Brooks Lodge
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I apologize for this brutal review. This review is solely for the pricing and the reservations system they have. After looking at YouTube videos, I was soo excited to go to Katmai. But got very disappointed when I looked at the brooks lodge reservation system which they decide through lottery and on top of it one has to wait for close to two years to get accommodation confirmation. When the climate is so uncertain in Alaska and can change in a day, it feels unreasonable to have lottery system that can take up to two years of advance planning. Secondly the accommodation costs close to 1000$ just for small cabins with minimal facilities. Plus food and everything is extra. Not even breakfast is included. It’s understandable that they are in remote area but 1000$ seems to be very unreasonable especially when you look at the Cabin size and amenities provided. I guess this is only for rich travelers. It feels like they are trying to make the most of it through these accommodations since the peak travel months are only for few months in a year. It looks like it’s much better to do day trips instead Atleast if someone wants to visit Katmai they can do it without having to go through this painful reservations system.
I wanted to give a couple of heads up on some of Google's details on here. I have worked at Brooks Lodge for 13 years and for some reason Google has the Lodge listed as having Free WiFi and that is not true - there is absolutely no WiFi for guests. The parking, however, is indeed free - assuming you are arriving by way of your own airplane or boat. :D - Another thing people do not realize is that the prices are set by NPS and are based on the operating costs for the lodge, plus a little for profit (it is a business, after all). A lot of people complain about the cost and expect the Hilton but have no concept of how much it costs PER POUND to get anything out there - anyone who has ever bought groceries in the Bush will understand. On top of that, the crew not only must be paid but housed and fed as well (the electricity is crazy expensive - it is diesel generated, after all). The lodge is not trying to rip you off - it's just THAT expensive to operate. - History. The lodge was built for fishing. There were no bears in camp back then because people had lived there for thousands of years until the eruption of 1912 displaced them all and the government made the area a national monument. Fast-forward to the 1950s and you have the lodge being built for fishermen to experience world-class fly fishing. At some point everything was considered historic and is owned by the NPS - the lodge only manages and operates the guest accommodations. When I first started working there in 2009, more than half our guests were there to fish. Since the webcams went in and bears started becoming world-famous, those numbers have changed and so have guest-expectations. But the situation for the lodge is the same - they don't own the buildings. They can't even change the locks! One day a hotel might get built in a new location but the current lodge and guest rooms will never be updated - they're stuck in the 50s/60s/70s because of historic value and NPS regulations. If you have issues with any of it, you can let the lodge know but letting NPS know directly (in-person or email - no one looks at Google reviews) actually has tangible results down the line. - I don't work for the lodge any more but I do still care about it because I understand it. It's an amazing place to visit and no, it's not perfect but there are reasonable explanations for why it is the way it is. And managing those expectations will help future guests have better experiences if they understand why things are rustic and expensive.
I cannot believe that we got stay here. It was a dream. If you have the ability to get out to Brooks and stay, do it. It was like adult summer camp, but one of the main activities is bear watching. We came in late July and saw as many as 23 bears on the falls and surrounding river at once. Just magical. Also, the food at the lodge was spectacular. I was expecting boiled green beans and hamburger helper, boy was I wrong! Beautiful buffet hot meals 3x a day with a full salad bar, fresh baked bread, soups, desserts, unlimited coffee, and truly delicious mains. And they always have salmon available too - ha! Major props to all the staff making the lodge such a welcoming and fun place to stay.
My husband and I have made several visits to Brooks Lodge and are now planning our next trip for August, 2021 - COVID permitting. We usually go in June or August because it is easier to get reservations in one of the cabins. Every trip has been wonderful. The food is quite good and the cabins are reasonably comfortable. We saw bears every day, including a few close encounters. There is a lot of other wildlife around so keep your eyes open. The lodge employees do a great job. There are lots of park rangers on the viewing platforms and on the trails and they are very good at keeping tourists from interfering with the bears. Flying to and from the lodge on Katmai Air adds to the experience. Insects are sometimes a problem so a headnet is a wise precaution.
I got a door to keep the bears out...5 star for that Happy to have an bed and hot shower...my own toilet 🚽...in every room.Worth every penny that you will spend here.... but there's no value to put on this adventure .. each of us experience an overwhelming emotional experience . Face an bear head on and watching them on the water fall mesmerize you..
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