhood)

[BigDavid]

My wife and I are thinking about buying property in the Trapper Creek area. No kids, in our late 40s, coming up there with a good job in hand. We have quiet pursuits and don't need lots of stores, etc. We love the outdoors and are very familiar with the cold weather and mosquitos (Minnesota natives.) So here is my question: If someone you care about asked you if they should move to Trapper Creek, what would you tell them? Thanks in Advance.

[Metlakatla]

Do you have specific property in mind? If not, try to stay on the left side of the Parks Highway while facing Denali.

I would suggest going for a visit. For a real feel for the community, get a room at the Trapper Creek Inn for a few days, hang out in the cafe, and ask the ladies working there for any real advice on living in the area, and listen to the local radio station (Talkeetna). Don't miss Grandma's Radio Recipes, can't remember the time. The lady who does it was my son's first babysitter. Trapper Creek has a nice little library and a couple of small plant nurseries.

Trapper Creek gets few tourons and is a pretty good little community. And best of all you'll be close enough but far away enough from Talkeetna so that you can avoid it during heavy touron infestations. Don't miss the blackberry pie at the Roadhouse though.

Feel free to pm me with any specific questions.

[BigDavid]

I have driven through Trapper Creek, but a visit to "hang" is a good idea. I travel a lot for my work so we can live pretty much anywhere, but we really want to live fairly remote for the privacy and self-sufficiency. Our idea of perfect would be a "cabin with a T-1 line."

The property we are/were looking at is on the right side of the Parks off of Bradley Rd. Why "stay on the left side?" Is the right side too swampy? We've been interested there because of the potential river access in the winter for mushing and because it sits against State land...

[Metlakatla]

You'll recognize this view then.

lived in the area you're talking about; you'll have good neighbors. They keep Bradley well plowed in the winter, good thing. Yes, that area is more swampy than the right side. Even if you punch in a well there or the place comes with one, import your drinking water--there's a couple good local sources. Everything runs downhill towards the Susitna and just about everyone on the left side has outhouses still. There's an incredible crane migration that occurs on that side too.

To answer this though:

So here is my question: If someone you care about asked you if they should move to Trapper Creek, what would you tell them?

The only reservation I would have at all would be that if someone needed to depend on a local economy to earn a living, it wouldn't be a good choice. Sounds like that isn't an issue with you though. Also it sounds like you're prepared for the sort of lifestyle that exists there.

[BigDavid]

Princess -

I'm glad to hear about the septic/outhouse situation. I have to admit that running to the outhouse at 30 below when we're 70 doesn't excite either me or my wife. We'd need to be able to have at least a septic tank or we'll have to find another spot.

The bottled water thing could be an issue as well; we drink it sometimes now here in Indiana, but that's by choice not for safety.

As to depending on the local economy no, that won't be an issue. I'm a consultant and we'll only move up there with clients already contracted far out in advance. My wife is an artist, and so the idea of all the wilderness inspiration so close to home is very exciting to her. Thanks for all the details and I will keep in touch if that's okay.

By the way, do you know anyone who lives "semi-rural" a little closer to Anchorage who might know about 10+ acres down there with no CCRs?

[Metlakatla]

I admit that was a consideration of mine too; my outhouse was on a bear trail and I got stuck in there by a moose once. You can, though, put in septic--it's just that most people have not done so yet. There's a specific kind and I can't recall what it is.

By the way, do you know anyone who lives "semi-rural" a little closer to Anchorage who might know about 10+ acres down there with no CCRs?

I don't know what a CCR is...you might want to look into the Willow area though.

No problem keeping in touch; I'm usually around here at least once a day, more lately in the winter.

[BigDavid]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

You can, though, put in septic--it's just that most people have not done so yet. There's a specific kind and I can't recall what it is.

I don't know what a CCR is...you might want to look into the Willow area though.

It is good to know we could put in septic if we wanted to. Perhaps if you were used to the outhouse it wouldn't be a big deal, but they still feel temporary/camping to me. Guess I've become a "city boy."

CCR is (I think) Covenants, Codes & Restrictions. That means the "neighborhood" can tell you what you can and cannot do on your land - like limit you to two dogs or say no trailers - stuff like that. My feeling is, I'm not moving thousands of miles to start letting people I've never met tell me what I can and can't do on my own property. Any other thoughts on that?

[Arcticthaw]

Originally Posted by BigDavid

It is good to know we could put in septic if we wanted to. Perhaps if you were used to the outhouse it wouldn't be a big deal, but they still feel temporary/camping to me. Guess I've become a "city boy."

CCR is (I think) Covenants, Codes & Restrictions. That means the "neighborhood" can tell you what you can and cannot do on your land - like limit you to two dogs or say no trailers - stuff like that. My feeling is, I'm not moving thousands of miles to start letting people I've never met tell me what I can and can't do on my own property. Any other thoughts on that?

YOu will want to check the zoning if your in a borough (large county) They will restrict the use of the land at times according to their plans.

Some borough governments are online like the state is so look up the area you interested in and maybe they will have a GIS database showing zoning and such. The state recorders office is online also, so if you find a piece of property you can find out who owns it and how long ago they bought it etc.

[Marty Van Diest]

Trapper Creek is a great area. You should visit it in the winter, especially in March. That is when there is a lot of snow and a lot of light. You will have snowmachiners in droves going through certain areas there so keep that in mind when you choose your location. Petersville Road which leaves the Parks Hwy at Trapper Creek is a snowmachiners paradise. You may or may not like that.

There is a lot of good land from Willow to Trapper Creek, esp on the east side of the Highway. If you look you will find some pretty remote properties that still have power and a dsl line. I know of one right now.

In fact, this place is in that neck of the woods. It's one of my favorite "Alaskan Houses".

[BigDavid]

Arcticthaw makes a good point about checking Bourough requirements online as part of the research before buying property. I can agree that some regulation can be a good thing - like having requirements so that if you moved out to a beautiful undeveloped area your new neighbors don't decide to build a mini-mart or a porn theater next door to you.

The thing that I don't like is when "CCRs" say you cannot have more than 2 dogs, or they say you can only build a single-family dwellng and no commercial enterprises on your own land; even when you are not in a .95 acre-per-house development. I understand if I lived in the "suburbs" in any state, houses close together and all, I wouldn't want to listen to 30 dogs being themselves all day and night. But what if I live in an incredibly beautiful spot and want to supplement my income with 3 or 4 guest cabins or a small B&B? According to some CCRs, I couldn't do that - even if I would do it with good taste and repect for noise discipline and my neighbors.

One of the things that draws us to Alaska is both the entrepeneurial spirit of her people and the independence I hear so many people talk about. I am all for supporting and being a part of your community - as the song says "we all need someone to lean on" - I just want to believe that when we make our last move to the place we have dreamed of all our lives, we won't have to ask permission from our neighbors when we decide to paint the shutters a new color.