Pioneer Park (formerly known as Alaskaland) - Fairbanks, Alaska - Theme Park

Pioneer Park is located at Moore Street in Fairbanks, Alaska and is just a 10 minute drive from Fairbanks International Airport and parking is free. The park is open 24 hours a day, though the Gold Rush Town shops, restaurants, carousel and railroad are open from 11am to 9pm each day from Memorial Day to Labor Day. The 44-acre park was built for the 1967 Centennial Exposition and was later renamed Alaskaland until 2001 when it was renamed again to Pioneer Park.

Strictly speaking there are three museums located at the park including the Alaska Native Village Museum, which houses various artifacts and shows Alaska through the Athabascan culture. The Pioneer Air Museum is dedicated to the history of flight within Alaska and is located in a large gold domed building. The Pioneer Museum is in the Pioneer Hall of Gold Rush Town and has exhibits about the lives of the Sourdoughs as well as a 45 minute presentation about the gold rush.

Visitors can also see the oldest rail relic in Alaska and the Yukon, which is the Tanana Valley Railroad Engine #1, built in 1899. There is also a rail car that has been restored and running again, which was ridden in by President Warren G. Harding in 1923 when he came to the territory to celebrate the completion of the Alaska Railroad. The Nenana boat brought supplies, news, employment and transportation along Alaska's rivers between 1933 and 1952 and is being restored at Pioneer Park, with tours of the sternwheeler and the diorama available daily for a nominal charge.

There are various recreational activities to be found at the park including two 18-hole miniature golf courses, which open from 11am to 9pm every day. Near the golf courses in the middle of the park is a playground and picnic area with numerous shelters available for organized events. Visitors can also ride on the carousel built sometime between 1915 and 1920 with 1890s band organ music, which was initially located in Illinois but was later moved to Fairbanks.

People come to the area to dance as well with several clubs using the Farthest North Square and Round Dance Center in the park, which welcomes visitors to dance too. Various exhibits of art are displayed at the Civic Center, which is the largest building in the park that also houses a 384 seat theatre. Other places to visit here include Judge Wickersham's House, Kitty Hensley House and the Original First Presbyterian Church.

Visitors looking for a bite to eat can dine at the Alaska Salmon Bake, which is located at the west end of the park and serves salmon, steaks, ribs, deep fried halibut and blueberry cake amongst other things. There are other eateries outside the park but not too far away such as the Cookie Jar Restaurant in Cadillac Court about three kilometers away. Seoul Gate Restaurant is about four kilometers away and offers Korean dishes, while about the same distance away is College Town Pizzeria in College Road.