While Georgia boasts the renowned Old Car City with its vast collection of over 4,000 vehicles, Alaska offers a different, more unexpected encounter with automotive history at Eklutna Tailrace. Instead of a curated museum, here you’ll find a scattered, almost secretive assembly of old car parts, reclaimed by nature along a tranquil riverside trail. This unique site presents a fascinating contrast to its Georgian counterpart, offering a more rugged and natural experience for those intrigued by vintage vehicles and hidden histories.
Passing by Eklutna Tailrace one morning, I noticed a lone car at the trailhead and a figure walking a dog along a narrow strip of land jutting into the Knik River. The area had a distinct, wild feel, reminiscent of moose territory. I made a mental note to return later that day for a closer look, drawn by the promise of Alaskan wilderness.
The pedestrian trail leading from the trailhead is wide and flat, quickly bringing you to the flowing river in under a quarter mile. To the right, a large, still marsh perfectly mirrors the majestic Chugach mountains in the distance. To the left flows the tailrace itself – the intensely blue, churning outflow from Eklutna Lake. This water travels 4.5 miles through a mountain tunnel, powering the Matanuska-Susitna Valley with hydroelectricity. As is common near such power plants, fishing enthusiasts often gather here, drawn to the waters below the dam.
Just a few steps onto the path, the allure of the expansive landscape and the snow-capped mountain reflections drew me off-trail to the right, towards the river’s edge. Following the water, I walked parallel to the main path, weaving through trees. I was initially focused on spotting warblers, examining tree bark, and photographing mushrooms when something metallic glinted from the earth. Almost entirely buried, a mere fragment of a car, resembling a weathered canoe, caught my eye.
As I continued, more and more remnants emerged. Another car, then another, each more deeply embedded in the earth than the last. Thick metal cables snaked out from the ground, appearing to tether these buried vehicles. Could these Old Cars have been deliberately placed here to form a kind of riverbank reinforcement, a makeshift jetty?
The scene unfolded like a surreal drive-in movie, but instead of entertainment, the landscape was littered with the skeletal remains of cars. Carcasses of vehicles in varying stages of decay, all spectacularly rusted and partially submerged, stretched along the entire northern bank of this small peninsula. It was an unexpected automotive graveyard, a testament to time and the elements.
Completely engrossed in photographing these vintage relics, I lost track of my original moose-seeking mission. Time slipped away as I explored this automotive time capsule until hunger finally reminded me of dinner. Later, research revealed the surprising story behind this location at mile 3.6 of the Old Glenn Highway.
It turns out this automotive accumulation was entirely unintentional; not a planned project at all. From the 1950s through the 1970s, this secluded spot simply became a dumping ground for unwanted vehicles.
The State of Alaska attributes this era of dumping to federal land ownership at the time. The Electric Company acquired the land in the 1980s, and with increased monitoring and local presence, the dumping seems to have ceased.
Speculation suggests that this remote location, easily accessible by road, simply became a convenient place to dispose of vehicles. Some were likely abandoned by owners after breakdowns (demolition derbies were once common nearby), others stolen and abandoned after joyrides, and some even set ablaze when they became hopelessly stuck. Even today, abandoned cars are a relatively common sight along Alaskan roadsides, reflecting a perhaps unique approach to vehicle disposal in this vast state.
Upside down tail light
Shot up door
Axle
Exploring the decaying details of these old cars could easily fill an entire day. Alaska constantly reveals unexpected treasures, always offering more than initially meets the eye.
Dashboard
Mosses and lichens take hold
Tow
For those fascinated by old cars, automotive history, or unique Alaskan experiences, Eklutna Tailrace offers a compelling and offbeat destination. It’s a place where nature and forgotten machines converge, creating a truly memorable and photographable landscape.
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