A garden full of igloos at the Fauchere

If you are going to or passing by the Hotel Fauchere any time from the end of November to mid-March, don’t be surprised to see four igloos in the garden behind the restaurant. These all-glass hemispheres are the creative brainchild of Gary Wilson, director of Operations for the Milford Hospitality Group (MHG). Wilson has been working for MHG since 2021 (and before that on special projects for Bill Rosado, CEO of MHG).

Wilson conceived of the igloo idea during COVID. It was a perfect way for diners to eat in self-contained units (each igloo can accommodate six people) without worrying about being in a crowd. Fast forward to today, the igloos are a big draw. They are unique in the area and people go for the adventure, as well as the full (Bar Louis) menu, and the experience.

Each igloo has a record player complete with a vinyl record, a small heater, and some throw blankets. There are seasonal tablescapes showing glittered figurines of a Christmas tree and reindeer to create a festive mood. WiFi is also available.

Wilson meticulously decorated each of the igloos and each one is a bit different inside. “I was an event coordinator in my early career, and really enjoyed tablescapes and room setups. The artistic touch comes from my education in commercial art and graphic design. Sketching, designing, and bringing to life an idea — that’s probably the most enjoyable part of my job,” said Wilson.

The diners are surprised and amazed when they first enter the igloos. Comments like, “It’s a winter wonderland,” “It’s magical,” “What a lovely winter/holiday experience,” were overheard.

Stephanie Beardman, visiting her dad here from New York, said, “I especially enjoyed the festive and cozy ambiance, with so many interesting details. The service was amazing, warm, and thoughtful.”

The servers were bringing the food from the hotel to each igloo. It was almost like an adventure or a party for them. They were in good spirits as they unzipped the igloo doors to enter with the food, and the mood was fun and lighthearted. One of the servers, Jessica Montgomery, couldn’t have been more pleasant, and when asked whether it was difficult to go in and out of the igloos, zipping and unzipping the igloo doors, she just smiled and said, “No, it’s really fun and we love to get the reactions from the diners.”

Wilson added, “At times it can be challenging to keep the igloos warm, lit, and tidy because we are always at the mercy of Mother Nature. But we try not to let it affect the guest experience. The overall feedback has been great and this year we started to get inquiries in September.”

They are now taking igloo reservations until March 2024, in order to have to time to replace the grass the igloo platforms ruin so the gardens can be beautiful again for spring. The buzz is out. Igloo reservations are filling up. Get ready for an enchanting experience!

Hotel Fauchere is located at 401 Broad St. Milford. Dinner is served from 5 to 9 p.m., Friday and Saturday nights. For more information, call 570-409-1212.