A Whole New Frontier

review by Matt Lynch
Most bar openings tend to be a one time exciting event. There's an undeniable pleasure in getting to know a bar in its first few days of operation to take advantage of the inevitable specials and discover what the latest Fairbanks hot spot has to offer. Right now we live in interesting times. There are not two or three, but FOUR bars opening this month!

Few Fairbanksans will remember when the Cabin Inn first opened in the early '60s and fewer still will remember its .25c hamburger prices. For those who have fond (?) memories of these glorious days then the Frontier Club will be a little taste of a legendary past.

Darren Lemons recently purchased the Frontier Lodge and its bar from the previous owners who (if you ever had the dubious distinction of spending time there you already know) let the building fall into disrepair (not to mention disrepute). It was first built in order to house pipeline workers in the '70s, and after that money dried up it quickly found itself without a clientele. Although the years have not been kind to this relic from our boomtown days, Darren has done an excellent job of repairing and rejuvenating what many of us have given up for lost. He plans now to rent the hotel to workers at the Fort Knox mine, electricians, and other tradespeople here on a seasonal basis. By this summer he hopes to have the outside remodeled so he can use its log cabin rusticness to attract the tourist trade.

As for the bar itself, the Frontier Club has had the carpets replaced, the walls repainted, and a new bar built in. Darren hopes to attract an after-work crowd as the bars main customers, with discount drink prices and food from a soon-to-be-opened kitchen. The bar has a large area sectioned off from the stage, so whether you are looking for a good loud rock n'roll atmosphere or a more subdued environment, you will find it here.

The new Frontier is also no slouch as a sports bar - a good place to watch football on a Sunday afternoon. There are five TVs scattered about, as well as a speaker system that allows everyone in the bar to watch the game and hear it clearly as well. Rounding out the Sunday sports package are free munchies. For the weekend crowd, Driving Sidewayz will play every Friday and Saturday until one a.m. The bar is well air-conditioned and has a large stage, more than 30 tables, and comfortable mood lighting. College students next semester will be treated to a shuttle service, and did I mention the shot and beer special they have? Buy a beer and get a shot, but don't quote me on it.

So forget about what you have heard (or seen) about the reputation of the Frontier Lodge, it is now a new hotel and bar, which I look forward to visiting.

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