Talkeetna vs Willow (Anchorage, Palmer, Glennallen: homes, work, high school)

[MrsJ]

I have not been able to find many pictures of the Talkeetna and Willow areas other than the ones from the Chambers and those are not always a fair way to go. My husband is working in Prudhoe Bay and we are looking to relocate up there and I am trying to do some research. We have three school age children and I want to feel safe when he is gone. We like lots of trees (pines preferably) and we do like the snow alot so that will not be a problem nor will the cold be a problem. Any suggestions? I really like what I have been able to find on Talkeetna but have not been able to find much on from Willow on up to Talkeetna.

[annswisher]

Hi I was just wondering why you would chose either of these places. My thinking is if you husband is just coming off working 10 days straight and he has to drive 60-110 miles home he won't be happy. Especially in the winter months when Alaska does not have much daylight. The weather can get real bad. I would think maybe Palmer, Wascilla areas. I have a son in law working on the slope and he lives way out in Glennallen and most times has to spend the night in Anchorage before heading home. Just something for you to think about. You'll love Alaska.Where are you moving up from? Ann

[alan roberson]

I live in Talkeetna. I found this site 'cause we're moving. Talkeetna is a great place really cute small town beautiful scenery great fishing but too cold and too far away from anything. Lots of people live here who work on the slope and fly out of Anchorage so... it's doable. If it were me I'd move to Palmer. Lot closer to everything still got a nice small town feel . Willow doesn't appeal to me at all.

[Rance]

Talkeetna is home of "Whole Wheat Radio"...

http://www.wholewheatradio.org/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

[AKSnowbird]

You can't find much about the area from Willow to Talkeetna because there ain't much there!

[Marty Van Diest]

Talkeetna is a destination at the end of a road off of the Parks Hwy. It does have a little bit of community feel.

Willow is literally just a wide spot in the road on the Parks Highway. The area around Willow is all called Willow. There are a couple of small convenience type stores, a couple gas stations, an espresso drive through. A cafe...that's about it. There is an elementary school there.

If your children are high school or middle school age they will likely have to ride the bus a long ways. There isn't a high school in Willow or Talkeetna. There is Susitna High at the intersection of the Talkeetna Road and the Parks Hwy.

They both get a lot of snow so you should like that.

You will need to drive 1-2 hours to get to a real grocery store or department store depending on if you live in Willow or Talkeetna.

[Metlakatla]

Lot of people working on the slope live in the area.

Willow is usually going to be colder because of how it's situated. Even in the summer, the weather's going to be a bit worse there most of the time.

The bus ride from Talkeetna to Susitna High is nothing, really. 14 miles or so and the spur road is well kept up during the winter.

Willow is a nice community as well, but it's spread out a bit as Marty says. You don't see the homes just driving through on the Parks.

[warptman]

OOOOH, I have a few pictures from Willow and Talkeetna, I don't know if they'll help, but here you go...
Willow Air


K2 Air in Talkeetna




Talkeetna Air Taxi

[Marty Van Diest]

Wow...K2 has some pretty amazing planes. Are those turbo otters?

[warptman]

Yes they are. They have between 750hp-1000hp depending on what PT-6 they got. The Talkeetna Air Taxi has a Texas Turbine conversion which has a 900hp Garret turbine.