Located 6,000 feet above sea level on a nunatak just 10 miles from the summit of the tallest mountain in North America, the Sheldon Chalet is Denali National Park’s first and only luxury hotel. The chalet is located in the Don Sheldon Amphitheater, a natural valley carved by the ice of the Ruth Glacier and named after a famous Alaskan bush pilot and the man behind the Sheldon Chalet.
Sheldon received a patent to start building the Chalet back in the 1970s, but the plans were put on hold due to his sudden death. Decades later, Don’s son, Robert, has now finally completed the project.
The chalet is anchored deep into the granite, iron, and titanium of the nunatak and is equipped with a runoff-powered water supply, electricity, and a Finnish fireplace in a common room that doubles as a high-efficiency, clean-combustion heating system.
Inaccessible by car, guests must take an hour-long helicopter ride to arrive at the five-bedroom chalet. Each room can sleep two guests and is arranged around the central Commons. Amenities include a sauna, viewing station, observation deck, kitchen, and dining area. Marvin windows were installed to give guests 360-degree views of the surrounding peaks. The windows were designed to withstand winds of up to 200 miles per hour.
Outside of the hotel, guests can go snowshoeing and glacier trekking and visit remote hot springs and a Mastodon bone yard. Rates for the luxury experience start at $2,300 per person, per night. BEK of Alaska built the Chalet.
Related Stories
Building Tech | Jun 26, 2019
Modular construction can deliver projects 50% faster
Modular construction can deliver projects 20% to 50% faster than traditional methods and drastically reshape how buildings are delivered, according to a new report from McKinsey & Co.
Design Innovation Report | Jun 25, 2019
2019 Design Innovation Report: Super labs, dream cabins, office boardwalks, façades as art
9 projects that push the limits of architectural design, space planning, and material innovation.
Hotel Facilities | May 16, 2019
JFK’s TWA Flight Center has been reimagined as a hotel
MCR and Morse Development spearheaded the project.
Hotel Facilities | Apr 23, 2019
citizenM Union Square to break ground in San Francisco this week
It will be the first citizenM hotel in California.
Hotel Facilities | Apr 10, 2019
Hilton’s ‘canopy’ lifestyle brand hotel opens in Minneapolis’ Mill District
The project involved converting a 1904 industrial building.
Hotel Facilities | Mar 20, 2019
Denver hotel features garage doors in guest rooms
GKKworks designed the building.
Hotel Facilities | Mar 5, 2019
Hotel and indoor waterpark under construction in the Catskill Mountains
The project is slated to open in April.
Hotel Facilities | Feb 6, 2019
Art-focused hotel will be the first to open in the Dallas Arts District
HKS is designing the hotel.
Hotel Facilities | Feb 5, 2019
CambridgeSeven named lead architect for new Cambria Hotel
The hotel will be located in Somerville, Mass.
Hotel Facilities | Feb 4, 2019
31-story YotelPAD Miami combines 222 hotel rooms and 231 condominiums
YotelPAD is a new brand by Yotel.