Anchorage Spenard Lake Memories

Do you know the first name of the lake that would become Spenard Lake? Did you know that Spenard Lake was once the site of a thriving resort?

Spenard Lake, 1959

In July, 1916, Spenard began as a lumber camp.

To haul lumber to Anchorage, Joe Spenard needed a road.

So he persuaded a local club to help him cut down trees and create a road of sorts. The road went from what would become Spenard Lake to an area close to Ship Creek, the site of tent city.

The U.S. Forest Service did not authorize the cu…