Ray Petersen came to Alaska in 1934 and began a flying career that spanned nearly 50 years. Early in the 1940's Ray could see the need to consolidate the efforts of a handful of small carriers into a major airline and by 1947 had created Northern Consolidated Airlines. Ray soon recognized the importance of tourism, and knew he had to promote Alaska as no one had ever done. After hosting numerous "fishing trips" at the request of the chamber of commerce and various Territorial officials, Ray decided it was time to create permanent fishing lodges in the Katmai country - soon to be known as the "Angler's Paradise Lodges". Research indicated that Ray's Northern Consolidated Airlines fishing camps were the first full-time sport fishing lodges in Alaska.

Mr. Petersen had the foresight and insight to conceive, plan and implement the "sport fishing lodge" as a method to create jobs, increase business for his airline and to publicize Alaska. Research indicates that Mr. Petersen created the first lodges in the rich Bristol Bay watershed that had sport fishing as the only source of revenue. According to the Hoover Rating Service, Ray's PR blitz put "Angler's Paradise Lodges" and Alaska into the minds of more than 87 million people by the end of 1951. Ray launched the lodge business and continued to shape and develop ideas and concepts in sport fishing and lodging for ten years without another full-time competitor in Bristol Bay. More importantly, Ray created the standard of lodge operations against which all other lodges are judged today.

The tremendous growth in Alaska's sport fishing industry has also given the industry impetus all over the world. Ray Petersen was the guiding light for the unprecedented growth in Alaska's lodge business. He will hereafter be considered the "Father" of the modern Fly-out Fishing Lodge that exemplifies Alaska's finest fishing adventures. The "Angler's Paradise Lodges" are the beginning of the story in Bristol Bay and, indeed, Alaska. Ray spent many hours fishing and flying the Katmai Country trying to locate the best locations for the Angler's Paradise Lodges. As a result of Ray's exhaustive search, his lodges at Kulik, Brooks, Battle and Grosvenor have offered clients the finest Bristol Bay fishing since 1950.

Today, Katmailand is staffed year round by Sonny Petersen, the owner and son of Ray Petersen, and he continues to run the "Angler's Paradise Lodges" in the same tradition started by his father. Sonny spent his childhood summers at the lodges and in 1974 he began an air taxi operation, Katmai Air. Today he spends his summers managing the three lodges and Katmai Air while spending his winters promoting and organizing for the next season. Many key members of the lodge staff return summer after summer, which assures Angler's Paradise guests of consistent quality and professional service.