An Eerie Abandoned Hotel In Alaska, Igloo City Is Oddly Fascinating

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If you live in Alaska, chances are that you’ve been asked by an “outsider” if you or anyone you know lives in an igloo. Well, no – we do not. In fact, we never really have. Igloos were used a long time ago by Alaskans as temporary shelters when out on long trips, or as emergency shelters if they were caught in bad weather. Let’s face it… no one wants to spend a bunch of time and effort into building a livable structure that’s just going to melt when the temperature rises above 32 degrees. But the abandoned igloo hotel in Alaska may offer another option then the traditional ice and snow carved igloo.

So, the next best thing to do to uphold that Alaskan persona would be to build a ginormous, round, white structure that mimics everyone’s idea of an igloo, right? According to one man, the answer was yes. But in true Alaskan fashion, he decided to go big or go home. Instead of just building himself an igloo-like house to live in, he set out with the intention to build a massive hotel for residents and visitors alike to enjoy. Pretty intriguing, huh? Read on to learn more about this eerie abandoned place in Alaska that will definitely give you the chills.

Welcome to Igloo City… Population Zero!

Flickr – Jimmy Emerson, DVM

If you live in Alaska or you’ve ever visited the beautiful 49th state and headed north from Anchorage to Denali or south from Fairbanks to Anchorage, chances are that you’ve seen this giant round igloo structure on the side of the road. But if you blinked, you very well might have missed it.

Located at mile marker 188.7 on the east side of the George Parks Hwy, this abandoned hotel is south of Denali National Park & Preserve and it is truly a tourist destination all in itself and one of the odd places in Alaska that you will come across. If nothing more that to just stop and admire the creativity behind what could have been. Anyone that stops here and spends some time walking around the igloo and admiring the wild (and actually very fitting) idea behind the creative construction is guaranteed to be left thinking “ONLY IN ALASKA.”

The nearest town to Igloo City is Cantwell, located about 20 miles away with a population just under 250 year-round residents. The cities of Anchorage and Fairbanks are both over two and a half hours away from this isolated structure in the middle of nowhere. Igloo City was constructed in the late 1970s by Leon Smith. He envisioned it as a hotel, though it was never completed due to code violations.

The building suffers from undersized windows which do not meet code. In addition to some other code violation issues, the inadequate window size is the main reason that structure was never operational. Because this building was too big to demolish, it has remained standing for over four decades. The structure is so large in fact that airplanes can see it from over 30,000 feet high in the air. The round structure meant to mimic that of an igloo has four stories and is said to be constructed of 888 sheets of plywood with a urethane outside insulation.

Unfortunately this site that has become quite the unofficial historic landmark for locals and visitors alike has suffered its fair share of vandalism over the years. This igloo and connecting gas station sit on 38 acres in the well-traversed, albeit remote, stretch of the Alaska Highway system.

Although experiencing Igloo City in Alaska by oneself in the middle of complete isolation can certainly give even the faintest-of-hearts a good amount of chills and goosebumps, the history behind this structure leaves most in awe of how much love, sweat and tears went into such a unique structure. Most visitors find the structure to be quite cool and locals would love to see it one day come into fruition and be an actual operational hotel.

Although incredibly interesting and undoubtedly a must-see when living in or visiting Alaska, Igloo City can actually be quite a dangerous place to explore. Those that come from far and wide are urged to use caution. Because of the remote location, predators such as bears and wolves are in the nearby area and have been said to use this giant igloo structure as shelter during times of distress. Moose are also in the area and although they are not predators and are not generally aggressive in nature, they are very dangerous when they are caught off guard, in rut, hungry for food or protecting their young.

Extreme winter conditions and precipitation levels also make Igloo City in Alaska a dangerous area to navigate about. Snow levels are known to get well over five feet in this area making it very difficult to explore from all angles. No matter what season it is, Alaska is a very wild and unforgiving state and exploring remote locations is not something that you should do unless you are inherently prepared for anything that might happen. Have you ever checked out this awesome and eerie abandoned roadside hotel that is one of the most famous abandoned places in Alaska? We’d love to hear about your experiences and see your photos! Make sure to drop them in the comments below.

If reading about this abandoned igloo hotel in Alaska makes you want to vacation in a real igloo, read more about how you can spend the Night inside of an igloo at Borealis Basecamp In Alaska.  This is a once in a lifetime adventure in the interior of Alaska!

Address: Mile 214.5 Parks Hwy, Denali National Park and Preserve, AK 99755, USA

The OIYS Visitor Center

Abandoned Hotels In Alaska

What is the most most fun thing to do in Cantwell, Alaska?

• Visit Denali National Park

The most fun thing to do in Cantwell Alaska is visiting Denali National Park. Although it’s still a little bit of a drive to get to the park gates, there are hundreds of things to do once you enter Healy and the Denali area. From white water rafting, to backcountry camping, hiking, fishing, and everything in between, there is so much to see and do in one of Alaska’s most famous national parks. You can even experience a dog sledding tour, regardless of whether you visit in the summer, spring, winter, or fall.

Are there many places to stay in Cantwell, Alaska?

Yes there are many fun places to stay in Cantwell Alaska, such as:

• Yurts
• RV Parks
• Lodge
• Cabins

You can find an RV park, a lodge, cabins for rent, and more. While many people like to be a little closer to Denali National Park, you’ll find the prices rise and the competition gets more fierce. If you have transportation of your own, staying in Cantwell offers great prices and a wonderful location. There’s also restaurants and gas stations. You’ll have everything you need, and beat the crush of visitors that congregate closer to the park. There’s even two wonderful hiking trails in Cantwell, including the popular Wolf Point Trail that offers stunning views of mountains and a river.