Potter Section House

The feel

Potter Section House stands at milepost 115 of the Seward Highway, just past Potter Marsh. Built in 1929, it is the last of four section houses to survive on the Anchorage stretch of the railroad. Railroad crews lived here until section-based maintenance was discontinued in 1978, and Chugach State Park Headquarters now works from the house.

On site, a railroad display includes Rotary 4, a snowplow built for the Milwaukee Road and the only standard gauge rotary accessible on the road system, plus a 1500E series outfit car. The railroad car is the Kenai Visitor Center, and there are picnic sites on the grounds.

What to expect

What it is

A restored railroad section house and outbuildings that once maintained 10 miles of track, now Chugach State Park Headquarters, with a railroad display outside.

Parking

A $5 parking fee applies.

Fees and passes

Parking is $5.

Season and access

A day use historic site at 115 Seward Highway, with picnic sites. It is an ADA facility on 0.5 acres.

Mingo says

Visit as you head toward Turnagain Arm, since the house marks where the Anchorage flatland gives way to sheer cliffs. Rotary 4 is a rare find.

Before you go

• Budget $5 for parking.
• Call (907) 345-5014 with questions about the site.
• Look for the house at milepost 115 of the Seward Highway.

Written October 2026. Sources are listed at the end of this page.