Cantwell, Alaska - Igloo City - Igloo-shaped Building

While traveling to Alaska by motorcycle we couldn't help but stop at this landmark located right on the George Parks Highway. We found out from locals that the "Hotel" has been built for many years, perhaps in the 70's, and has never been open because of not meeting building codes. Different individuals have owned it and yet no one has been able to open it. It is currently padlocked and becoming dilapidated. The RV park adjoining it is also closed and buildings and pumps are gone, leaving only "The Igloo" [Larry Klink, 09/10/2009]

The attraction, Igloo City, is sadly no longer open. The Igloo is boarded up, the gas pumps are missing, and one of the dormer windows has started to collapse in. [Kenton Henry, 06/01/2007]

The 4-story igloo building. I used to live 3 miles from the Igloo -- now live about 100 from there. [DeVonne Koppenberg, 03/20/2005]

[RA: DeVonne sent her 1998 photo of the Igloo building in its prime.]

I just returned from the 49th state and saw a couple of things that you might find interesting. First is Igloo City, approximately 180 miles out of Anchorage on the Parks Highway that goes to Fairbanks. It is a 4-story igloo that is supposed to eventually be a motel, the exterior is done and visible from airplanes at 30,000 feet, so I am told, but the interior is not. The great pleasures of using an outhouse in Alaska in the middle of winter can not be overstated. Unfortunately the Gift Shop doesn't carry any giant igloo t-shirts or other locally relevant stuff, just typical Alaska T shirts that you can get anywhere in the state. They have big plans however, plumbing is being put in slowly and the cashier in the gas station is the CEO of the company!

Also on that same road about 30 mile south of Fairbanks is a motel/Bar with a great name -- Skinny Dick's Halfway Inn -- this guy has the Merchandising end down pat, almost as much stuff as a Hard Rock Cafe. Unfortunately there is not much else to see there but every tourist stops to take a picture. I did. [David Everett, 12/10/1997]