While searching for middens and cave paintings in the 1940s, anthropologists discovered early Alaskans seasonally camped in Sadie Cove in Homer, Alaska. Today, the Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge preserves that link to the region’s history while maintaining the peaceful atmosphere of the rugged wilderness and land.
Keith Iverson purchased the land in 1973 and began building what became the Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge, which he runs with his wife Randi. Keith salvaged driftwood from the beaches of Kachemak Bay and milled each piece by hand, using no preservatives, oils or chemicals. Electricity for the lodge is generated by an in-house hydroelectric system operating from a mountain stream, which also provides drinking water. A wind-power backup system ensures the lodge is never without electricity.
The Iversons follow a recycling program; use compact-fluorescent bulbs; purchase products in bulk to limit packaging; and use nontoxic, biodegradable cleaning and laundry products at the lodge. Most recently, they decided to purchase organic cotton linens, which eventually will replace the towel and linen supplies.
Up to 10 overnight guests are hosted at a time. Five private, hand-crafted cabins are nestled between the peaks of Sadie fjord and feature views of Mount Augustine, one of the few active volcanoes in the U.S. In the dining hall, complete with an Alaskan-sized fire pit, Randi cooks ocean-run seafood with fresh produce, much of which is grown in the lodge’s garden. In 2007, the Iversons began planting a tree in Alaska for each guest to help offset carbon emissions.
Trails and seacoast walks surround the lodge, and wildlife can be viewed on land and in the sea and air. Sea kayaks are available for encountering ocean life; pods of orcas and humpback whales occasionally will visit the waters off the lodge. Guests also may enjoy bear watching, fishing, beachcombing, hiking, wildlife photography, river rafting, glacier touring, flightseeing, beach fires and touring neighboring villages.
In a world where personality and character often are forgone in favor of profitability, the Iversons offer a rustic, yet elegant, lodge that operates under a “leave no trace” philosophy while giving their guests a personalized Alaskan experience.
Sadie Cove Wilderness Lodge
Inside Kachemak Bay State Park, Box 2265, Homer, AK 99063 / (888) 283-7234 / mail@sadiecove.com