McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café & Bakery
McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café & Bakery
Currently recruiting for the season from May 17th, 2024 to September 15th, 2024.
McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café, & Bakery is a boutique Alaskan lodge privately owned and operated in Denali National Park. Catering to Alaskans, independent visitors and small groups. Our full service cafe takes pride in serving only scratch made food with a smile and a million dollar view.
Located 13 miles south of the entrance to Denali National Park in the desirable Carlo Creek neighborhood, with unlimited trails outside your back door. We boast an ideal location, away from the busy park entrance, yet allowing easy access to the park and all its activities. We are also a stones throw of the popular Panorama Pizza Pub, a popular hang out.
- Location
- Alaska
- Season
- Summer
- Staff size
- 45
- Housing
- Whether included in the compensation package or provided at a cost, housing is provided for staff.
- Family housing available
- No
- Pet friendly
- No
- Meals
- Some meals / discounts
- Cell phone service
- Some, ask for details
- Internet access
- Good
About McKinley Creekside Cabins, Café & Bakery
WHO WE ARE
Creekside is owned and operated by two best friends, Holly and Tracey. In 1997, they purchased the historical property with the absolute BEST location in Carlo Creek with dreams to create a place that they would love to go. Twenty-six years later they still love what they do, where they do it and the people they do it with.
WORK HARD - PLAY HARD - HAVE FUN!
Mission: Cultivating relationships and facilitating opportunities to explore Denali National Park with inspired hospitality and intentional service.
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We work to attract the best people by: paying top wages; providing the best housing; encouraging a safe and fun home base in a family atmosphere to explore Denali for the summer. We know a happy crew makes happy guests, which makes happy owners! Our goal is to provide the best experience possible, so our crew does the recruiting for us. We have one of the highest return rates of any seasonal business!
Our expectations are simple: Everybody works. We look for professionals that are passionate about work and play and have a POSITIVE attitude and productive work ethic. A sense of place grows from the purposeful work of maintaining and growing this establishment and cultivating lifelong friendships. Our steadfast commitment to providing an outstanding experience for our guests and our crew in an amazing setting is beyond compare. Come work in a place surrounded by astonishing beauty and fantastic people all while learning new things and maybe something new about yourself!
Our people are our most valued partners!
The Employee Experience
We strive to be the most desirable place to work in Denali!
Our Team Mission to cultivate a culture that is fun, and engaging, where everyone contributes, where you are recognized for your effort and hard work, and where you can be yourself while living and exploring one of the most beautiful places on earth.
We offer the best housing and meal program in Denali. Our housing is clean and comfortable. All rooms are two-room suites that share a bathroom. Each room has two beds, a vanity, and a mini fridge. We provide a shift meal, made to order, to cater to each person's dietary preference. We have two communal kitchens as well that allows you the ability to cook your own meals. Basic kitchen items such as dishes, pots & pans, and seasonings are all provided.
Adventures abound! It's a quick four-minute walk to work and when you are off you can walk out your back door (literally), follow the creek, and adventure as far as you desire.
Knowing our people is our most valued partnership. We care about our co-workers and cherish the long-lasting friendships that come from our shared experiences as we all spend the summer together in breathtaking Denali.
Our team members are our greatest asset. We pay top wages; have a generous incentive program; hire and retain incredible people; have beautiful accommodations and the finest food; provide amazing hospitality and service in a spectacular atmosphere. You can't fake it....we really are pumped to be here, living the dream....doing what we love, and it shows.
Ideal Candidate
Looking for people that love life, are passionate about what they do and where they do it.
You need to have a solid work history, be able to finish what you start, be hardworking, have a positive attitude, and be enthusiastic about hospitality. We are looking for people who want to share their epic Alaskan adventure with like-minded folks while building life-long friendships and creating the best experience possible for yourself and our guests.
Room and Board
We have the best Room & Board program in Denali, by far.
All Rooms: Our rooms are clean and comfortable. They are set up as two-room suites (every two rooms share a bathroom, toilet/shower). Each room has two beds, a sink area, and a small fridge.
Board/Meal Program: We offer a generous shift meal on all days you work. We provide made to order meals, so you can order food that meets your tastes and dietary concerns.
Two common rooms: Each with kitchen facilities stocked with dishes, pots/pans and basic spices. We also have a few lounge areas: one with couches and TV's/Movies, and a couple communal areas outside, one with a firepit along the creek! We also have coin-op laundry (detergent provided).
We provide: Linens/towels, WI-FI, laundry detergent & toilet paper.
Please note: You are responsible for your own food. There is a grocery store in Healy, AK (Three Bears) and group shopping trips are coordinated. We offer a 20% discount in the café when you are not working (during non-peak hours).
Employee Perks
We offer FREE room/board (upon contract completion) for all un-tipped positions: kitchen, housekeeping and front desk
Tours/excursions are free or at a reduced cost, gratuities are still required.
The most beautiful walk to work...you can see the cafe from the employee housing :)
The best thing about working at Creekside is the ability to make a top wage while living, working and playing in one of the most amazing places on earth, DENALI, all the while making lifelong friendships! We have a VERY high percentage of return employees every year, which speaks for itself.
Getting Here and Getting Around
You are responsible for your own transportation and cost. Denali is four hours north of Anchorage and two hours south of Fairbanks. If you are arriving in your own vehicle we are located at Mile 224 on the George Parks Hwy, just look for the Creekside sign! If you are considering the drive we highly recommend it. Having a vehicle is a luxury in Denali and is great for adventuring in your off time!
If you do not have your own transportation, there are two options to get to us from either Anchorage or Fairbanks. Both offer discounts for employees traveling to Denali. When booking your ticket be sure to let them know you are an employee as both companies offer discounts.
Alaska Yukon Trails Shuttle: This shuttle provides several pick-up options from Fairbanks in the morning.
Park Connection: This shuttle picks up at the Dena'ina Civic Center in downtown Anchorage and then heads north to Denali in the morning and the afternoon.
Connect with others on the Facebook Group – Creekside Staff while you make your plans. Many staff members travel on the same days. You may meet some fellow Creeksiders on your way to us!
We recommend flying into Anchorage, and then taking a shuttle to Denali the next morning. Take advantage of staying overnight in Anchorage to get food/supplies. Getting to the grocery store in Denali is not always easy and you will want to have a few meals for when you first arrive before the first grocery trip.
For Fun
Rafting, Hiking, Biking, Fishing, Nightlife, Campfires, Camping, Kayaking, anything outdoors!
Current Job Openings
- Two years of cooking experience, skilled in sauté, fry, grill, steaks, pantry etc.
- Breakfast and dinner shifts
- Oversees daily operations of café, creating a friendly and professional atmosphere for guests and staff alike, by overseeing the flow and assuring excellent service all our guests and neighbors.
- Consistently ensures on-going coaching and training for all servers and baristas, all summer.
- Evening host and assists as extra server in afternoons
- Group dining contact and host, schedule private parties
- Works directly with the GM in overseeing special events
- Resolve both employee and guest conflicts
- Scheduling with includes covering shifts when needed. Nobody is above any job at Creekside.
- Works closely with kitchen manager and sous chefs of specials, plating, portion sizes, garnishes consistency and more
- Makes sure the café is always clean, stocked and in compliance with health regulations.
- Manages inventory, and ordering of Beer, Wine, and Liquor. Works with owner(s) to create beverage (alcohol) menu
- Must Like people (being in the people business?)
- Natural leader, with professionalism and integrity, having good coaching and interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated, organized, and responsible with high standards
- Flexible. Mature yet friendly, and fun with a good sense of humor
- Strong sales background
- 800.00/wk + 1% sales + tips when working the floor (2% tip out on sales) (500.00 average sales day)
- FREE room and board in private housing with bath (upon contract completion)
- A Hospitality/Service Professional-that takes pride in your work.
- You must have an outgoing, & positive personality and energy.
- Know that all good leaders do so from the front.
- Some management experience required.
- Server candidates should have a minimum of 2 year experience.
- A command a high level of knowledge regarding food and beverage.
- Strong salesmanship abilities and extensive knowledge of menu ingredients, espresso, beer and wine.
- Café hours are 5am-10pm and candidates must be willing to work all shifts.
- Oversees daily operations of front desk and works directly with the housekeeping manager to manage all rooms and requests. Effectively communicates with all managers in all departments
- Consistently ensures on-going coaching and training for front desk.
- Manages employee conflicts
- Sells and works directly with local tour companies
- Resolve guests and employee issues
- Helps manage and maintain webpage and social media
- Scheduling which includes covering shifts when needed (including housekeeping). Nobody is above any job at Creekside ?
- Check guests in and out, soliciting feedback
- Reconciling daily sales reports at front desk, OTA and tour commissions
- Group Contact
- Communicates with property manager “Seth” to address any hotel maintenance issues
- Helps café with to go orders, lunches and where needed
- Must Like people (being in the people business?)
- Strong sales background
- Natural leader, with professionalism and integrity, having good coaching and interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated, organized, and responsible with high standards
- Flexible. Mature yet friendly, and fun with a good sense of humor
- 800.00/wk
- Free room and board in private housing with bath (upon contract completion)
- Must Like people (being in the people business?) and love the outdoors
- Natural leader, with professionalism and integrity, having good coaching and interpersonal skills
- Self-motivated, organized, and responsible with high standards
- Flexible. Mature yet friendly, and fun with a good sense of humor
- Strong sales background
- Guests and group reservations including tour sales
- Manage website and social media
- HR – Works with owner(s) to interview, hire new staff, and secure returning staff for upcoming season
- Works closely with Department managers to ensure training of new employees including orientation, HR paperwork and retraining of returning staff. Consistently ensuring on-going training for all staff, all summer.
- Assists front desk and reconcile daily sales reports
- Group contact and oversees special events
- Oversee maintenance log and works directly with property manager (Seth) to address any property issues
- Assist in Café by hosting and working with the FOH manager by overseeing overall flow and engaging and assuring excellent service for all our guests and neighbors.
- Resolve both employee and guest conflicts
- Covers shifts and plugs the holes – fill in where necessary, whether barista, serving, front desk, housekeeping, even dishwashing. Nobody is above any job at Creekside.
- 1200.00/wk
- 4-6 weeks paid vacation, with option to take additional unpaid days off during winter providing maximum flexibility in the off season
- Free room and board in beautiful new one bedroom apartment overlooking Carlo Creek
- 100% employer match up to 3000.00 to employees’ personal IRA
Line Cooks
Our restaurant mission at the café is simple… We care about every guest, and every plate. From using the freshest local ingredients, carefully handled and crafted, and presented with pride to our guests. We will not serve anything that we wouldn't serve our grandma. The Creekside Café is the heart of our business. Its where both locals and guests gather to enjoy quality homecooked food with friendly attentive service. Every single position is truly essential to the flow of the operation and working together as a team not only makes all our jobs easier, but more fun... and profitable :)
If you have a passion for cooking and making people happy, WE WANT YOU! Everything tastes better when made with love.
Requirements:
Pay: $17-$19/hr DOE + tips + FREE room & board upon completion of your work contract.
Room & Board: $50wk for shared/$100wk for private-if available (includes one shift meal)
Prep-cooks
Responsible for all aspects of prep, assisting the line cooks when busy, keeping the kitchen clean and some dishwashing. Soups, sauces, chili, specials, prep, prep and more prep ! Looking for talented cooks and folks that want to advance their cooking experience and move to the line.
Pay: $14.00-17.00/hr (DOE) + tips + FREE room & board upon completion of your work contract.
Room & Board: $50wk for shared / 100wk for private (includes one shift meal)
Baker
Responsible for baking bread and filling our dessert case with sweet treats.
Requirements:
Must have baking experience.
Be an early riser (night shift).
Have excellent time management, multi tasking, organizational and cleaning skills.
One year experience required.
Pay: $15-17/hr. + tips + FREE room & board upon completion of your work contract.
Room & Board: $50wk for shared/$100wk for private-if available (includes one shift meal).
Dishwashers
Dishwashers are the the BACKBONE of the kitchen, and the restaurant.
Nothing moves forward without you :) And we will treat and respect you like the important person you are. You must take pride in your work, have excellent cleaning/sanitation standards, able to bus tables with a smile, and assist in prep when needed. Physical stamina, positive attitude and the ability to work well with your teammates is required.
Pay: $13.00-14.00 + tips + FREE room & board upon completion of your work contract!
Room & Board: $50wk for shared (includes one shift meal).
Café/Service Manager
Pre-requisite: Three years serving experience and some management experience. One year is required in this position for consideration of General manager.
Job Description: Summer seasonal position in a super fun and fast paced full-service café/bakery. Someone that truly enjoys the hospitality business and being of service. Our ideal candidate takes an ownership role of the restaurant and Creekside as a whole and sets the standard for overall performance especially superior hospitality and customer service.
Ideal Personality Traits & Skills
Pay / Benefits
Room & Board: $50wk for shared/$100wk for private-if available (includes one shift meal).
AM Server Lead
AM LEAD/working breakfast server that helps direct the morning flow. Creating and ensuring your team has the right attitude to give superior hospitality and service to our guests. Check out of servers and making sure all side work is completed. You will work closely with the Restaurant Manager to ensure the café run smoothly. Bring attention any staff issues/concerns before they are a problem.
Requirements:
Pay: 12/hr. + tips and 4% tip out
Room & Board: $50wk for shared/$100wk for private-if available (includes one shift meal)
Barista / Expo
In charge of our small but busy coffee and to-go station. Makes espresso drinks and handles takeout orders. Assists breakfast servers with all coffee orders, expo and food-running and maintains the takeout section of the lobby. Must be an early riser, have a good attitude and pour a good shot :)
Requirements:
One year barista experience, you must pour a good shot.
Excellent hospitality and service skills. Its important to knows the difference, and why both are critical to a successful business.
You need to be an early riser, with a cheerful disposition, attention to detail and a good work ethic.
Some experience with food prep.
Be an excellent barista.
Under 21 may be considered with the right experience and attitude.
A love of the outdoors is a plus :-)
Hospitality is HOW you make someone FEEL, Service is HOW you do it.
Pay: 12-.00-14.00/hr. (3% tip out on food sales) + tips
Room & Board: $50wk for shared/$100wk for private-if available (includes one shift meal).
Servers
Looking for Hospitality/Service Professionals, that understand the difference between hospitality vs. service...and know the importance of both to a successful business. Our hospitality/service professionals have a great attitudes and work ethic, and are good ambassadors of “Creekside”.
We believe that servers should take pride in being HOSPITALITY/SERVICE professionals and providing the highest quality experience for our guests starting from their very first interaction. As professionals, we’re genuinely concerned with making guests feel significant through our actions and behaviors and will have the integrity to relentlessly live the beliefs and values that make this possible.
Requirements:
Pay: $10.34/hr. + tips + (4% tip out on sales)
Room & Board: $50wk for shared/$100wk for private-if available (includes one shift meal).
Housekeepers
Our housekeeping team is a crucial part of the Creekside Crew! You are responsible for keeping our rooms and property up to the standards that have made us a destination property.
Our housekeepers work hard during the day and have every night off to enjoy and explore the beautiful Denali area.
Requirements:
• Ability to work as a team and/or independently and maintain a high level of performance
• Maintain positive attitude in fast paced work environment
• Excellent prioritization and time management skills
• Possess physical stamina to be on feet, bend, squat, stretch and lift a minimum of 25 lbs.
Responsibilities:
• Perform a variety of cleaning activities throughout the property
• Ensure all rooms are cared for and cleaned to standards set by supervisor
• Notify supervisors of damages to rooms and inventory deficiencies
• Maintain professional appearance and interact positively with guests
• Address reasonable complaints and requests with professionalism and patience
Pay: $12-14/hr + tips and FREE room & board upon completion of your work contract.
Room & Board: $50wk for shared (includes one shift meal).
Front Desk Agents
Front Desk Agents are the face of Creekside and provide a first and lasting impression for our guests. It all starts with you! Candidates must be enthusiastic, engaging, have a heart for hospitality and enjoy sales.
Our motto: “Where the guest's become friend's” starts with the front desk and is dependent on your positive attitude, knowledge of Denali area and excellent hospitality.
Our Mission: Cultivating relationships and facilitating opportunities to explore Denali National Park with inspired hospitality and intentional service.
As a tour salesperson you are eligible for complimentary and discounted tours.
Basic Requirements:
• A passion for hospitality (a step above customer service; hospitality comes from the heart and means we treat our guests like we are welcoming them to our home and make lasting connections so they leave with the experience of a lifetime!)
• A background in sales
• Strong Interpersonal Skills
• Must be passionate and willing to quickly become a “Denali Expert” for our guests
• Must possess good organizational skills and be detail oriented
• Ability to balance multiple duties and prioritize tasks
Responsibilities:
• Welcoming and checking in guests
• Provide information about the Denali Area
• Enhance guest experience by recommending and selling tours
• Communicate effectively with all departments
• Address and resolve guest feedback and communicate to supervisor
• Accommodate special requests whenever possible and communicate to appropriate departments
• Willingness to work as a team and assist other departments when required
• Checking out guests and invoicing them for stay and services
• Handle cash and credit payments and produce balanced daily paperwork
Pay: $15-$17/hr (DOE) + FREE room & board upon completion of your work contract.
Room & Board: $50wk shared/$100wk private-if available (includes one shift meal)
Front Desk Manager
Pre-requisite: One year service management experience.
One completed summer season is required in this position for consideration of General manager.
Job Description: You will be the FACE and first impression of Creekside and must have a heart for hospitality and being of service. Our ideal candidate takes an ownership role of the front desk and Creekside as a whole and setting the standard for overall performance superior customer service by helping make our guests vacation an unforgettable experience
Ideal Personality Traits & Skills
Pay / Benefits
General Manager
Pre-requisite: One complete summer season as Front Desk manager or Café Manager
Management / Leadership Experience
Job Description: Year-round position for someone that wants to spend their summers in Denali National Park, and their winters in a place of their choice. Our ideal candidate takes an ownership role of the overall property, business, and staff. Someone who leads from the front by example and is a great ambassador of Creekside in our local community and beyond.
Oversees the management team and staff, ensuring guest satisfaction and quality of services. Including but not limited to the Creekside Café, gift shop, front desk, housekeeping, maintenance, and works directly with the kitchen manager for the café/kitchen back of house.
Ideal Personality Traits & Skills
Winter Season Duties Oct 1-Apr 30
Summer Season Duties May 1 – Sept 30
Pay / Benefits
How to Apply
Questions? Call 907-683-2277 or email info@mckinleycabins.com and we'll be happy to help figure out the best way for you to get to us!
Please apply online via the link below.
Click here to find out more about Creekside!
We look forward to hearing from you!
Contact Info
- Holly Slinkard
- hollyslinkard@yahoo.com
- (907) 683-2277
- www.mckinleycabins.com
