Denali National Park Gets its First Luxury Hotel

The Sheldon Chalet likes to describe itself as more than a mere place to stay.

Perched on an isolated rock peak just 10 miles from the summit of Denali in Alaska, Sheldon Chalet is an opportunity.

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The exclusive luxury hotel flanks North America’s highest mountain and sits just above the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, which was carved over millennia by the ice of a glacier.

From wraparound windows, hotel guests (a maximum of 10 at any given time) are treated to spectacular views of the aurora borealis and jagged peaks as far as the eye can see.

Days meanwhile can be spent snowshoeing, flying around Denali National Park sightseeing, ski touring and visiting hot springs.

According to Bloomberg, it took more than a decade to obtain final permits to build this highly-anticipated new Alaska property. Construction took an additional three years.

But it was well worth the wait. At 6,000 feet in elevation, the chalet is as unique as the surroundings are breathtaking.

Multiple generations of the Sheldon family worked to bring the vision of Don and Roberta Sheldon to fruition. Don Sheldon (whom the nearby amphitheater was named after) was a famed Alaskan pilot who passed away in 1975. When he died, so too did his plan to develop adventure properties such as Sheldon Chalet. In 2014, his wife Roberta, who dedicated her life to promoting the importance and value of nature, also passed away.

The Sheldon’s children decided to fulfill their parent's vision for at least one crown jewel chalet in Denali. After many twists and turns, the property has finally become a reality.

READ MORE: Why You Should Visit Denali National Park

The resulting chalet is a luxury destination with running water, electricity, generous heat, and world-class food (all of which is no easy feat given its location). The building's interior is an elegant place where meals are made from Alaskan-sourced ingredients and served with fine wines in a family-style dining area centered around a birchwood table that was handmade in Talkeetna. The five guest rooms, meanwhile, include panoramic views.

The property is also an engineering marvel and close to being carbon-neutral. The chalet's living room, for instance, includes such details as a Finnish fireplace that's also a high-efficiency, clean-combustion heating system. The hotel also relies on solar panels and a runoff-powered water supply.

“Our effort this past three and a half years complete a nearly 50-year project, that will fulfill Don and Roberta Sheldon’s desire to assist in engaging people with the beauty there,” states Robert Sheldon in a November 2017 post on the property’s website.

“Perhaps it will even inspire some to come alongside of worthy support organizations related to Denali National Park.”