Carriage House - Kobuk's Cozy Timber frame Cottage

Rachel Hatcher, the last of 7 girls, grew up on a family farm in West Jupiter, Florida, where along with her sisters raised and trained horses and cattle, and showed through the 4-H program. She attended Florida Atlantic University and graduated with a bachelor of Finance with a minor in Accounting . After working in Public Accounting for several years, she realized sitting behind a desk was not her cup of tea. She met Jake in 1991 and soon after took a long sabbatical to travel Australia and New Zealand by bicycle, which opened her eyes beyond the corporate ladder and and eventually brought her to Alaska in 1994 Jake Thompson, grew up in the Panama Canal Zone, and spent many summers in Sabula, Iowa where his mother’s side of the family is from. Jake is the 3rd generation from Panama with grandparents that went to work on the Panama Canal in 1905. A few years after graduating High School, Jake came to the States and lived in Tallahassee, Florida where he played Rugby and pursued a trade education. Jake ended up in the construction field and his love of woodworking led to the desire to build timber frame homes, and the Carriage House Accommodations is a fine example of his work.

The Carriage House Estate, acquired in 1996, includes two homes built by your host Jake Thompson on 2 landscaped and wooded acres along California Creek, with great views of the surrounding mountains and forest. The main home/lodge, a 4,500 square foot custom timber frame with massive beams, river rock fireplace and beautiful craftsmanship throughout, has operated as a Bed & Breakfast since 1999 and is now offering space for small events. The Chalet, an 1,860 square foot timber frame Barn, originally built in 2005 to be used by owner Jake Thompson as his wood shop and stalls for the two Percheron draft horses, Kobuk & Tecumseh “the boys” used in the Carriage business, with a hayloft above. In 2010 the boys were retired, and in the years following renovations began on their barn, sanding all the beautiful Douglas Fir timbers and enclosing the stall areas. The transformation was amazing and the 3 new private units are all nicely appointed craftsman style luxury.

The Carriage House Chalet is nested in the spruce and hemlock trees on 2 acres, along California Creek with great views of Alyeska and Max's mountain. Located on the edge of the Girdwood townsquare, within easy walking distance to many restaurants (directly across from the Double Musky Restaurant), and shops and only 1 mile to Alyeska Ski Resort. Numerous trails can be accessed right out the door in the Chugach State and National Forests that surround this property.