Entire home

Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly.

Photo gallery for Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly.

Winter is interesting. Those are moose tracks.  If this is full see our cabin.
Summer, a favorite time of year.  The house faces the Chena River.
The house in February.
Welcome to your home away from home.
The route to the upstairs.

Reviews

9.6 out of 10
Exceptional
4 bedrooms1 bathroomSleeps 1090.1 sq m

Popular amenities

  • Parking available
  • Dryer
  • Pet-friendly
  • Washer
  • Barbecue grill
  • Outdoor space

Explore the area

Map
Fairbanks, AK
  • University of Alaska-Fairbanks
    ‪13 min walk‬
  • Pioneer Park
    ‪5 min drive‬
  • Fort Wainwright
    ‪8 min drive‬
  • Fairbanks, AK (FAI-Fairbanks Intl.)
    ‪8 min drive‬

Rooms & beds

4 bedrooms (sleeps 10)

Bedroom 1

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 2

1 Queen Bed

Bedroom 3

2 Single Beds

Bedroom 4

1 Double Bed

1 bathroom

Bathroom 1

Bathtub or shower · Toilet

Spaces

Kitchen
Balcony
Garden
Dining Area

About this property

Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly.

While the unit is advertised for a number of people, it is great for a couple as well. We bought a two bedroom log cabin in the 60's. In 1974 we built a two story addition to accommodate our six children. At the time we wired and plumbed one bedroom so it could someday be a kitchen. The downstairs of the addition consists of a double garage, sun room and dining room. The upstairs is where guests are welcome. It has four bedrooms, sitting area, kitchen and porch. We have rented it monthly for many years but this time it was vacated we decided to do it as a VRBO. We live in the cabin downstairs.

Also on the property is a cabin that the original owner built for his parents and a barn that we built for our children and converted to a house when they were grown. We did bed and breakfast in them in the 1990's. At the time we registered the name Riverside Retreat. After a few years we decided to rent them on a monthly basis to have more time to play and travel. We can no longer do some of the things we used to do so are doing VRBO in the cabin too. We enjoy marrying people. We also enjoy sharing the space we have taken for granted for so many years. It really is a special spot.

Property manager

Martha and Robert Roth

Languages

English

Add dates for prices

Amenities

Kitchen
Washer
Dryer
Pet-friendly
Outdoor space
Parking available

Have a question?

AI iconBeta

Get instant answers with AI powered search of property information and reviews.

Similar properties

House Rules

Flexible check-in available (contact host in advance of arrival)
Flexible check-out available (contact host to arrange)
default

Children

Children allowed: ages 0–17
default

Events

Events allowed
default

Pets

Pets allowed
default

Smoking

Smoking allowed: in designated areas
We ask that people smoke outside.

Important information

You need to know

Extra-person charges may apply and vary depending on property policy
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card, debit card or cash deposit may be required at check-in for incidental charges
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges; special requests cannot be guaranteed
Parties and events are allowed on site
Host has not indicated whether there is a carbon monoxide detector on the property; consider bringing a portable detector with you on the trip
Host has not indicated whether there is a smoke detector on the property

We should mention

A car is recommended for transport to and from this property

About the area

Fairbanks

Located in Fairbanks, this holiday home is on the waterfront. Birch Hill Recreation Area and Chena River reflect the area's natural beauty and area attractions include University of Alaska Museum of the North and Big Dipper Ice Arena. Looking to enjoy an event or a game while in town? See what's happening at Carlson Center Event Arena or Growden Memorial Park. Make sure you get close to the area's animals with activities such as game walks and birdwatching.
Map
Fairbanks, AK

What's nearby

  • University of Alaska-Fairbanks - 13 min walk - 1.2 km
  • University of Alaska Museum of the North - 5 min drive - 3.4 km
  • Pioneer Park - 5 min drive - 5.1 km
  • Fairbanks Ice Museum - 7 min drive - 8.4 km
  • Fort Wainwright - 8 min drive - 8.5 km

Getting around

  • Fairbanks, AK (FAI-Fairbanks Intl.) - 8 min drive

Restaurants

  • ‪Taco Bell - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪Oasis Restaurant & Lounge - ‬2 min drive
  • ‪Brewsters - ‬4 min drive
  • ‪House of Fire Pizza - ‬3 min drive
  • ‪Starbucks - ‬4 min drive

Frequently asked questions

Is Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly. pet-friendly?

Yes, pets are allowed at this property.

Where is Comfortable House With Kitchen On The Chena River. Family Friendly. located?

Situated on the waterfront, this holiday home is within a 15-minute walk of Chena River and University of Alaska-Fairbanks. University of Alaska Museum of the North and Georgeson Botanical Garden are also within 2 miles (3 km).

Reviews

9.6

Exceptional

Reviews are presented in chronological order, subject to a moderation process, and verified unless otherwise labelled.
Learn moreOpens in a new window
Rating 10 - Excellent. 147 out of 188 reviews
Rating 8 - Good. 31 out of 188 reviews
Rating 6 - Okay. 8 out of 188 reviews
Rating 4 - Poor. 1 out of 188 reviews
Rating 2 - Terrible. 1 out of 188 reviews

9.0/10

Cleanliness

8.4/10

Amenities

8.0/10

Property conditions & facilities

7.6/10

Eco-friendliness

10/10

Check-in

9.8/10

Communication

10/10

Location

9.6/10

Listing accuracy

Reviews

10/10 Excellent

Colleen K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Location & Stay
We enjoyed our seven-night stay in winter 2025. The hosts were friendly and the place had all we needed; we especially liked spending time in the kitchen, with its big window overlooking the Chena River.
Stayed 7 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Cooper G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
River stay
Great house, would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

8/10 Good

Chari B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay with family
Visiting from Idaho to see my sister, we had an amazing stay. The Ice Sculptures were beautiful. We made the trek to Chena Hot Springs twice during our stay. It was quite a dream relaxing in that warm water and staring into a sky I feel like I have never seen before. On our last night, as we pulled in after a long soak in the Hot Springs, we saw a great show of green dancing lights. The space was just what we needed to rest at night and fuel up for another adventure.
Stayed 3 nights in Mar 2025

10/10 Excellent

Mariah S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great place
This was a great place for my family to stay at. Great views from the windows and has a lot of character.
Stayed 6 nights in Nov 2024

10/10 Excellent

Chris L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great house great price
It's a beautiful older house on the river. It's well maintained and clean. It was warm and comfortable. Just awesome
Stayed 6 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Vanessa H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Wonderful Hosts
I haven't met a nicer and more caring host! I will stay at any of their properties again.
Stayed 2 nights in Dec 2024

10/10 Excellent

Crystal W.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Unexpected Trip
Our trip was unplanned due to a funeral, the property was gorgeous, the apartment was large enough for all 7 of us the only downfall was it not handicap accessable but we didnt state that when we paid for it
Stayed 5 nights in Feb 2025

8/10 Good

Verified traveller

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great!
We had a great stay! Marge was very welcoming and the place had plenty of room for our family. The property was beautiful right on the river. Would stay again!
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Justin H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Excellent location in Fairbanks.
Host was fantastic. Great location, highly recommend if your coming into faibanks on a hunting trip. Host communicated well and accommodated our unique needs with alot of gear.
Stayed 2 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Anthony

Liked: Cleanliness, amenities, property conditions & facilities
Beautiful place in front of the river. Location is good. I would recommend this place to anyone.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

10/10 Excellent

George Y.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful location, nice hosts
Well placed weekend vacation house for a family, host was accommodating and everything was available just as advertised!
Stayed 3 nights in May 2024

10/10 Excellent

Jennifer L.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Property
Perfect for family traveling for sports.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Joseph Z.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Beautiful
Beautiful views! Owner is the nicest! Very log cabin vibe and loved every minute. Right on the river with a beautiful deck overlooking it.
Stayed 2 nights in Aug 2024

8/10 Good

James H.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Moose hunters
House was big enough for all individuals to have beds a place to shower and cook and prepare meals and nice owner.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2024

10/10 Excellent

Serena B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family visit
Beautiful property on the river host was welcoming. House was clean and comfortable. I highly recommend it.
Stayed 4 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Peter M.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great stay.
Simple, easy communication and stay
Stayed 2 nights in Jan 2024

8/10 Good

Elliot K.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Mostly good, except for a couple of minor issues.
Really decent place overall. It's situated a bit outside of town, but still close. Less light pollution, so sometimes you can see the aurora without driving anyplace. Lots of space to spread out if you're 4 people. Originally we were going to be seven though, and that would still have been fine... except for the fact that there's only one bathroom. Beds were relatively comfortable. Pillows so-so. Kitchen is well stocked with everything you need, including generous supply of condiments and even snacks. Moreso than most VRBOs. The pans, however, were old, and teflon was coming off. I liked the rustic decorations... grizzly bear watching over us at night. Cleanliness was decent, but there is the smell of smoke. Guests are not allowed to smoke inside, but the owner smokes in the sunroom below, and that sometimes wafts into the upstairs living space. Also, the water had a smell to it. No one suffered any ill effects though. Overall, very decent place especially for the price.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2025

10/10 Excellent

Carol R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
River runners
Always excellent. This is the 4th time we have stayed here
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2024

10/10 Excellent

Mike G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Aurora getaway
This is a great place to stay for activities in and around Fairbanks. It has a cozy cabin feel.
Stayed 3 nights in Feb 2024

10/10 Excellent

James B.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, location, listing accuracy
Review
Very nice
Stayed 2 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Carol R.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Raft crew
Excellent!
Stayed 3 nights in Jul 2024

10/10 Excellent

Taylor G.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Quiet Stay
Quiet, little place with lots of privacy. I would stay again.
Stayed 3 nights in Sep 2023

10/10 Excellent

Mark A., Evergreen, Colorado, USA

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great Stay
Exactly as advertised. Great host, great place.
Stayed 4 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

James R., Anchorage, AK

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Great home base for Fairbanks adventures
We loved the place! Our host was very accomodating and their home is full of Alaskan character.
Stayed 2 nights in Jun 2023

10/10 Excellent

Pat S.

Liked: Cleanliness, check-in, communication, location, listing accuracy
Family fun
Property is old and outdated. But the beds are comfy. Quiet upstairs apartment right by the river. Easy access to lots of places. Hunters paradise with all the trophies on the walls. Would stay here again.
Stayed 5 nights in Jul 2024

About the host

Hosted by Martha and Robert Roth

Host profile image
In January of 1962 my husband was drafted out of a general practice residency in Sacramento and sent to Ft. Wainwright. At the time we had two small boys and I was teaching half day kindergarten. I had to give notice so we didn't arrive until March. Originally we paid our way up so we wouldn't have to stay longer than 18 months. We then extended so that we could live on post. Meanwhile, my husband fell in love with the hunting and fishing so we extended until they finally told him he had to either get out of the Army or take another assignment. The Army would give us a free move back to Oregon, our original home, within a year. So, we moved to a little one bedroom house on five acres. By then we had three boys so built a triple level, youth size bunk bed for the kids and slept in a hide-a-bed in the living room. The year ended and we're still here.

Bob practiced family medicine until retirement. Early on he learned to fly and had many adventures in his Super Cub. He completed the Yukon 800 boat race 6 times and won once. Now that he can't do these things, he raises bees and we play duplicate bridge. While Bob was busy working and playing I had time to get into trouble on my own. I quit teaching after my first year in Alaska and loved staying home with the kids. A neighbor and I once started a booth at the Fair to sell spaghetti for the swim team. It turned out to be a 15 year commitment, The Farmhouse Cafe, that served everything from hamburgers and Hunters Stew to eggs the chickens laid in their cages. When the last two children were in high school I took a class to become a realtor. This seemed interesting, especially since an older son who taught in the Bush was moving to Fairbanks with his young family and would soon be needing a house. They bought the first one I showed them. About 20 years ago I bought an 8 unit efficiency apartment with another son because of the real estate connection. Many more stories but out of room

Why they chose this property

While we were living in the little house a neighbor came to collect money for another neighbor that plowed the snow. When they went to California to get braces for their daughter they asked if we would like to rent their bigger house. So in 1966 we moved. The next summer there was a big flood. The basement was filled with water and there was 10 1/2 inches in the living room. They owned the lot next door and wanted to build their dream house there so we negotiated to buy the house. They borrowed money on this house to finance the new house so, though we agreed on a purchase price, we paid rent until the financing on their new house was completed. Then we bought it. It's a wonderful place to live.

What makes this property unique

It is close to town and the University. The location on the river is a delight. Through the years there have been dozens of picnics at the river. Last summer our daughter had her 20th high school reunion, and of course the picnic was here. They picked up canoes and kayaks from Pioneer Park to add even more fun. It is casual and homey. We put new carpet in the upstairs last year. It has a big garden and lots of privacy.

Languages:

English