Family strikes gold with Houston getaway lodge

HOUSTON — When Brian and Sandi Gauthier decided to pack up their lives and leave Florida, they were looking for a place where they could kick their shoes off and relax for awhile.

Now 18 months later, the family of six owns a full-service lodge in Houston.

With money in the bank, the Gauthiers bypassed larger Mat-Su towns, opting for a home in a much smaller community. The Parks Highway lead them to Houston, where they eventually found the lifestyle they were looking for.

“We’ve wanted to come up here for the last 20 years and we finally got a chance to do it,” Brian Gauthier said.

Located at Mile 60 of the Parks Highway, Gold Miners Lodge stands perched atop a hill overlooking a sea of spruce. Patrons sitting at the bar are given a quick glance through a perfectly placed window of the snow-covered landscape — a landscape that solidified the former Floridians’ love of the area.

“When we came around the bend from Big Lake, it was really the view that drew me in,” Gauthier said, adding that clear skies provide a great view of Sleeping Lady.

Formerly known as The Old Triple B, the Gold Miners Lodge was transformed almost over night into a friendly restaurant, bar and motel.

As a restaurant, an array of dishes including American, Chinese and Mexican meals fill the menu. Although traditional hamburgers and steaks make up a majority of the American menu, it’s not as simple as it may sound. Fresh homemade fare is what’s really cooking in the kitchen.

“I think value is the biggest thing and we’re not lacking in quality,” Gauthier said. “We don’t just take a pre-cut burger out of the freezer. Everything is made fresh.”

Everything includes pizza, biscuits, burgers and even cheesecake, he said.

The New York steak is a customer favorite, but Gauthier said hungry patrons also enjoy a variety of different dishes, including the chimichangas.

Although some may think “fresh” and “homemade” might come with a hefty bill, this is not the case at Gold Miners. A flavorful, taste-bud-arousing bacon cheeseburger and fries will do little in breaking the bank.

“Our prices are excellent,” he said. “We have over 10 meals on the menu that are under $7.”

The restaurant also provides daily dinner specials, like country fried steak on Tuesdays for $7.95 and a daily burger and brew special for $6.

In addition to its tasty fixings, Gold Miners Lodge also a full-service bar for those seeking a good time and high spirits. Like the meals, drinks are reasonably priced with draft beers available for a single George Washington.

If a cozy overnight stay is what you’re hoping to find, Gauthier said the lodge has 10 rooms available to accommodate. Prices vary from $45 for a basic room to $70 for efficiencies with kitchenettes. Weekly and monthly rates are also available.

The lodge also rents storage space for $10 a week or $35 a month.

Located between the highlands of the Talkeetna Mountain Range and the lowlands of the Mat-Su Basin, Gauthier said his Gold Miners Lodge is great for outdoor enthusiasts — especially powder-hungry snowmachine and ATV riders. In fact, riders can choose from a number of groomed snowmachine trails that stretch from Big Lake to Hatcher Pass.

Along with groomed trails, Gold Miners offers riders a few other extra incentives.

The Snowmachiners Special is a package that includes a New York strip steak dinner for two, two Heinekens and a overnight stay for $75.

Customers who show up with toys in tow can get a VIP card that allows them 10 percent off the cost of food. Lastly, those who purchase a meal also get free and safe day parking.

Chip Corning, a Willow resident and loyal Gold Miners customer, appreciates what the lodge has to offer.

“It’s just a nice place,” said Corning. “I get treated well. It’s not too rambunctious and the food is great.”

Corning said he stops by the lodge about once a week on his way home to Willow. Along with a cold brew, he typically orders a sandwich or burger. One of his favorites is the mushroom burger.

Corning said he used to visit the business when it was The Old Triple B, noting that the Gauthiers have made some nice changes.

“Along with tidying up, they’ve created a friendly atmosphere that everybody can enjoy,” he said.

As an avid snowmachine rider, Corning said the lodge is great place to stop while out cruising the trails.

“You definitely want to plan this as part of your route,” he said. “We always plan on trying to stop at some place mid-day for a meal.”

After 18 months of Alaska living, the Gauthiers are starting to feel at home at the Gold Miners Lodge. With a regular flow of customers and friends coming to visit and eat, they hope to expand and improve the lodge in the near future.

Gold Miners Lodge is located in Houston at Mile 60 on the Parks Highway. The lodge opens daily at 10:30 a.m. For more information call 892-7757.

Contact Chris Gillow at chris.gillow@frontiersman.com or 352-2284.