Gold Hill has a rich history in the Ester Valley outside of Fairbanks, located in one of the richest mining districts of Alaska, The Ester valley was hydro mined in the 1900's and then dredged. The Dredge still sits outside Ester on a man made lake from the mining era. Many miners lived on the outskirts of Fairbanks seeking their fortune in Gold mining. In the early 1960's two men known as the the Klemntis Brothers, seeking to keep from making the treck into Fairbanks, Started Gold Hill Liquor. The miners in the area would line up to seek beer, in 12packs from the little A Frame off the Parks Hwy then for $5.00, after a day of mining, additions of Fuel, and Grocery helped create a successful retail store.
Gold Hill is a historied Store, My family has owned Gold Hill since 1981. I ran Gold Hill before my father, stepping in, as he has scheduled a trip to Spain with my mother and my two brothers, hoping to lure me from Dutch harbor where I worked on a processing barge, and on fishing vessels, he called me to come help the family. I walked into a small store with no knowledge of retail. But I was there to receive the key's while they were on their trip. Later my brother Robert and I would add movies, as internet was not available in the valley and still has dark spots where Internet is not available, we continue to rent movies. We also have the addition of Souviners,, for travelers on the Hwy both for the summer and winter months. I stayed working at Gold Hill, and my time with my father is one of my greatest memories, a passion for Retail and Merchandising became a career as My husband and I purchased Gold Hill from my Parents in 2005 after many years of my Father encouraging me to pursue what he felt was a natural instinct for what Gold Hill needed.
I would love to add that in the 1980's Bush business was added and became a huge success, one weekend my brother and I packed over 194 packages with 2 cases of beer and a case of Crown Russe Vodka to each package, we would go through 2 pallets of vodka sent to Barrow while the pipeline boom was progressing, each week. Today the Barrow distribution center, accepts those orders for what is now known as Utgiagvik the original native name for the village of Barrow.
Gold Hill has many generations of Customers who still frequent the store, some I remember as children coming through the door for ice Cream in the summer and candy in the winter.
After purchasing Gold Hill, my husband and I added imported beer and created a selection of wines. Gold Hill became known as Gold Hill Imported Beers and fine wines. 11 years ago after a quick trip to Anchorage to view one of 4 Railroad Caboose for sale, we added our drive through coffee Shop and hot sandwiches.
Caboose 1091 is a great addition to the store and we have an excellent team that rent the caboose from us. They are known on the parks hwy as having the best food available.
Gold Hill has continued to be a profitable business, and I feel the addition of Hot food in the store, and showers as we have many dry cabin dwellers would only help grow the business.