Wasilla (yes, that Wasilla) and Palmer, Alaska

[mthq]

Wasilla and Palmer are two Alaskan towns that neighbor each other in the Matanuska Valley region of Alaska. A recent article from the Wall Street Journal made a correct observation when noting the difference between the two towns:

On Wasilla:

"...these days, the Alaskan town that launched Gov. Palin's political career feels more like the latest suburb than the last frontier".

"Wasilla has neither a planning nor a zoning board, and it shows".

On Palmer:

"Wasilla's smaller neighbor, Palmer, chose another path. While Wasilla has no Main St. business district to speak of, Palmer officials have preserved the small-town feel that President Franklin Roosevelt's planners envisioned".
source

Anyways we'll start with Wasilla:



Looking towards the city center


Main intersection






































Sarah Palin's former church


heading back to the center and taking the Palmer-Wasilla highway to Palmer








the sports arena that came during Palin's term. [edit: nevermind, this is NOT the sports facility built under Mayor Palin]



Palmer, Alaska



















































And now 35 miles south to Anchorage


home sweet home.

[ltsmotorsport]

Palmer looks like a decent little town. Wasilla, not so much.

Thanks for braving the wilds.

[hymalaia]

bwa ha ha! I knew it was only a matter of time! Thanks for satisfying my curiosity!

I'm always amazed at how awful these suburban strip malls look when juxtaposed against the natural beauty of the west. It's almost as if the more majestic the landscape, the nastier and more agoraphobic we strive to make our man-made modifications. It's like we are threatened by the beauty and need to mitigate it. Go figure.

oh well at least Palmer looks decent. Wonder if that Obama sign was knocked down intentionally.

[NYC4Life]

You know how much Republican and a Red State Alaska is when you see this:

[brickell]

except for the mountains the combo looks like many of the rural small towns here in Florida and throughout the south.

[xzmattzx]

Nice to see both places.

[BnaBreaker]

Palmer kind of looks like what I envision an Alaskan town to look like. Wasilla looks like it could be anywhere.

[oldmanshirt]

First thing I'm gonna do when I get to Alaska is go get a burrito at Senor Taco

[Evergrey]

I'd rather have the mayor of Palmer as my Vice President.

[denveraztec]

No wonder folks in Wasilla, and their kids, are spitting out babies right and left! Can't believe the cost and controvery about the AT&T sports center, it is hiddeous. However, thank you Mthq for the post!

[Mystic City]

Originally Posted by denveraztec

No wonder folks in Wasilla, and their kids, are spitting out babies right and left! Can't believe the cost and controvery about the AT&T sports center, it is hiddeous. However, thank you Mthq for the post!

You really should not let your politics cloud your mind. The folks and their kids on the Southside in Chicago are probably spitting them out just as fast. This is a rude statement on my part, and i do apologise...along with spitting them out on the Southside, I bet their forking them out too...but hey, I will always vote for choice.

[PhillyRising]

If Wasilla is the kind of small town that Caribou Barbie thinks is nice...then I will have to pass. How could a town so hideous be plopped in the middle of such gorgeous natural beauty that is found all over Alaska?

[Raraavis]

10 acres and a free house for $105,000 ? That seems like a pretty good deal. I wish I could get that without having to live in Alaska.



Nice Pictures. Thanks.

[Dr. Taco]

Thanks, mthq. I love that you can report in from all the way up in Alaska

Originally Posted by Raraavis

10 acres and a free house for $105,000 ? That seems like a pretty good deal. I wish I could get that without having to live in Alaska.



Nice Pictures. Thanks.

I would freakin do that! that's amazing!

er... I mean, isn't it bad to have a sprawling property or something?

but seriously, I would buy that. I mean, as a second home, anyway

Originally Posted by jcchii

the leader of this wasilla place should be put in charge of the entire country as quickly as humanly possible

nice one

Originally Posted by flar

Unfortunately a lot of people think this is progress:

Fortunately, this is America, and if the people there want to live where they think "progress" is happening, God bless 'em

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by jstush04

Fortunately, this is America, and if the people there want to live where they think "progress" is happening, God bless 'em

Agreed... this is America! USA! USA! USA!

[TinChelseaNYC]

Thanks for that!

How apropos (Good Luck/Death Race/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants(uit))

[spyguy]

Originally Posted by TinChelseaNYC

How apropos (Good Luck/Death Race/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants(uit))

You forgot Mamma Mia!

[brickell]

Originally Posted by TinChelseaNYC

Thanks for that!

How apropos (Good Luck/Death Race/Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants(uit))

Somebody else noticed too
http://andrewsullivan.theatlantic.co...ampaign-n.html

[OhioGuy]

Certainly some beautiful scenery up there. Palmer looks like a more pleasant place though.

[theWatusi]

Thanks for the pics MTHQ.

Palmer looks nice. I like the train display in the park.

Wasilla looks like a shit-hole. What brain dead moron was the mayor and provided the leadership there?