wonderfull stay!! Would definately visit Bob and Mary again.

Guest: Kim & Gregg (Florida)
Date of Stay: 08/02/11 Review Submitted: 08/19/11

This property exceeded our expectations in every way. Very comfortable home with every imaginable amenity - and then some! Our hosts assisted us with anything and everything we requested....and never steared us wrong. The charter salmon fishing was awsome - as was the trout fishing right there at the house. A great location to explore much of Southern Alaska....close to town but definately has that secluded feeling. We visited the quaint town of Palmer often and enjoyed several lunches at Turkey Red, and after a couple of extra long days, picked up pizza from Pizza Athena on the way to the house....very convient and delicious! The view of Castle Mountain from the house was outstanding. It was nice to come to our "home" each night to make dinner and relax after our day's adventure. Thanks Bob and Mary for making our first trip to Alaska a very memorable one.

Recommended for:Families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Heaven on Earth

Guest: Barbara Lynn (Wakefield, MA Boston area)
Date of Stay: 07/02/11 Review Submitted: 07/23/11

Our stay at Lone Spruce Lake Lodge was better than we ever could have imagined. Robert and Mary set the stage for the trip of a lifetime - what a wonderful, exceptional, warm couple. The property was impeccably maintained, with top-of-the-line furnishings/amenities. Sophisticated while natural, with tasteful decor. The perfect balance of yin and yang. Our hosts were nowhere to be seen. However, when their assistance was needed, and desired - poof, they were immediately available. Friendly, hospitable, inviting, generous. Since our return just a short time ago, we have boasted about our stay, and encouraged family and friends to consider. There is not one activity/attraction that did not pleasantly surpass our expectation. The scenery, mountains, wildflowers, wildlife would challenge the agnostic. Catering to tourism, Alaska has done a great job. Flat top mountain, St. Elias-Wrangell National Park and Forest, Marine Boat glacier tour out of Whittier, Ellison Air Flighseeing/bear viewing, Hatcher Pass, the Anchorage market and hanging out at Lone Spruce Lake Lodge were among our activities (many moose sightings included). Not one disappointment. We chose St. Elias (Nebesna Road entrance) over Denali as we wished to avoid the crowds we rightly or mistakenly expected at Denali. No exaggeration to say that we saw only two cars in the hours we spent there. Having as much daylight as we did in July was a treat, as we extended our days as energy allowed. We are torn between experiencing a new destination for our next adventure, and revisiting our beloved Alaska. Wishing you even 1/2 as great an experience for the perfect get away. Blessings and thanks, Mary and Robert.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

Outstanding Place! Will meet all your needs!

Guest: Carol & Tom (South Bend, IN)
Date of Stay: 07/05/10 Review Submitted: 08/02/10

This property fits the description perfectly and will meet every need that you have. It is fitted with everything that you might possibly want..and if it isn't there the owners will bend over backwards to get it for you! Wonderful, relaxing both inside and out! There is no need to go anywhere, or if you desire to explore, it is centerally located to all the beauty and educational wonders of Alaska. The photo's don't actually do justice to how wonderful this house is. You will not be disappointed. I would recommend this property to everyone and anyone who wants a great place to stay in Alaska! Enjoy!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, tourists without a car, people with disabilities, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Family vacation spot of a lifetime! Not enough superlatives to describe it!

Guest: Morgan (Tijuana, Mexico (southern suburb of San Diego, CA))
Date of Stay: 06/15/10 Review Submitted: 07/01/10

My family of 7 stayed in the home for 10 days and loved every moment. Our five kids are 18, 16, 15, 10, and 9 and there was something for all. We hiked, hunted fossils, relaxed on the porch, fished or floated in the tranquil lake (I think we caught 3-4 nice big rainbows that we grilled and ate), hiked on a glacier, toured the area via car, spotted wildlife galore (15 moose or so, beaver, porcupines, eagles, etc.), and enjoyed the company of the Krefts (owners and hosts), who are classy, warm, comfortable, generous, but not over-the-top or pretentious in any sense. The Krefts were willing to disappear for the week if we wanted total privacy or to stay on property in their own separate residence - whatever we preferred. We asked them to stay but we never saw them unless we went looking for them - usually to ask for tour or travel advice, which they eagerly answered adequately and then researched more and asked local friends for additional input or ideas. Robert Kreft took us on a special hike up Castle Mountain for a half day and shared some moose meat with us to grill. Enjoying homegrown salad greens from the garden was also a special treat. The home was stocked with basics like paper products, spices, staple food items, so we did not buy lots of little stuff like that. We did leave behind a few items that we bought and had left over, so it probably all works out pretty well. We took a full day and drove to Copper Center and into Chitina and crossed the Copper River. We turned back before going onto Kennicott and McCarthy because we spent so much time in the wonderful small museum at Copper Center, where we also ate lunch. Lone Spruce is perfectly located to be remote enough (on the porch overlooking the lake you feel like there's not a soul around) to be an "away-from-it-all" relaxing vacation, but a 25 minute drive to Palmer gives you a nice small town with some activities (we visited a nice little museum there and had a romantic and elegant meal for two at the Turkey Red restaurant). All this and yet still with easy access to the Matanuska Glacier, Wrangell-St. Elias Park, Reindeer and musk ox farms, river rafting, hiking opportunities galore, tons of wildlife, fossil hunting, gold panning, and staying in a beautiful modern home that’s surrounded by some of the most picturesque mountains I’ve seen – all visible from the porch or from floating in one of the row boats or canoe provided. You cannot beat it. We’ll be back and I’m sending family.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, sightseeing, families with young children.

Guest: Jim & Charleen McCain (Eureka Springs, AR)
Date of Stay: 10/13/09 Review Submitted: 10/13/09

When I booked this wonderful home, I thought to myself, if it's half as good as it looks I will have made a good choice for our lodging in Alaska. What an incredible surprise we received when we pulled into the drive way. Although we did not arrive until very late that night, our hosts were waiting for us. They greeted us and made sure we had everything we needed for our stay. We instantly felt right at home and knew we were in for a very memorable two weeks. The scenery outside the huge livingroom window gave us a view of the nearby mountains and tranquil lake on the property. Absolutely breathtaking. We loved the feeling of being secluded, yet close enough to everything we needed and wanted. I must admit my husband and I were amazed at the friendliness of the owners. Every request was met with an "absoluletly". Their warmth and desire to make our stay memorable was above and beyond. As fabulous as the property was, the owners were the real icing on the cake for us. They are such a joy to be with. We can't recommend this property enough. The accommodations are impeccable, the view breathtaking and your hosts will be a bonus you couldn't possibly have imagined. Jim and Charleen McCain, Eureka Springs, Arkansas

Recommended for:

Guest: Moo-dah (Yates Center, Kansas USA)
Date of Stay: 05/31/09 Review Submitted: 05/31/09

This lodge is simply wonderful. Or should I say "wonderfuly simple". The lodge is a beautiful house overlooking a pretty lake about 70 miles north of Anchorage. The drive along Glenn Highway, to reach the lodge, is breath-takeingly beautiful. My daughter has a very stressful job and needed a restful place to unwind, so I accompanied her on this trip to Alaska. The minute we stepped in the door, we felt at home. We were greeted and shown around by the owners, (super nice people). It was perfect!! Beautiful, clean, quiet, and private. We found it to be a good place to come "home" to after short excursions to many points of interest. We were there for about 11 days during the first two weeks of August. We really hated to leave! I have already recommended the Lone Spruce Lodge to everyone thinking of a trip to Alaska.

Recommended for:

Guest: Rene Hatch (Darvy, Ks. )
Date of Stay: 05/31/09 Review Submitted: 05/31/09

Rene's adventura The experience that I had in this wonderful home met and exceeded my every expectation. It was my first trip to Alaska and a dream come true. I wanted to find a comfortable place to stay that was close enough to civilization but felt like I was in the wilds of Alaska. I wanted a majestic view of the mountains to relax and feel like I was one with nature. The location was perfect, only 30 miles from town on paved roads. So it was easy to jump in the car and go exploring or make a quick jaunt into town for groceries. If I wanted to just relax, I could throw a casserole in the oven, cozy up on the couch with a good book, and gaze out the huge wall-sized window at the lake and mountains beyond. There was even a telescope in the living room so that I could look for Dall Sheep on the mountain ridges. In the morning I took my cup of coffee outside on the deck so that I could enjoy the sounds and sights of nature and smell the cleanest air imaginable. In the evening I could grill up some fresh trout that I caught in the lake just down the short hill from the cabin, using the complimentary row boat and fishing gear that the owners so graciously provided. Then I would take a soak in the master bedroom's whirlpool tub, tuck myself into the soft luxury bed and float away in dreamland. The view from every angle along the highway to the cabin was majestic and beyond my imagination. The nearby hiking trails were also great. I was hoping to see a lot of wildlife. I got my wish. I even saw some baby moose! We took several day trips to explore. It was nice to be able to leave for the day or a few hours and then come back in the evenings without having to pack up a lot of gear. The house was immaculate, comfortable, and well maintained. I couldn't wait to get back to the cabin after my day's adventure. It felt like coming home, it was so comfortable. And the owners were so nice that we quickly became friends. I would highly recommend this rental to everybody! No matter what your plans or desires in Alaska, this is the place to stay!!

Recommended for:

Complete comfort in a majestic setting!

Guest: Rene's adventure (Derby, KS, USA)
Date of Stay: 08/09/08 Review Submitted: 05/17/09

The experience that I had in this wonderful home met and exceeded my every expectation. It was my first trip to Alaska and a dream come true. I wanted to find a comfortable place to stay that was close enough to civilization but felt like I was in the wilds of Alaska. I wanted a majestic view of the mountains to relax and feel like I was one with nature. The location was perfect, only 30 miles from town on paved roads. So it was easy to jump in the car and go exploring or make a quick jaunt into town for groceries. If I wanted to just relax, I could throw a casserole in the oven, cozy up on the couch with a good book, and gaze out the huge wall-sized window at the lake and mountains beyond. There was even a telescope in the living room so that I could look for Dall Sheep on the mountain ridges. In the morning I took my cup of coffee outside on the deck so that I could enjoy the sounds and sights of nature and smell the cleanest air imaginable. In the evening I could grill up some fresh trout that I caught in the lake just down the short hill from the cabin, using the complimentary row boat and fishing gear that the owners so graciously provided. Then I would take a soak in the master bedroom's whirlpool tub, tuck myself into the soft luxury bed and float away in dreamland. The view from every angle along the highway to the cabin was majestic and beyond my imagination. The nearby hiking trails were also great. I was hoping to see a lot of wildlife. I got my wish. I even saw some baby moose! We took several day trips to explore. It was nice to be able to leave for the day or a few hours and then come back in the evenings without having to pack up a lot of gear. The house was immaculate, comfortable, and well maintained. I couldn't wait to get back to the cabin after my day's adventure. It felt like coming home, it was so comfortable. And the owners were so nice that we quickly became friends. I would highly recommend this rental to everybody! No matter what your plans or desires in Alaska, this is the place to stay!!

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, people with disabilities, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.

Simpley Wonderful

Guest: Moo-dah (Yates Center, Kansas USA)
Date of Stay: 08/05/08 Review Submitted: 05/17/09

This lodge is simply wonderful. Or should I say "wonderfuly simple". The lodge is a beautiful house overlooking a pretty lake about 70 miles north of Anchorage. The drive along Glenn Highway, to reach the lodge, is breath-takeingly beautiful. My daughter has a very stressful job and needed a restful place to unwind, so I accompanied her on this trip to Alaska. The minute we stepped in the door, we felt at home. We were greeted and shown around by the owners, (super nice people). It was perfect!! Beautiful, clean, quiet, and private. We found it to be a good place to come "home" to after short excursions to many points of interest. We were there for about 11 days during the first two weeks of August. We really hated to leave! I have already recommended the Lone Spruce Lodge to everyone thinking of a trip to Alaska.

Recommended for:Girls getaway, families with teenagers, adventure seekers, romantic getaway, age 55+, pet owners, sightseeing, families with young children.