History

Crystal Creek Lodge was founded in 1987 and the name was originally associated with a leased facility on Lake Nunavaugaluk, 15 miles northwest of Dillingham. Dan Michels (see Hosts) was the first employee of Crystal Creek Lodge, hired as a guide in 1987 and to help build the lodge for its opening in July of 1988.

The "old" Crystal Creek Lodge, shown at upper right, was one of the most deluxe and renowned lodges in western Alaska and during the years 1988 through 2005 thousands of guests came to it from around the world for fishing, bird hunting, wildlife viewing and other wilderness recreation.

In September, 2005 Dan and Lori Michels decided it was time to stop renting and find a property to purchase. They, along with their staff and the Crystal Creek Lodge name, moved 80 miles east to the
current location on the Naknek River near King Salmon.

The "new" Crystal Creek Lodge is shown at
lower right.

In their search for a new location, the Michels sought an upgrade on all accounts - and they got it. Crystal Creek Lodge is the quintessential sporting and adventure lodge offering the finest quality of accommodations, an inspiring atmosphere, ease of access, excellent fishing, hunting and adventure activities accessible by boat from the lodge AND within short flying distances by sea plane.

How does the "new" Crystal Creek Lodge compare? We offer a quote from a feature article in Sporting Clays Magazine, April, 2008:

"Four years ago (see the June 2004 issue) I wrote on these pages that in 22 years of visiting dozens of destinations worldwide as an outdoor scribe, I had to rate Crystal Creek at the very top. With it's current level of personnel, truly fine dining, accommodations, impeccable attention to detail and new hunting and fishing hotspots, Crystal Creek has managed to trump itself" -George Conrad, Editor