By Colleen Cockrell, Hospitality Supervisor

Guests often ask what life is like at Waterfall during the winter season. Since most of our crew resides outside of Alaska during those months, I posed that question to Glenn “Babe” and Wanda Wilks who have lived at Waterfall year ‘round for the past four years. I posed the same question to Scott McKelvey, Operations Manager and Alex Heiser, Maintenance Foreman.

When the season ends in late August, Wanda transitions from her float position during the summer months to keeping up with all the incredible photo ops nature provides. She uses the wintertime to organize and assemble the myriad historical photos and documents for Waterfall Cannery and Resort into a photo album. Once completed, this album will be available for viewing in the lobby. Babe continues with a demanding schedule of maintenance, repairs, new construction and other necessary requirements to preserve the property. In a typical year, about 5-7 employees remain at the Resort to work on construction projects.

Operations Manager, Scott McKelvey, is another winter resident at the Resort who enjoys photography, fishing, hunting and the peace and quiet at this time of year. Scott keeps busy with recruiting new staff for the upcoming season, communicating with vendors and guests, renewing ADFG, USCG and FCC permits as necessary and attends the Hatchery Board Members Meetings. During the off-season, you may find Scott targeting Yellowfin Tuna out of San Diego, flyfishing for Redfish out of Texas, and vacationing to warm tropical atmospheres!

Alex Heiser, Maintenance Foreman, spends the winters upgrading and renovating parts of the Resort and readies the rooms for guests and crew for the upcoming season. Alex also is the go-to person for issues dealing with the computer or phone systems. He is certified by the State of Alaska to produce the Resort Drinking Water. Alex remains at the Resort for ten months every year. During his two months off time, Alex spends most of his time in Walla Walla, WA where his family and girlfriend live. While there, Alex takes care of the two homes he owns. He also enjoyed his time in years past with the Waterfall fishing team in Cabo.

As one might imagine, it gets VERY quiet after the guests and crew depart at the end of August. All of the buildings, with the exception of the General Store and the Wilks’ personal residence, are vacant. The store and lodge rooms are transformed into living quarters for the crew. The lobby becomes their living room with the addition of a big screen TV. A large dining table with chairs is placed near the windows in the General Store and the back office becomes the galley kitchen.

The Wilks photograph wildlife rarely seen during the summer months. Wanda says after the bears hibernate in November, other animals begin to show up. Most recently, a doe with her twins have been appearing on a daily basis. Although they are very careful not to feed the wildlife, they sometimes drop an occasional apple core in the snow just before the two fawns show up on their daily walk. From their living room window, the Wilks watch the nine-member otter family slip and slide in front of the General Store. Last year, after a heavy snowfall, Wanda heard a loud thumping sound outside her door. It was the otters that had created a bumpy slide on the steps between the guest kitchen and main boardwalk. Martens and Minks are also frequent visitors. They are not a welcome sight for the Wilks’ cats, Oreo and Neko.

One of the most phenomenal events that takes place during the winter season is the high tides. The waters cover the pilings around the Resort making it appear as though it were floating. It’s an eerie sight sitting at the table in the General Store during a high tide. The water level rises higher than the steps leading from the tidal area in front of the store to the boardwalk. If there is any wave action from boats or the winds, the waves overflow onto the boardwalk. The water is also extremely clear during this time and offers a fantastic view of the otter family swimming below.

Daily plane service becomes weekly service, weather permitting. It’s always a highlight (or disappointment) waiting for the grocery and mail delivery.

Winter at Waterfall may be slower, at times even peaceful, but it is not short on maintenance, preparations for the next season, and Mother Nature at her finest.