Mary Joyce Taku Lodge Pioneer
Mary Joyce and her famous dog sled team parade through Fairbanks, Alaska.
Among her pioneering skills was a love of piloting.
Mary Joyce was an Alaskan adventurer of the highest caliber; when Alaska was still just a territory she owned and operated the Taku Glacier Lodge, became the first woman radio operator in the territory, and flew her own bush plane. Mary Joyce’s biggest claim to fame, besides her drive to try new adventures, was her dogsled trip from the Taku Lodge to Fairbanks. Mary was invited to participate in the 1936 Fairbanks Ice Carnival. Always ready for an adventure, Mary decided to drive her dogs on the thousand-mile journey north. It is thanks to Mary Joyce and her courageous spirit that the Taku Glacier Lodge is on the Alaska map and on the National Registry of Historic Places today. Our goal is to share her story and bring the history of the Taku Lodge and Alaska alive!
“I did have three months of perfect happiness. I found what I was looking for… I saw into the hearts of men and women and found everything that was good and beautiful there.” ~Mary Joyce
Although the water level in the river was low we were able to landin front of the Lodge as hoped! We enjoyed the whole experience including the fresh Wild Alaska King Salmon…and it was just like I remembered! Delicious biscuits and the best baked beans on the planet. And of course we ate the ginger cookies by the fire until we simply ran out of room in our stomachs! ing This year we were greeted with our first non-snowy visit in more years than we can count. Grass is growing in the yard and flowers are beginning to bloom. And Lois the bear poked her head out the day after our visit establish the first bear sighing of the year. Spring has come early on the Taku River. The new beginnings may come as scheduled each year, but we relish in them again and again as if they are an unexpected gift. The joys of Spring!
It gives us great pleasure to award Wings Airways and your dedicated team as one of our Top Ten Tour Operators for 2009. The dedication, personalized service and attention to detail that your company has shown set’s you apart in the industry and it is our honor to recognize your hard work by inviting you to a ‘Celebration of Excellence’ ceremony on Sunday 14 March, 2010. 
