A well-known, deteriorated abandoned architectural wonder close to Cantwell is the site planned for a distillery.
The local Shirley Schmidt says she and her uncle have leased the famed Igloo that is a three-story foam-coated dome that is located along the Parks Highway. The idea is to rebuild the old store near the Igloo and then establishing a distillery there.
“Throughout the winter, as the booze is being produced and aging, we’ll tackle interiors of Igloo” she explained.
As per The Anchorage Daily News Leon Smith started building the Igloo as a hotel in the 1970’s. Smith did not finish the interior, and then gave the Igloo to Brad Fisher. Fisher owned an gasoline station in the area from 2010 when he decided to let it go. it in the past few years.
“It’s no longer available for sale,” Schmidt said. “We do not have it in our possession however we lease the property from the Fisher family, and we have plans to purchase it.”
Inactive for over a decade, Schmidt says the Igloo property has been damaged. They’re currently focused on getting it cleaned “from the damage caused over time along with vandalism.”
However, Schmidt states that the structure is still intact and the circular framing is impressive.
“You’re truly amazed when you enter because, in how it looks from the outside you’re thinking, ‘what is this?'” she said. “But when you enter it’s a work of art.”
Schmidt says that they don’t have any future plans for the two stories on top of the Igloo because of fire code issues.
“Probably you should keep the area lit so that when you step in to the center, you are able to gaze up and see all floors,” she said. “See the cleverness behind the frame.”
When it comes to distillation process is concerned, Schmidt says her uncle who recently moved from Outside to Alaska outside of Outside, is a professional with a great deal of expertise.
“My uncle is the head distiller and is using an old recipe that was a family recipe from the prohibition era: Bourbons and whiskeys, brandies,” she told me.
Schmidt claims she’s calling their business Wolf Dog Distillery and trying to spread the word about their plans for the Igloo. They’re trying to discourage any other trespassing or theft, as well as vandalism as they work to restore the Igloo property.
