The Blue Tarp

This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  This season, we’ve been looking at events in the area, and today we’ll be focusing on two annual festivals across the river from Talkeetna in Trapper Creek. If you’re looking for summer fun, or if you want to cure winter cabin fever, these events have you covered.  Whether you’re an old timer or...

This is The Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  Today, we’ll hear about Alaska’s state sport, dog mushing, and how mushing events have played a role in life in the area.  Mushing races can be as short as a few miles or as long as a thousand.  We’ll cover the whole range in the next half hour.  Whether you’re an old timer or a newcomer, there’s r...

This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.   This season has been focused on events unique to the area.  Today, we’re looking at another annual gathering that brings hundreds of people to Talkeetna each March.  In most years, it is a reminder that Spring is right around the corner, and in 2020, its cancelation served as one of the first in...

This is The Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  Today, we’re exploring another festival from Talkeetna’s recent past, Miner’s Day.  It’s another example of the sort of celebration that took place before large-scale tourism moved into the area, and just like Moose Dropping in Episode 3, elements of it continue through to today.  Join us as we tak...

This is The Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  Today, we’re looking at an event...or rather two events with very similar names and themes having to do with...moose excrement.  Come along as we hear about the Moose Dropping Festival...not to be confused with the Moose Drop.  Whether you’re an old-timer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue...

This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska’s Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  In this episode, we’re taking a look at the event that has turned the darkest time of year into the biggest party for the last forty years, the Talkeetna Bachelor Auction.  Whether you’re an old-timer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for everyone. Support the show

One of the more common questions visitors ask Talkeetna residents is what we do in the winter.  We’re starting off our second season by answering part of that question.  The first Saturday in December is typically bustling on Talkeetna’s Main Street for the Wilderness Woman Contest. Support the show

The Blue Tarp is back for season two!  Our first episode is going up Saturday, March 20th, 2021.  This time, we're covering events around the Susitna Valley both past and present.  We do still have some sponsorship opportunities available for this season, so if you want to help us continue to make The Blue Tarp, you can head to KTNA.org. Support the show

This episode of The Blue Tarp is our second seasonal special.  The Editorial Board and KTNA staff have started working on season two of the show, which we will be bringing to you in 2021.  For today, we’re taking a look at the holiday season in the Northern Susitna Valley.  You’ll hear from folks that were featured in Season One of The Blue Tarp as well as some new voices and tape from KTNA’s arch...

This is The Blue Tarp, stories from Alaska's Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  Today, we have a special episode for you just in time for Halloween!  In this episode, we hear a few ghost stories from around the Northern Susitna Valley.  Some of the stories appeared in previous episodes, and some were exhumed from our archives.   Support the show

This is the Blue Tarp, stories of Alaska’s Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  Join us today as we wrap up our first season with two buildings that used to form part of daily life for many in Downtown Talkeetna, but today have been lost to time.  Whether you’re an old timer or a newcomer, there’s room under the Blue Tarp for everyone. Unlike last episode, where our journey back in tim...

Thus far in season one, we’ve been focusing on single places like iconic roadhouses, ghost towns, and the old school house.  Today, we change things up a little bit and take a tour of some the humble yet vital cabins that sheltered miners and trappers in the area, many of which still stand today. Our tour won’t quite be a road trip, as some cabins aren’t on a road, but we’ll get there. Just rememb...

Thus far, most of our stories have centered on historic places in Talkeetna.  Today, we head across the river, past Trapper Creek, and toward the Petersville mining district, where we find the Forks Roadhouse miles away from any paved roads.  Built in the early 1930s, the roadhouse has been a vital place to find shelter and supplies for those who mine and trap in the area.  It has been home to pie...

Today, we’re headed to Curry, a place “up the tracks” from Talkeetna that has been the site of a luxury hotel, a thriving small town, and many homesteaders.  Today, only the barest remains of its former glory poke through the forest along the tracks and the river.  Join us as we head up the tracks and back in time. Whether you’re an old timer or a newcomer, there’s room under The Blue Tarp for eve...

This is the Blue Tarp, sharing the stories of the Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  Whether you’re an old-timer or a newcomer, there’s room under the Blue Tarp for everyone. Today, we’re visiting one of the first buildings you see as you turn onto Talkeetna’s Main Street, Nagley’s General Store.  Since it was built, the store has had two names, multiple owners, and at least...

Since being built by Frank Lee around 1916 and later moved to its current location, the Talkeetna Roadhouse has been a staple of local life.  Like many of the Northern Susitna Valley’s historic buildings, it has changed hands many times, and the feel of the Roadhouse has changed along with those who ran it.  Today, we’re going to take a look at three eras of the Roadhouse through the eyes of North...

The Fairview Inn is referred to by some as "Talkeetna's living room."  On this episode of the Blue Tarp, we hear from people for whom the Fairview has been a major part of their life.  We also hear about some brushes with fame, and even some brushes with the other side. Support the show

For more than eighty years, the territorial schoolhouse building has stood in Downtown Talkeetna, Alaska.  Built to be essentially identical to other federally funded schools throughout Alaska in the territorial days, it has served many purposes over the decades beyond hosting classes.  It has been a residence, a community gathering place, and, today, a museum to Talkeetna’s past.  On this episode...

In this teaser, you get a taste of KTNA's newest program (and first podcast), The Blue Tarp!  The Blue Tarp covers the stories of the Northern Susitna Valley as told by those who lived them.  In Season One, we'll be taking a look at some of the area's iconic and historic buildings, and hearing some of the stories that unfolded inside.   The Blue Tarp theme music was written and perf...