The Igloo Soft Freeze

Those who find themselves driving through Everett, Pennsylvania, on a sweaty, sticky afternoon between March and October will heave a sigh of relief as they see a vision of chilled bliss emerge before them: A giant, fudge-covered sundae. Home to The Igloo Soft Freeze since 1994, this hometown soft serve joint offers dozens of flavors of ice cream and frozen yogurt. 

The uniquely shaped building wasn’t always home to icy treats. In 1977, the H&R Enterprises Co. opened their doors near the current-day Igloo. In the true spirit of ’70s architecture, the company offered readymade, modular homes in bizarre circular shapes. An igloo-shaped building was their showpiece. After the business failed, this showpiece home changed hands a few times before realizing its life’s true purpose as an ice cream shop. 

Today, the sweet, warm fragrance of homemade waffle cones wafts out to greet The Igloo’s visitors. Guests can try one of 37 flurry flavors, 29 milkshake combos, 22 sundaes, and a long list of slushies, sno cones, ice cream sodas, and weekly flavor specials such as orange-pineapple. In true soft-serve style, they can trick out their cones with dips ranging from root beer to blue raspberry. At the classic neighborhood soft serve shack, the feeling of community is the cherry on top of the Igloo experience—except, that is, for the actual giant, fake cherry adorning the top of the sundae-shaped building.