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Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers
(and Professional Travelers)
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Tok, Alaska (rhymes with
smoke) the first stop in Alaska for the two RV Gypsies |
| Tok: Population: 1,415 - Elevation: 1,635 feet. Tok began as a construction camp on the Alcan Highway (now known as the Alaska Highway) in 1942. Highway engineer C.G. Polk was sent to Fairbanks in May 1942 to take charge of Alaska construction and start work on the road between Tok Junction and Big Delta. Tok has more hotel rooms and camping spots based on a per capita ratio than any other town in the state. | |
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| The name Tok (rhymes with Poke) was long believed to be derived from Tokyo Camp, a road construction camp that sprung up in 1943 as part of the straightening and improvement projects on the Alcan Highway. During WWII Tokyo Camp was patriotically shortened to Tok. Another story - perhaps the real story - is that Tok was named after a husky pup on August 15, 1942 when the U.S. Army's Corp (the 97th engineers - an all black corps) were breaking trail north from what is now the Tok cutoff. The young pup was their mascot and upon their arrival at where Tok now is, it was unanimously decided to name the junction after the pup. | |
| Tok R.V. Village is a nice family-run and owned campground. It does have Wi-Fi but you only get one hour and one minute free, then you pay for the Wi-Fi use. Large tree-divided sites, full hood-ups, pull throughs, tenting, 20/30/50 amp services, cable TV (limited stations) restrooms, showers, laundry, gift store, dump station, pay phones, trade-a-book library. A great local singer sometimes performs in the evenings. | |
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| Vehicle washing in sites prohibited, but the
campground has vehicle wash for the car and RV (at an additional fee of
course) and that was sure a welcome sight for the two RV Gypsies. But that's
when they discovered all the damage to their car and RV from the roads getting
here................. - see link at bottom of this page for Bumps and Gunk |
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Leaves on the tree next
to our RV - each leaf had a different design on the underside |
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| Tok is the major overland point
of entry to Alaska, and is primarily a trade and service center for all
types of transportation, especially for summer travelers coming up the Alaska
highway. Tok is the only town in Alaska that the highway traveler must pass
through twice - once arriving and again on leaving. The governor proclaimed
Tok "Mainstreet Alaska" in 1991. Townspeople are proud of this
designation and work hard to make visitors happy. Tok has 8 churches, a
library, a K-12 school, Lions Club, Veterans of Foreign Wars Club and Chamber
of Commerce. Tok is also known as the "Sled Dog Capitol of Alaska"
because so many residents are involved with dogs and dog mushing - Alaska's
official state sport. No politicians live in Tok. There is no state tax, no property tax, or tax of any kind in Tok. Tok has had winter temperatures of -58F and summer temperatures of 100F. Quite a difference. |
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| Judging by the number of Alaska Highway travelers washing their cars and RVs in Tok, it may also qualify as the Vehicle Washing Capital of Alaska as well. No joke - |
