Happy Birthday, Cooper Landing Lodge
Where did the time go?
If you’ve read the “About Us” section on our website, you understand how our journey began in 2018. We transformed our family weekend cabin into a welcoming haven for people from all over. Back then, VRBO was Vacation Rental By Owner, and Airbnb was merely a place to rent a room in your house. Fast forward five years, and now Airbnb describes a place to find a cool vacation spot and experiences. However, amidst Airbnb and VRBO’s growth, a movement among owners emerged: BOOK DIRECT. Read Why should you book directly?
Our Journey Over the Past Five Years:
2019 – The “Give It a Go” Year:
In early 2019, I uploaded photos of our cabins on Airbnb, VRBO and started a Facebook page. There wasn’t anything fancy in the photography or accommodations. I spent the remainder of the year learning and navigating the ins and outs of hosting. Rob Rutherford was a vital part of the business because he helped greet people and provide insider information to the area. The most memorable part of hosting in 2019 was the Swan Lake Fires. The fire started in early June, 40 miles away. By September, the fire was a few miles from our cabin and destroyed over 160,000 acres.
At the end of 2019, I felt comfortable responding to guests’ questions and inquiries on VRBO and Airbnb. I set about creating a website for Direct Bookings. My goal was to provide a better guest experience and help guests save money by avoiding fees. Maybe someday over 50% of guests will book directly.
2020 – The Year Everything Changed:
The year started great with guests making reservations for the summer in January. A trip to Alaska is often planned far out in advance, and our Brown Bear cabin, accommodating 9 people, is highly sought after. Large groups coordinate far out in advance to ensure everyone can make it.
However, the onset of COVID-19 reshaped plans. As Airbnb began canceling and refunding guests, I had to look at the guests who were hoping to come to Alaska in a few months. What to do? With trepidation and a heavy heart, I reached out to the guests and canceled their trip. Most people understood and responded kindly.
2020 was a hard time for the town. Alaska is not a place people drive to for vacation; you have to fly or arrive by boat. Adding quarantine and masking restrictions created an unwelcoming environment. Thankfully, our business survived, with our cabins being rented by construction crews. I’m forever grateful to the QAP crew that called our cabin home. These years were wonderfully warm, sunny, and free of super cold winters.
2021 – Expanding Our Horizon:
We purchased the cabin next door from our long-time neighbor and friends Mary and Pete. They moved to Alaska in the ’70s, first living a subsistence lifestyle near Trappers Creek. When pipeline construction began in the mid-’70s, Pete found a job on the North Slope helping to develop Prudhoe Bay. Over the years, they traveled around the world for work and fun. Alaska is always their home, but now they want to spend their lives near their kids and grandkids in the lower 48. Mary is a spunky lady who I still talk to about Alaskan life. She is so pleased to know people are enjoying eagles, squirrels, swans, and the other beauty found when staying in Black Bear Cabin.
2022 – Challenges and Triumphs:
The sunny summers and mild winters of 2020 had a dark side. They allowed bugs to keep on living and thriving. It was a huge blow to me to remove about 120 tall mature Spruce Pine Trees from our property that were dead due to a spruce beetle infestation. As you drive around the Kenai Peninsula, you will see many dead spruce trees. This was also the summer of tourism’s return! Alaska was finally free of mask and quarantine restrictions. We welcomed about 150 people to our cabins between May and September. I was very excited because over ⅓ of these guests found a way to BOOK DIRECT. Many of the guests who I canceled in 2020 came to visit – such as Diane from Texas, who brought her new “fella,” daughter, and granddaughter to finally have her Alaskan Dream Vacation. I also upgraded the linens in Brown Bear cabin and we added a cover area between the two cabins for people to hang out under.
2023 – Achieving Goals:
2023 was a year of accomplishments! Rob’s community contributions continued, while I focused on enhancing guest experiences. I achieved a goal of over 50% direct bookings, with 67% coming from those who contacted us directly or found our website. We had SO MANY improvements and upgrades in 2023, offering kayaks, painting, furniture, milling, a new dock, and more! You can read about all the improvements for this year on our Blog post “2023 Improvements.”
Looking Ahead:
I have exciting plans for the future, including adding EV Charging stations, collaborating with Fish and Game for environmental conservation, and expanding our amenities to provide guests with a complete experience.
Thank you for sharing our five years of business. How would you like to see our cabin improve in the next five years? Leave a comment; I’ll be sure to read it.
Amber
