Royal Wolf Lodge

The Branham history in Alaska goes back to the late 1930’s with Bud and Dennis Branham paving the way by building some of the first lodges in Alaska. Their pioneering spirit lives on with Dennis Branham’s adoptive son, Chris. Chris’s natural father, Clary Palmer-Wilson, was a great white hunter in East Africa where he met Bud Branham and formed a working partnership. After hearing Clary’s concerns for his son’s future, and because of the growing unrest with the approaching independence of Tanganyika, they decided Bud would bring Clary’s oldest son Michael to the United States where he would see to his college education and eventual employment in the outdoor business which was currently generating a great deal of interest, especially in Alaska. Soon after, the next oldest son Ch View more...ristopher was sent to Alaska to help Bud’s brother, Dennis Branham, with the same sort of offer; a college education and experience in the lodge business. Since both Bud and Dennis were pilots, it made sense to teach Mike and Chris how to fly. They both became skilled pilots and Chris has now been an active Alaskan bush pilot for 45 years. Chris is the last of the “African Branham’s” still residing and operating wilderness fly fishing lodges in Alaska.

Twenty years ago, Chris and Linda Branham had a dream to create a five star remote fly-fishing lodge in southwest Alaska. With Chris’s knowledge and experience, he knew that to make his dream a reality, he would have to offer a fishing and lodging experience unlike any other in Alaska. Combined with Linda’s business and culinary background, it seemed like the perfect fit. Their dedication would eventually turn Royal Wolf Lodge into a place worthy of their hard work and dreams.