Holaday-Parks: A Legacy Tied to the Iconic Alaskan Bus 142
Britt Freel, Manager at our Fairbanks, Alaska division, and brother Jerry, former AK Division Manager, were both interviewed about the retirement of Bus 142, a popular Alaskan hunting spot.
The bus, pictured above, was made infamous by Chris McCandless, who became the subject of the best-selling book, “Into the Wild.” The book retraces Chris’s steps after he was found dead on the abandoned bus after surviving on the spot for nearly four months.
This bus has made headlines and endangered other curious onlookers who braved the trek. After deeming Bus 142 a public safety issue, the Alaska Army National Guard moved it from its nearly 60-year home along the Stampede Trail to the University of Alaska in 2020.
Long before “Into the Wild,” the bus was a hunting spot for many families. The brothers were featured on the radio station KUAC to share some of the stories they had on the bus. The full interview is on the UA podcast, “More You Look,” episode 142: Hunting Cabin.
The bus is now undergoing a conservation process after the university’s Museum of the North received a $500,000 grant for the conservation work on the bus.
Bus 142 is not available for public view until this summer.
Kudos, Britt and Jerry!
When he’s not writing for Outdoor Life, Tyler, Britt’s son, works at Holaday-Parks. Read more about the personal connection to Bus 142 in Tyler’s article. Note that the article contains hunting videos and photos.
Holaday-Parks is one of the largest full-service mechanical contractors in Washington and Alaska. We design, build, enhance, and service high-quality building solutions that are SMART—Sustainable, Measurable, Affordable, Reliable, and Timely. To learn more about how we can help with your next project, contact us HERE