Tucked into the heart of Alaska’s Copper River Valley, there’s a place where history is folded right into the batter. The Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant is more than just a pit stop—it’s a living memory of the frontier days, where the scent of fresh sourdough pancakes greets early risers like a warm handshake. Local legend holds that if you brave your first Alaskan winter, you’re no longer a ‘Cheechako’—you’ve earned your title as a true ‘Sourdough.’ And if there’s one dish that embodies that proud tradition, it’s the flapjacks at Nummy’s, made with a starter that dates all the way back to 1865.
Whether you’re a curious traveler or a hungry regular, walking into this log-style roadhouse in Copper Center feels a bit like stepping back into a cozier, tastier chapter of Alaskan history.
Before it became a gathering place for food lovers and locals, this charming building served as a log communications station, originally hauled in from snowy Thompson Pass. The family that owns it today first laid claim in 1948, and through the decades, it’s stayed in their hands—weathered by time, warmed by family recipes, and passed on like the treasured stories it holds within its timbered walls.
Golden-edged, pillowy soft, and with just the right tang of age-old sourdough, these pancakes are the undisputed star of the menu. The starter dough—a bubbling blend of flour and frontier spirit—was brought up from Pennsylvania in 1865 by a hopeful miner, and it’s been feeding hungry mouths ever since. It’s the kind of breakfast that doesn’t just fill your belly—it makes you feel like you’re part of something bigger, something enduring.
Come springtime, rhubarb shoots its way up through the cold Alaskan ground like it’s got a secret to share. At Nummy’s, that secret becomes a tangy-sweet rhubarb sauce—a glossy, pink ribbon of flavor that takes those sourdough pancakes to a whole new level. The recipe, lovingly handed down from owner Kim’s grandmother who once ran a roadside café on the Glenn Highway, is as much a tradition as the pancakes themselves. It’s a spoonful of memory, and a celebration of the Valley’s first crop of the season.
Of course, pancakes aren’t the only draw. From thick slices of housemade toast to the golden hollandaise that pools atop their decadent Eggs Benedict, breakfast here is anything but ordinary. A plate of perfectly crisped reindeer sausage brings a distinctly Alaskan touch—peppery, smoky, and hearty enough to fuel a morning of fishing or exploring nearby trails. Every dish comes out looking like it was plated by someone who knows comfort food is also an art form.
The heart of the restaurant, affectionately called Nummy’s, pays tribute to the family matriarch who helped build its legacy. When a fire consumed the original building in 2012, the spirit of the place refused to fade. Rising from the ashes, a former tavern—Club 96—was transformed into a cozy dining room full of character and care. A custom fireplace, hand-built from rounded stones gathered along the nearby Chitina River, now crackles with warmth, inviting you to linger over coffee and conversation.
When the summer sun stretches across the sky, there’s no better seat in the house than the patio. Framed by cheerful umbrellas and the soft rustle of leaves, it’s the kind of spot where time slows down. Sip your coffee while watching the light shift across the mountains, or share a warm plate of breakfast under the soft hum of bees in nearby wildflowers. It’s peaceful, homey, and just a little bit magical.
You’ll find this hidden gem tucked off Mile 101 of the Old Richardson Highway, inside the Old Town Copper Center Inn & Restaurant. In the quiet months of summer, the place hums with activity from early morning through dusk—open daily from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.—welcoming everyone from road-tripping families to longtime locals.
Address: Mile 101 Old Richardson Highway, Copper Center, AK 99573
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