The Ghost of the Snow City Cafe

One of the stories that stuck with me from the Ghost Tours of Anchorage tour was the ghost of the Snow City Cafe. Maybe because the delightful eatery had already bewitched me?

It was only a block from our hotel. We’d ended up grabbing lunch there after we’d checked into the Hotel Captain Cook.

It also turned out to be the meeting spot for the ghost tour that we took later that evening. After everyone had paid, Richard, the tour owner and our guide, asked us to follow him around the corner.

Side note: Alaska is a huge tourism destination in the summer, but most people are there for the glaciers, fishing and other outdoor adventures. I wasn’t sure what to expect as far as ghost tour interest went. There was a great turn out for Richard’s tour the night we visited, to my surprise and delight!

Anyway back to the tour…

Richard stopped parallel to where the Snow City Cafe’s building ends and began telling the first story of the night.

It’s haunted? I thought as I looked at the cafe in a new light.

I was beside myself with excitement to learn we’d dined in an eerie eatery. Mostly because, not knowing one iota of the history Richard was about to tell us, I had gotten a “vibe” during lunch. Not a strong one. Just a little one. However, I dismissed it as misinterpretation and didn’t ask our waitress about any possible activity. Now I was kicking myself.

But it was okay. Richard was about to fill me in.

However, my excitement faded when I learned the ghost story’s gruesome origins.

The Bombing

Muriel Pfeil (pronounced File) was a successful businesswoman who owned her own travel agency in downtown Anchorage. On the afternoon of September 30, 1976, she left her office, crossed the street to the parking lot, got in her car, and turned the ignition. At that moment an explosion rocked the street.

It had originated from Muriel’s car. Buildings shook, glass in nearby homes blew out, and Muriel died.

Her office had been in the same building now occupied by the Snow City Cafe. The bombing happened around the same spot the tour group was standing listening to Richard’s story. There’s an office building there now, but it was a parking lot back in the 1970s.

The incident remains Alaska’s only car bombing. Muriel’s murder was never solved, but it seems pretty clear who did it. He just covered his tracks well –her ex-husband, Neil MacKay.

The Suspect

MacKay was a prominent Alaskan attorney with real estate interests in the state. There wasn’t sufficient proof to tie him to Muriel’s murder, but who else would’ve wanted her dead? They divorced because he was an abusive man, and the divorce hadn’t been amicable.

When Muriel and Neil divorced in 1974, Muriel won custody of their son, Scotty. After her death –and initial custodial litigation over Scotty with Muriel’s brother, Robert– Neil was granted custody of his son.

Side note: Neil actually ran away to Hawaii with Scotty at one point during the early days of the custody battle with Muriel’s brother. How he was granted custody, I don’t know. I guess his paternity trumped other laws and considerations at the time. It probably also didn’t hurt he was very wealthy and well-connected. Further proof sometimes it’s not about actual justice, but about how much justice you can afford.

Neil MacKay stood trial for Muriel’s murder, but he was acquitted. No other suspects were ever arrested or charged in connection with her death. It remains a cold case to this day.

The Ghost

If Muriel is the spirit haunting the Snow City Cafe (what was her old office space), reports say she’s most active at night and has a penchant for messing with the water in sinks and such.

Richard said he’d spoken with a longtime employee who often closed and would reprimand “Ms. Muriel” for playing with the water in the kitchen and bathroom and creating more work for him.

I didn’t see her, but my heart broke after hearing her story. Partly because there was more to it beyond her death…

A Second Murder

You know Muriel’s brother, Robert, who I mentioned had filed for custody of Muriel’s son, Scotty? Ten years later he’d also become one of MacKay’s victims.

On October 12, 1985, Robert was shot three times while driving near his home. One of the bullets paralyzed him from the waist down. A month later, he died from a blood clot due to his injuries.

Neil MacKay didn’t pull the trigger, but he was accused of hiring the men who did.

Robert had never given up trying to find his sister’s killer –or asserting his suspicions that her ex, Neil, had been involved. During those years he’d also continued battling his ex brother-in-law for custody of Scotty.

Neil MacKay also faced trial for Robert’s death, but history repeated itself. The outcome was the same as it had been during Muriel’s trial: MacKay was acquitted.

The Cafe

You’d never know what kind of tragedy had unfolded on the street across from the Snow City Cafe –unless you sought it out.

If you ever find yourself in Anchorage, though, and want a great breakfast or lunch spot, I highly recommend it.

Just don’t be in a rush. It’s got a lot of seating and the staff is fast, but it’s not uncommon to have to wait for a table. The Snow City Cafe is one of those places that’s popular with tourists and locals alike. Maybe that’s why Muriel sticks around?