An ice museum in Alaska that never melts? Fine.
Fresh tomatoes growing while it’s freezing outside? Getting suspicious.
Both at the same resort, plus a natural hot spring? Someone’s clearly having fun with the laws of temperature.
The trick is geothermal water at just 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Not exactly lava, but enough to help generate electricity.
Most places would call that hot water. This resort put it on the payroll.
The heat also supports greenhouses that grow vegetables through winter and powers a cooling system that keeps the ice museum frozen year-round.
And when you’re done exploring, there’s a warm outdoor pool where you can watch for the northern lights.
I can’t decide what’s more absurd: needing a parka for the ice museum or a swimsuit for an Alaskan night.
Your Front-Row Seat To The Aurora Comes With Warm Water
Steam curls off the water while the sky above might be getting ready to glow green. At Chena Hot Springs Resort, the outdoor Rock Lake lets you soak in natural spring water under the Alaska sky.
The setting is remote wilderness, far from city lights that wash out the aurora. That darkness is a big reason the resort works so well for northern lights viewing in season.
The lake is lined with large rocks and fed by fresh geothermal water. That water flows through continuously, so the lake is not treated with chlorine like a typical pool.
Temperatures shift as you move around, which is part of the fun. Some spots near the rocks run hotter, so ease in and find your sweet spot before getting comfortable.
Keep in mind the outdoor hot springs lake is for guests 18 and older. Families still have plenty of warm options, which we’ll get to soon.
One more tip feels obvious but matters a lot. The aurora runs on its own schedule, so staying a few nights gives you better odds of catching a show from the water.
The Power Plant Might Be The Coolest Tour You Didn’t Plan On
Most resorts buy their electricity from a utility company and call it a day. This one makes about 85 percent of its own power on site, using water that’s roughly 165 degrees.
That number sounds small for a power plant. In fact, it’s the lowest-temperature geothermal resource used for commercial power production anywhere in the world.
The resort sits far off the main electric grid, so the system grew out of real need. Running a remote lodge on diesel alone gets expensive fast, and the earth offered a smarter fuel.
Guests can join a geothermal tour to see how it all works. It’s a rare chance to look behind the curtain at the machinery keeping the lights on and the rooms warm.
Even if engineering usually makes your eyes glaze over, this one is easy to love. The same warm water you soak in is also running your room heater and the ice museum next door.
Kids who love science will eat this up. Adults usually walk away surprised, and maybe a little jealous of an off-grid electric bill.
Bundle Up Because The Ice Museum Stays Frozen All Year
Ice in July shouldn’t be possible in a building full of visitors. The Aurora Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs Resort pulls it off every single day of the year.
Geothermal energy powers the chilling system that keeps everything frozen solid. Yes, hot water helps keep the ice cold, which sounds backward until you take the tour.
Inside, carved ice sculptures fill the space with sparkling detail. Colored lights shine through the ice, giving the whole room a glowing, otherworldly look.
The temperature stays well below freezing, so dress warmly or plan to grab a parka. The museum provides cold weather parkas for guests who show up underdressed.
Admission is separate from the hot springs, so budget for it when planning your day. Tours run on a schedule, which makes it easy to fit in between soaks.
Here’s a fun way to plan it. Visit the frozen museum first, then head straight to warm water and enjoy the contrast. Your toes will thank you for that order.
Fresh Greens In A Frozen Land Sound Impossible Until You Visit
Lettuce growing while the thermometer outside sinks far below zero? That’s the daily routine in the greenhouses here, warmed by the same geothermal heat that fuels everything else.
The temperature gap between inside and outside can be enormous in deep winter. Reports put it around 134 degrees, which is a wild thing for a plant to be shielded from.
Growing food on site makes a lot of sense this far out. Trucking fresh produce into the wilderness is slow and costly, so the resort grows its own instead.
Those greens and vegetables head straight to the kitchen. That means your plate in the middle of an Alaska winter might hold produce picked just steps away.
The greenhouse is a popular stop for curious guests. Seeing tomatoes and greens thriving near snowbanks is a strange, cheerful sight.
It’s also a good reminder of how inventive remote living can be. When the nearest grocery store is a long drive away, a warm greenhouse starts looking like the smartest building on the property.
Dinner Tastes Better When The Salad Grew Next Door
After a long soak, hunger hits hard. Luckily, the restaurant at Chena Hot Springs Resort is right on site, so there’s no chilly drive back to town.
The casual dining room serves produce from the resort’s own greenhouse. A fresh salad this far into the wilderness feels like a small victory every time.
Food options are limited nearby, since the resort is far from any town. The on-site restaurant becomes your main spot for meals, so plan to eat here during your stay.
Breakfast is available for an added cost, which helps fuel early adventures. There’s also an activity center with quick snacks and a cafe for lighter bites between outings.
The lounge offers another relaxed place to sit and warm up. It’s handy when you want to chat about the day before heading back out to watch the sky.
Families should know there’s one rule to remember. Kids can’t sit in the lounge seating area, but the main restaurant welcomes everyone, so grab a table there and dig in.
Kids Get Their Own Warm Splash Zone Indoors
Under 18 and stuck watching grown-ups head outside? No problem, because the indoor pool welcomes guests of all ages.
Children 17 and under can use the outdoor deck hot tub with adult supervision.
The indoor pool uses salt water, a nice change from heavily chlorinated pools. Hot tubs sit nearby, both indoors and outdoors, for anyone wanting more heat.
That setup makes Chena Hot Springs Resort a workable trip for families. Parents can trade off outdoor lake time while the kids splash away inside.
Lodging is friendly to families, too. The resort offers family-friendly accommodations, but guests should confirm children’s rates when booking.
Bring a few practical items for smoother pool days. Quarters or cash help with lockers, and shower shoes are smart for the wet locker room floors.
Towels come with lodging, but day visitors should plan ahead. A little prep keeps the fun focused on the water instead of the logistics, and that’s exactly where everyone wants it.
Rustic Rooms Keep The Focus On The Wilderness
Think cozy cabin vibes, not big-city luxury tower. Rooms here lean into traditional Alaskan style, with simple decor and practical comforts like coffeemakers and TVs.
Options range from standard rooms to two-bedroom suites. There are also adults-only rooms and a campground with an RV park for travelers bringing their own setup.
Here’s a quirk worth knowing before you arrive. Rooms are heated with geothermal water, so they can run warm, and windows and fans help you cool things down.
Wi-Fi and cell service are limited at this remote spot. Treat it as a chance to unplug, and let family know your plans before you head out.
Pets are welcome in designated accommodations, which helps travelers who never leave their furry sidekick behind. Just check which rooms allow them when booking.
The real luxury sits right outside your door, anyway. Spruce forest, hiking trails, and dark skies make up for any fancy extras, especially once the aurora starts flickering overhead after midnight.
The Road Out Here Is Half The Adventure
Getting here takes a little commitment, and that’s part of the magic. Chena Hot Springs Resort sits at 17600 Chena Hot Springs Rd, Fairbanks, AK 99712, roughly 60 miles from downtown Fairbanks.
The drive typically takes about 1.5 to 2 hours each way, depending on road and weather conditions.
Rivers, forests, and rolling hills line the route, and moose sightings along the road aren’t unusual.
No car? The resort offers round-trip shuttle service from Fairbanks and its airport for a fee. That makes a winter visit far less stressful for anyone nervous about icy roads.
Day trips are possible, but staying overnight is the smarter move for aurora hunting. The best displays often happen late, when nobody wants to face a long dark drive.
A multi-night stay gives the sky more chances to cooperate. Clouds come and go, so extra nights stack the odds in your favor.
Pack layers, a swimsuit, and plenty of patience for the weather. Interior Alaska rewards prepared travelers with warm water, cold air, and maybe a sky full of dancing green light.