As the population of the region ages, the need for assisted living and long-term care has become a community priority.

In 1982, the Greater Fairbanks Community Hospital Foundation purchased Carriage North, Fairbanks' only private, long-term care/nursing home facility. In 1991, the Foundation launched a community-wide effort, with the help of the entire Interior delegation, securing capital appropriations to replace this dated facility.

Over $2 million was donated by Interior residents to help create the new building. Construction of the replacement facility began during the summer of 1992 and it was completed in early 1994.

So it was here that Denali Center was born. The facility was built with a connecting corridor to the hospital and the campus became known as Fairbanks Memorial Hospital/Denali Center.