Cantwell, Alaska: Igloo City: Giant Igloo-Shaped Building

The 4-story igloo building. I used to live 3 miles from the Igloo -- now live about 100 from there.

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.