Depew Family Builds Glowing Igloo in Front Yard

The Keib family's winter creation unites creativity, community spirit, and family dedication.

Published on Feb. 8, 2026

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Embracing the cold of Western New York winters, the Keib family in Depew transformed their front yard into a glowing, dome-shaped igloo made of carefully crafted ice bricks. What started as a smaller project for the kids grew into an impressive 30-hour labor of love, drawing daily visits from curious neighbors.

Why it matters

The Keib family's igloo project showcases how families can find creative ways to not only endure the harsh winter months, but to transform them into opportunities for community building and shared joy. In a region known for its brutal winters, the Keibs' igloo stands as a heartwarming example of making the most of the season.

The details

To build the igloo, Michelle Keib spent over a week carefully crafting each 'brick' in small tin pans, some with added food coloring for visual interest. The bricks were then stacked using a mixture of ice and snow as mortar, requiring precise layering to form the dome-shaped structure. Michelle could only complete one layer per night, as the temperatures had to be just right for the bricks to properly cure and hold. The final result is a stunning, glowing ice sculpture that shines both in daylight and at night when illuminated.

  • The Keib family started building the igloo in early 2026.
  • It took about 30 hours and over a week to complete the project.

The players

Keib Family

A family in Depew, New York who transformed their front yard into a glowing igloo as a creative winter project.

Michelle Keib

The mother who spearheaded the igloo-building effort, carefully crafting each ice brick and overseeing the construction over the course of a week.

Addison and Avery

Michelle Keib's daughters who were thrilled with the final result of the family's winter creation.

Paxton

A neighbor who was amazed by the size and scale of the Keib family's igloo.

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What they’re saying

“I think it's pretty awesome. I've never seen an igloo so big.”

— Paxton, Neighbor (wgrz.com)

“My mom is a superhero.”

— Addison and Avery (wgrz.com)

“It looks like this in the daylight, just ice. But at night, when the light turns on, it makes it kind of like the sunshine in the morning... it glows.”

— Addison and Avery (wgrz.com)

What’s next

The Keib family plans to keep the igloo lit and on display throughout the remainder of the winter season, allowing neighbors and passersby to continue enjoying their creative winter creation.

The takeaway

The Keib family's igloo project demonstrates how embracing the challenges of winter can bring a community together through shared creativity and family dedication. Their glowing ice sculpture stands as a heartwarming example of transforming the season's harshness into an opportunity for joy and togetherness.