YES BAY LODGE HISTORY
World class fishing and remote wilderness of southern Southeast Alaska
Construction of the lodge began in the mid-1950’s, originally intended to be a casino and cat house. It never opened for business, as the Alaskan Territory became a state, and the government outlawed gambling and prostitution. Yes Bay Lodge was then opened in 1977 and transformed it into one of Southeast Alaska’s first successful sport fishing lodges.
The first explorers of Yes Bay were the Tlingit Tribe, who named Yes Bay, from the native word “yaas,” meaning blue mussel. Guests will see the vast number of mussels attached to the rocks lining the bay.
Most of the Yes Bay history is chronicled after Boston Fishing & Trading Company constructed a cannery in 1887. By 1890, it employed a diverse group of Chinese, Native American and white workers, totaling 85 residents and 14 houses. It produced an average of 25,000 cases per season. This company cannery operated until 1900.
After several years idle, Pacific Fisheries Cannery purchased and operated the facility until closing in 1936. Alaska was still only a US Territory; statehood would come much later (1959). The US Bureau of Commercial Fisheries had a hatchery near here until closing it in the 30’s, when President Roosevelt instituted his economy program. All hatchery personnel then transferred back to the United States (the Lower 48).
WE ARE REMOTE – WHERE NO CAR WILL TAKE YOU
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