News from Agate Inn, Wasilla, Alaska

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Winter 2017 News

We are connected....

........well almost!

Last year we updated our website for “mobile friendly”. This past fall we

started our very own facebook page. http://www.facebook.com/Agate-

Inn/ Check it out and let us know what you think. We still have a lot to learn.

Denali...courtesy Bob King

Over the past 25 years we have

enjoyed meeting thousands of

interesting guests at the Agate

Inn. Many have visited several

times and become close

friends. Recently, Bob and Tina

King from Mt. Juliet, TN shared

Bob’s photo of Denali and the

Alaska Range with Reflection Pond

in the foreground. This spectacular

photo will be printed on the 2017

Annual Denali National Park

Pass. Thank you to Bob and Tina

for allowing the Agate Inn to share.

In this issue......

• We are connected....

........well almost!

• Agate Inn Reindeer...

• Celebrating 25 years...

• Net Zero Energy...

Agate Inn News is published periodically

with information about events, specials and

happenings at Agate Inn Wasilla, Alaska and

Agate Inn Vacation Rentals in Surprise,

Arizona. We hope you enjoy the news....

Harvey & Sandy Bowers

Owner/Innkeepers Agate Inn, Inc.

To unsubscribe: click on the link at the

bottom of the page or email a note to

alaska@agateinn.com

Agate Inn Reindeer...

Our guests pose lots of questions

about reindeer throughout the

year. Here are a few....

Is it true Santa’s reindeer are female?

Well…maybe...... Both male and

female reindeer grow

antlers. Looking at their antlers,

sometimes it is tough to tell if they

are male or female, especially the

younger males. Often the male

reindeer has a larger “shovel”. The

shovel is the portion of antler

protruding over the nose. Take a

look at your favorite Christmas

reindeer drawing, card, or

picture. Is there a big shovel, small

shovel or no shovel at all? Female

reindeer usually keep their antlers

well into spring. Most male

reindeer shed their antlers

sometime in December. Our

younger male reindeer often lost

their antlers before

Christmas. Next time you spot

Santa’s reindeer take a close look

at those antlers. Our guess….Santa

chose the best reindeer for the

job…..male and female!

The boy's shovels are easy to spot

Copper and Granite

Sapphire's shovel..(female)

Who has the larger shovel,

male (left) or female (right)?

Do you have a sleigh?

Yes, but it would be a wild

ride! We have mastered haltering

our reindeer. Harvey or Sandy can

even walk four or five together at

the same time. Sometimes it isn’t

clear who is leading who! On your

next visit join us for a walk with the

reindeer.

Walking the Agate Inn Reindeer

Why are there polka dots in the snow?

A little boy walking through the

snow with our reindeer asked that

one. We chuckled, but we had to

agree reindeer droppings do look

like polka dots!

Polka Dots in the snow

Net Zero Energy...

Solar Hot Water & Solar Electric

What about moose?

Moose visit us throughout the year,

but especially during the winter

months. There are times when we

see more moose in the reindeer

pens than reindeer. Moose are

much bigger than reindeer and

easily step across the 5 to 7 foot

fences. The moose and reindeer

stare at each other, but pay little

attention otherwise. During mid-

day in the winter it is common for

the reindeer to nap with moose

napping close by.

Celebrating 25 years...

The Agate Inn opened on July 4,

1992. We started with one building

on a one acre lot. The Agate Inn

complex now consists of four guest

buildings on 20 acres with king

rooms, four vacation apartment

suites, two wheel chair accessible

suites, two vacation homes, and a

75 person meeting facility.

Still moving toward Net Zero

Energy…..

The entire Agate Inn complex has

solar power. To date we have

generated 50,000 kWh in Alaska

and 100,000 kWh total combining

our Alaska and Arizona

properties. From March through

October our solar hot water

systems generate all the hot water

we can use in Alaska. One day

energy storage technology will

make it possible to reach Net Zero

Energy during the Alaska winter

months too. In the meantime, our

Agate Inn Arizona vacation rentals

easily achieve Net Zero Energy year

round.