Donned in Xtratuf boots, brown Carhartt overalls and a plaid flannel shirt, Joe Williams greeted a family last week who just stepped off the Norwegian Bliss cruise ship. Williams, also known by his stage name Lasagna Joe, is the emcee of the Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show – a campy contest where teams of lumberjacks compete in various chopping games with axes and chainsaws. The rodeo style show in downtown Ketchikan draws in thousands of patrons each year.
But last week, Lasagna Joe and the rest of the lumberjack crew weren’t downtown. They were 7 miles north in Ward Cove, for the inaugural production at a second, larger venue. It came after cruise ships began docking in Ward Cove in 2021.
“It’s the one industry in Alaska that we don’t have to extract something to sell out into the world,” said Great Alaskan Lumberjack Show president and owner Rob Scheer. He said tourism stimulates the local economy by generating revenue and creating jobs.
“It’s not timber, it’s not oil, it’s not gold,” Scheer said. “The only thing we’re selling is memories. We don’t have to cut down a tree for a memory.”
According to a report from Southeast Conference, tourism was the region’s top sector in 2024. Ward Cove’s two-berth terminal, which sits at the site of Ketchikan’s former pulp mill, will see about 130 cruise ship stops this summer.
Before it closed in 1997, the pulp mill was the largest employer on the island. It served as the keystone to Ketchikan’s timber industry, and many of the mill’s buildings still stand today. The new Lumberjack Show arena and an axe throwing range are housed inside some of the old structures.
Joe Duca is with Alaska Port Innovations, which is developing part of Ward Cove. He said over the last few years, passengers docking north of town would have to be bused 15 minutes south, leaving them with little time to enjoy downtown Ketchikan. He said the new business developments are not only breathing new life into the old mill, but bringing a taste of downtown Ketchikan to Ward Cove.
“When I was asked to get involved, [I saw] some of the horrible reviews of the port, because nobody wanted to be there,” Duca said. “And so that was really what spurred a lot of this in developing that area.”
But it’s not just the Lumberjack Show that’s new in Ward Cove. A stone’s throw from the second venue, on a bluff that overlooks the Tongass Narrows, is Fireside Feast — an outdoor dining experience, with covered canopies and open fire cooking, set to open this summer.
“Here in Alaska, we do beach bonfires all the time. It’s my favorite thing,” said general manager Justin Haggard. He most enjoys the camaraderie and food associated with Alaska bonfires and wanted to offer that experience to people who are only in the state for a short time.
“We’ve been here developing for the past month or so, like, up here every single day, and we’ll get bald eagles flying over,” Haggard said. “When the whales are through, you’ll be able to see them perfectly from here. It’s just a cool spot, man.”
Haggard said he’s wanted to develop a culinary experience like this for years, and finally found the right space to do it about a year ago. He said visitors can expect to dine on smoked salmon chowder, wild game and more. There will also be a buffet.
Haggard and his wife own Alaska Spud in downtown Ketchikan. He said the city is lacking food options and wants to provide an alternative for visitors, especially those whose first taste of the island is in Ward Cove.
“I feel bad for all of them having to be bused into town when we have this beautiful space here that just needs a little love and development, and we’re in the process of that right now,” Haggard said. “I really want to bring more money to Ward Cove, to this area. I think it’s the beginning of something really, really cool.”
Also in the works at Ward Cove is a zipline adventure park, set to open this summer, and a combination brewery, distillery and winery.
Travis Robbins is one of the owners of Legends LLC, which operates Uncharted Alaska Distillery and Alaska Legends Cider and Winery, both in downtown Ketchikan. He said once the new bar in Ward Cove opens, it’ll be a year-round venture.
“We looked at it as an opportunity to serve another population of people coming to Ketchikan,” Robbins said. “And also, it gives people another area within Ketchikan to go and hang out outside of the downtown area, which we think is going to be pretty beneficial for even Ketchikan locals.”
Robbins said the building is already constructed, but they plan to double the size of it. He envisions it to have pool tables and live music events. The brewery is currently waiting on approval of their state liquor license.
Duca, who’s helping to revitalize Ward Cove, said other future developments may include a boardwalk, a jewelry store and lodging.
Hunter Morrison is a Report for America corps member for KRBD. Your donation to match our RFA grant helps keep him writing stories like this one. Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution.
