‘Umiat Hilton’ back in business

Petroleum News Staff

Mike Tolbert, president of Umiat Commercial Co., told Petroleum News June 13 that the ‘Umiat Hilton’ (no connection to the Hilton Hotel chain) in Umiat, Alaska, is back in business thanks to an agreement with PGS Onshore to use PGS’s sleeper and kitchen facilities on the other side of the Umiat airstrip.

The Umiat lodge’s sleeper and kitchen facilities were destroyed by fire June 10.

“Our phones will be up shortly, but otherwise we are totally up and running,” Tolbert said. “We can house and feed our guests at the PGS camp,” which “they pulled in there this spring.”

Tolbert said the lodge’s fueling depot was intact and all the generators had been salvaged.

“Our intention is to rebuild,” he said.

Umiat is a small community about 150 miles southeast of Barrow on Alaska’s North Slope. The lodge is a popular spot for oilfield exploration crews.

About 20 people were staying at the lodge but no one was hurt.