Overview
This 44-acre (109-hectare) city park is located along the Chena River and is Alaska’s only historic theme park. It was opened in 1967 as Alaska 67 Centennial Exposition in order to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Alaska Purchase. Today, the park is home to a number of restaurants, museums, attractions, shops and art spaces, with over 30 places of interest in total.
While the Alaska Native Museum teaches visitors about Eskimos and Native Alaska cultures, the Pioneer Air Museum displays aviation memorabilia and aircrafts. Hungry? Enjoy fresh local fish from Salmon Bake or stroll around while savoring a refreshing treat from the Gold Rush Ice Cream Parlour. If you’re interested in the arts the Palace Theatre puts on a lighthearted performance about Fairbanks from history to present day, while Bear Gallery allows you to view works created by local artists. A few of the many other attractions within the park include Lucky Fox Gold Mine, Square Dance Hall, Betsy's Photography, the Pioneer Museum, Tanana Valley Railroad Museum, Bulgolgi House Restaurant and much more.
Pioneer Park is free to explore, but some of the attractions within the park may charge an entry fee. Also, stay tuned for a big addition to Pioneer Park, as they’re currently working with World Eskimo Indian Olympics to create a space where athletes can train and put on demonstrations year-round.
