Built between 1920 and 1923 after the Alaska Railroad arrived, the Fairview Inn is the social center of Talkeetna. The two-story frame building with its hip roof has changed remarkably little since construction -- the interior floor plan is essentially original. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
The bar is the real draw. Bush pilots, mountaineers, and locals mix at the same counter, and the walls are lined with climbing photos and expedition memorabilia. The Fairview has a reputation for lively evenings when the summer crowds arrive. Pull up a stool, order a beer, and listen.