Sorry Ice Castles, Maine’s Alpeniglu Is The New Cool Hangout

We can all admit that the New Hampshire Ice Castles are amazing.

Towering tunnels of ice, lit up from within and featuring slides, alcoves and the Polar Pub ice bar, the New Hampshire Ice Castles have been drawing guests for a decade of frozen fun.

But this season, they have some chilly competition with the addition of an igloo bar at Maine's Sunday River Ski Resort.

For those without kids to entertain in the mountains, the new Alpeniglu snow igloo and ice bar at the Newry resort might be the winter escape you've been looking for. (Though the bar does serve mocktails for those under 21.)

Built in the resort's Jordan Bowl, the Alpeniglu lets skiers and boarders unwind at the end of the day inside a massive igloo bar featuring music, colored lights, and snow carvings by Gould Academy student artists.

Even from the outside, this massive igloo looks like a work of art.

And inside visitors can enjoy food, drink and music all while surrounded by snow. You can even sit fireside at outdoor seating surrounded by snow walls.

It's said to be North America's first ever Alpeniglu, an igloo village feature popular around Europe in the Alps.

Created of snow, not ice like New Hampshire's winter hot spot, the Alpeniglu is also only reachable by ski trail and actually closes when the ski lifts shut down.

You do need to book your “Après at the Igloo” experience before you arrive at Sunday River and space is definitely limited.