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Kenai Kenai (pronounced KEEN-eye), population 7,000, is the largest city on the Kenai Peninsula. Constantly changing, modern structures stand side by side with old log buildings. Kenai has many hotel-motel facilities, bed and breakfast establishments, two RV parks, numerous restaurants, fast food stores, bars and supermarkets. The Kenai Municipal Campground on Forest Drive has a playground and picnic shelters in a lovely, woodsy site that overlooks Cook Inlet. Check with the Kenai Recreation Department 283-3855, for limits on stay. Stores in Kenai offer fine shopping opportunities. Laundromats, showers and dump stations are available. Kenai Municipal Airport, one of the busiest commuter airports in the country, is the largest on the peninsula and is essential in supporting today's lifestyle in a state where going by air is not only the fastest way of getting there but often the only way. Scheduled flights, charters and aircraft rentals are available. A floatplane basin accommodates transient aircraft on floats and provides slips for local floatplanes. Pilots wishing fuel can telephone to the Kenai airport and a truck will deliver to the basin. You may flightsee in fixed wing aircraft or by helicopter. There is a limousine service and taxi and car rentals are at the airport and in town. Call 911 for fire, ambulance or police assistance. There are three medical clinics in town plus a Central Peninsula General Hospital outreach clinic which can handle minor emergencies. The hospital clinic is also set up to do certain diagnostic procedures. Kenai has a Women's Resource Center, Salvation Army, dental and veterinary services. The area has gas, towing and auto repair facilities. The Kenai Bicentennial Visitors and Cultural Center is located on the Kenai Spur Highway at the entrance to Old Town, built in commemoration Of Kenai's 200th anniversary in 1991, the facility offers visitor services, art shows, cultural exhibits, traveling exhibits and nature and wildlife exhibits. The center is open year round from 9am to 5pm weekdays with extended summer hours. The Kenai Chamber of Commerce is housed in an old log cabin built by "Moosemeat John" Hedberg in the 1920s and moved to town in 1976 with a new room and porch added. Kenai's first white settlement dates to 1791 when Russians, primarily after furs, established Fort St. Nicholas (Nikolaevsk Redoubt) on the bluff overlooking Cook Inlet and the mouth of the Kenai River. It was located near the Tanaina (Dena'ina) Athabascan Indian village of Shukituk. Alaska was purchased by the United States from Russia in 1876 and two years later the American military post of Fort Kenay (military spelling) was built. Choosing not to use Russian buildings, they put up 11 of their own hand-hewn spruce. The present log building at the site today retains the name "Fort Kenay." It was built as an Alaska Centennial project to represent the original American barracks, but obviously is not a true replica. The old post closed in 1870. The present Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church was completed and dedicated in 1895 and the small lot chapel nearby built about 1906. An economic boom followed the discovery of oil in 1957. An industrial area sprang up north of Kenai which includes two refineries, a world-class chemical plant that produces ammonia and urea, a liquefied natural gas plant and supporting industries. Several offshore platforms some producing oil and other gas, also were built. Kenai became a first-class city when it was incorporated in 1960 and was honored as an All-American City in 1992. The National guard Armor on Forest Drive is available for functions as is Fort Kenai, The Senior Center and several other buildings. What to see and do: Walking
tour:
(You can pick up a map with explanations at the Visitors Center) Things that you can see on the walking tour include (1881) Parish House Rectory, (1894) Holy Assumption of the Virgin Mary Orthodox Church, (1906) Chapel of St. Nicholas, the original Moose Range Headquarters, Fort Kenay, Moosemeat John's Cabin, (1940) Pharmacy/Jahrig Building, (1948) Kenai Commercial Building, (1946) Kenai Bible Church plus several homesteaders cabins. You can also visit the Fine Arts Center and pottery workshop located in what used to be the old firehall. Inside, the Old Town Gallery features works of peninsula artists and is open from 10 am to 4 pm Monday through Saturday. The City recreation center on Caviar Street is equipped with racquetball courts, exercise rooms, saunas and a multipurpose gym. A teen center upstairs has a lounge, games and other facilities. In addition to the municipal campground on Forest Drive, there are several small parks in Kenai with playground equipment and picnic facilities. The city also maintains numerous ballparks and has prepared a football field for football, soccer or rugby. The Peninsula Oilers semi-pro baseball field is on Tinker Lane. The city park near here has a mile-long hiking and skiing trail. The Kenai Municipal Golf Course, 1420 Lawton Dr., 283-7200, is an 18 hole course with pro shop and practice range and green. The Bernie Huss Fitness Trail which begins near the south end of Main Street Loop is a mile long trail winding through forested land. There is a boardwalk located on Bridge Access Road for bird watching in spring. This is an area where caribou can also frequently be seen. Kenai Community Library is open daily. Kenai is home of Alaska's one and only space education center, the Challenger learning Center of Alaska. The Center is located next to Kenai Central High School and opened in April, 2002. It s part of a national network of 39 Challenger Learning Centers. Visitors are welcome to view the space theme lobby and exhibits or to browse in the gift shop. Special science camps are conducted throughout the summer. Take a stroll through Kenai City Gardens and Parks. Leif Hansen Memorial Park is located inside the city limits on Kenai Spur Highway. Cunningham park off of Beaver Loop Road and Erik Hansen Scout Park, located on the bluff in Old town Kenai are excellent places for viewing the Kenai River and Beluga Whales. During the season you can watch people dipnetting. You can gain beach access by driving down Spruce Street. Walk on the sand or gravel. Don't get trapped in the mud flats that are exposed during low tides. Visiting seniors are welcome at the senior citizens community center located off of Frontage road. You should call ahead if you wish to have lunch with the seniors. Events: June 8th
- June 9th, 2002 Kenai River Festival Fourth of July Celebration. Sponsored by the Kenai Chamber of Commerce, Community parade, games, arts, crafts, entertainment and food booths. Call 283-7989 August
10th, 2002 Kenai Peninsula Run for Women Christmas
Comes to Kenai Celebration and Electric Light Parade. The Friday
after Thanksgiving. Santa, bonfire, fireworks, parade. For information
call the Kenai Chamber of Commerce at 283-7989.
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