Info on Wrangell (houses, property taxes, living)

[JoeyJoeJoe]

Thank you everybody for the great info, especially GrammasCabin and hensonst. Very helpful.

[JoeyJoeJoe]

I forgot to ask, does the island that Wrangell is on have Grizzly Bears on it?

[mal_flisk]

Short answer: Yep

[DoriKate]

Great information guys!!

Now, please excuse me, I'm a bit hungover (yes I know its Tuesday morning, but we both had the day off today so we took the liberty to celebrate) but I just can't find Wrangell on the map (of AK that I so conviently started to keep right*by the computer for just such an occasion)

Where exactly is it, and what is the closest 'bigger city'? I'm loving the sound of it, and will def. spend a little more time researching (once my system recovers that is ).
Sounds just lovely, and the kind of place I could vibe with.
Also, anyone has personal pics of the area to post I would love to see them (every town websites post THE BEST pics..heehee)
I see they have a scrapbook store, coffee shop and lutheran church...I'm in.

[mongazid]

Its on an island in the southeast. About a third the way up the inside passage.

[GrammasCabin]

Here are a few photos for you. It sounds like you need to come make a visit. Right now king crab, shrimp and halibut seasons are open, lots of seafood to be had. King salmon start to show up next month, along with the whales, the derby starts May 15. We have the best 4th of July in the country, Better Homes & Gardens did a spread on Wrangell a few years back. I have a darling little floathouse on the beach your family can use while you looky loo should you decide to visit before you make a decision. You'll probably want to wait for some of this snow and ice to melt first tho. It's one of those places you either never want to leave - or can't wait to get out, depends on who you are, what you're looking for.







Early winter downtown Wrangell on a sleepy Sunday morning



Fourth of July in Wrangell





Wrangell sits at the mouth of the Stikine River, our favorite playground.





This one was taken by a friend's son last month, my favorite photo of Wrangell

[DoriKate]

Beee-A-Utiful photos Grammascabin - thank you so much for sharing!

Now, that adorable little floathouse is something I have never in my life heard of or seen one - how fun!

[GrammasCabin]

That floathouse was home to me and my Chesapeke, Moose for 15 years. The best years of my life. I lived in it for a couple years at "Old Town", the site of the ancient Tlinget villiage about 30 miles south of Wrangell. Then in '91 I moved it about 12 miles south of Wrangell where I could hike up through the woods and be on the road. That was when the mill would bring you a whole bundle of yellow cedar and push it right up on the beach for you with the boom boat. As long as I had a bundle of cedar, and a barrel of water I was a rich woman. Gas for the generator and propane for lights and cookstove were nice to have but not critical. I lived on about $5,000 a year back then. Life was so much simpler, now I have this stupid mortgage, electric bill and I'm fighting the city over assessment and property taxes. What have I done! Here's where the floathouse was when I lived in it at 11 mile. Had the whole world to myself. Oh boy howdy does that little floathouse have stories!

[Grannysroost]

Looks like a wonderful haven!!!

[blueflames50]

OMG you had paradise!!! now you got taxes, mortage, utility bills, upkeep etc...what were ya think'n????
.ever think about go'n back???

by the way....how did you put a house on the river edge and then move it....did you own the property or was there like a squatters rights???