Gold Rush brings 'rocks' to Alaska                                                                      

Editor’s note: “Sweeping Palaces” is a new U.S. Curling News feature profiling member clubs across the country. We hope that these profiles will help readers learn more about their fellow curlers and curling clubs in the United States, and that they may also further the sharing of ideas between clubs.  

Who: Fairbanks Curling Club

Address: 1962 Second Ave., Fairbanks, AK 99701

Web site: www.curlfairbanks.org

Club phone: 907-452-CURL

Club contact: President Peter Lundquist, 907-456-4595

History: The Fairbanks Curling Club was established in  1905, making it the oldest sporting club in the state of Alaska. Early gold miners came over from Dawson Creek, Canada, with the gold rush, some of which brought curling stones, and began curling on the river ice in downtown Fairbanks. It was tough to travel during the gold rush in Alaska, but to bring curling rocks showed dedication to the sport, which is tough to match, Lundquist said. The club’s current facility was built in the mid 1960s.

Number of sheets of ice: 6. The facility includes a full bar kitchen and dance area upstairs with full viewing of the sheets.

Number of members: 230

Major events: The club typically holds five or six major events throughout the curling season, including the annual Subaru Cash Spiel each November and an international bonspiel each April.

“Visitors are always welcome, and our hospitality demonstrates why Fairbanks is called the ‘Golden heart of Alaska,’” Lundquist said.