Pioneer Park
Pioneer Park
4
Monday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
About
Built to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the purchase of Alaska from Russia, this theme part includes a mock gold-rush town with authentic pioneer log cabins, mining equipment, musems, a replicated Native American village and a huge, drydocked sternwheeler open for tours.
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204 within 5 kms
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53 within 10 kms
See what travellers are saying
- JM18 contributionsGo for the historyHistoric park with a lot of cute buildings & stores. It looked like they were starting to refurbish the riverboat and hope they can continue to give this cute park more TLC. It was very quiet the Wednesday afternoon we visited, but still worth a visit from the shuttle bus. It would be a gem with some live music and maybe street performers. Maybe it has more activity on weekends.Visited June 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 1 July 2024
- Josie L2 contributionsOvernightThe interior of Pioneer Park was lively. The busses and car traffic was crazy. We camped overnight in the lot and nice to have fresh potable water, the $12 per night was fantastic for a parking lot. The traffic during the evening was nuts .Visited June 2024Travelled with friendsWritten 1 July 2024
- maxtotow4 contributionsstaying near Fairbanks, in town option, Low cost.A good option right in town to see Fairbanks. Boondocking in a parking lot basically. They do have water to fill tanks and trash cans. Self pay or go into Pioneer Park office and pay. Pretty lax on any rules, but we had no issues. It can be noisy since it is near a major intersection.Visited July 2024Travelled with familyWritten 26 July 2024
- Mark PNew Orleans, Louisiana362 contributionsWorth a VisitFor one thing, the Pioneer Air Museum is in Pioneer Park so we worked that in as well. Unfortunately the the model RR was closed but we rode the train around the park and that told you about the rest of the Park. We also visited the Stamped Museum and watched the Show. Has an old paddle boat and a RR Car that we also visitied. Good collection of old houses that now serve as gift shops. Spent about 2-3 hours and felt is was worth the time.Visited July 2024Travelled as a coupleWritten 2 August 2024
These reviews are the subjective opinion of Tripadvisor members and not of TripAdvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
1,280 reviews
Excellent
474
Very good
476
Average
256
Poor
60
Terrible
14
These reviews have been automatically translated from their original language.
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John L
Baltimore, MD91 contributions
Aug 2021
We came with a tour group to the Alaskan Salmon Bake, where we enjoyed wood-grilled salmon dishes with all kinds of sides, beverages and desserts. When we finished, we were able to enjoy the park for an hour or so. We would have like to have spent much more time there. Great exhibits about Fairbanks history, wildlife and customs. There were so many charming craft shops, food shops, souvenirs and gifts.
Local musicians and performance art performers provided entertainment.
Local musicians and performance art performers provided entertainment.
Written 12 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Robert D
Brooklyn, New York4,657 contributions
Jul 2021
This is a collection of historic buildings, some of which now house museums, that show how the people of Fairbanks lived in the past. You can visit historic houses and the pioneer museum, and then have dinner at the Salmon Bake. They also have an evening theatre show, but that was not operating this year due to Covid.
Written 15 September 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsay M
Point Lookout, MO38 contributions
Jun 2022 • Family
Great for young kids and families. We went on a slow day when much wasn’t open. We rode the train (3, 6, 9, 10, 12 year olds all enjoyed). It was very cheap ($2 adults and $1 kids). We had Ice cream from the ice cream shop, played on the playground and rode the carousel ($3 per ride). Had we went on a day when more was open, I am sure we would have enjoyed it even more!
Written 5 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hendlschorsch
Essen, Germany7,852 contributions
Jun 2024 • Couples
The park was originally opened under the name "Alaska 67 Centennial Exposition" in 1967, later became "Alaskaland" and in 2001 the name of the park was changed to "Pioneer Park" to better reflect the historical significance of the park and reduce the expectation of a theme park.
Today the 15 hectare park is a bit old, i.e. the riverboat / paddle steamer Nenana is a bit run down (without sightseeing) and awaits renovation (or final disintegration).
There's in the park
- a Railroad that will take you two laps through the park for a few dollars
- a kind of historic street where old houses stand next to a church from the "Goldrush" period next to the Pioneer Museum
- an aircraft museum (Pioneer Air Museum)
- the railroad car "Harding Car" (in which the president sat when he hammered the "golden nail" for the Alaska Railroad in Nenana in 1923)
- a mini golf course
and a large children's playground.
In addition, you can also raid a very manageable salad bar at "Alaska Salmon Bake" for expensive money and eat a small piece of freshly grilled salmon.
In the evening recommended for a leisurely walk, but please do not have too high expectations.
Today the 15 hectare park is a bit old, i.e. the riverboat / paddle steamer Nenana is a bit run down (without sightseeing) and awaits renovation (or final disintegration).
There's in the park
- a Railroad that will take you two laps through the park for a few dollars
- a kind of historic street where old houses stand next to a church from the "Goldrush" period next to the Pioneer Museum
- an aircraft museum (Pioneer Air Museum)
- the railroad car "Harding Car" (in which the president sat when he hammered the "golden nail" for the Alaska Railroad in Nenana in 1923)
- a mini golf course
and a large children's playground.
In addition, you can also raid a very manageable salad bar at "Alaska Salmon Bake" for expensive money and eat a small piece of freshly grilled salmon.
In the evening recommended for a leisurely walk, but please do not have too high expectations.
Automatically translated
Written 13 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jeff r
Overland Park, KS224 contributions
Mar 2023
This place would be an awesome place to visit when everything is open. We walked around to see some of the exhibits that were not open due to the fact it was wintertime. The Denali train car, airplane exhibit, and other places would certainly require a second look.
Written 15 March 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Esther P
Chicago, IL1,419 contributions
Jul 2021
Go hungry when you visit the Salmon Bake Restaurant at Pioneer Park. The Salad Bar is generous, the entree portions are huge and the desert is very nice. Though they offer halibit, probably the salmon is the better choice.
Written 5 August 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kingofhma
Florida665 contributions
Jun 2022
Loved this place. It is underrated and the great thing it is free. Great exhibits from period houses a train ride, an air museum and a beached stern wheeler river boat. AND there if food for purchase. Great for kind as well as adults. You can get there from downtown Fairbanks and return by public transport bus (blue or red line)
Written 24 June 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Josie L
2 contributions
Jun 2024 • Friends
The interior of Pioneer Park was lively. The busses and car traffic was crazy.
We camped overnight in the lot and nice to have fresh potable water, the $12 per night was fantastic for a parking lot. The traffic during the evening was nuts .
We camped overnight in the lot and nice to have fresh potable water, the $12 per night was fantastic for a parking lot. The traffic during the evening was nuts .
Written 1 July 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunnyrad
Carolina Beach, NC23 contributions
Aug 2022 • Friends
Can’t believe this park is free! Very nice old times town with great guides in each of them to tell you the history. The man in the Wickersham house was especially very nice and informative! Went to the air museum and regular museum which was very cool and we also had dinner at the salmon bake which was wonderful and a fun experience. Definitely a must do for Fairbanks!
Written 30 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
packerbeer
193 contributions
Dec 2022
Giving this a three in that brochures stated that they are open all year, and lighted for Christmas and so on. Well, you can walk the grounds, and it appears that the trees have lights on them, but they were not lit and the "mini" museums were all closed with the exception of the art hall, but not a soul to be found. I would think that this would be a good place to go to during the summer when it is open. Got some steps in though for the day.
Written 1 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We went to the saloon show around 7ish and most of the stores were closed when we went in. We were there in May, so maybe it was early, before the season started.
Written 13 July 2019
So the link to the website takes you to a govt site not the Pioneer
park site What are your hours?
Are you open Sundays? Its hard to visit when you can find info on line
Written 17 September 2017
I'm not the owner of the park, and have no answer to this question. This should have been directed to the owner.
Written 8 December 2017
How much time do you think we should plan for a visit (family with 2 kids - 14 and 10)?
Written 17 May 2017
hour or two tops... do NOT waste your time or money at the salmon bake as suggested!
Written 26 May 2017
Hello,
Is there transportation to the Park from any local hotels such as the Princess Lodge? We will be staying in Fairbanks this coming September 2015. Thank you...
Written 1 February 2015
I got free transportation from my hotel -- Sophie Station. Why don't you contact your hotel and ask?
Written 6 February 2015
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