ROCKLAND – Now in its fourth year, the Samoset Resort's Glacier Ice Bar opened to the public January 15 to the delight of many. As in the past, the resort transformed 20,000 pounds of ice into a stunning bar and court yard. This year sported a pirate theme making the Glacier Ice Bar one of the hottest and coolest bars on the Maine Coast.

Samoset Food and Beverage Director David Day said the pirate theme came about from being on the ocean and deciding to bring out the nautical.

"We had a lot of fun with it this year," he said. "We have a stockade and a skeleton pirate to a real pirate ship. Vermont Spirits and Grey Goose Vodka were our sponsors this year and we're very happy to announce that Shipyard Brewing Company has come onboard as a proud sponsor."

The resort also features an ice skating rink that is open to the public. You skate at your own risk of course, but it is alight at night and makes for great family fun.

"We had some ice skaters out there earlier and we have a few now," said Day. "We like a family event here. We get people of all ages and it's just plain fun."

The Glacier Ice Bar will open again the weekend of January 22-23.

"We may open a third weekend, weather permitting," said Day. "It's perfect weather tonight, no wind, unlike when we were carving, the wind was howling."

Master ice carver Tim Pierce is also the Samoset's chef. Pierce enjoys competing in and judging ice carving competitions throughout New England and has won numerous awards. Tim also teaches ice carving locally to up to 30 residents for the Camden Winterfest and is an ice carving judge for the National Ice Carving Association.

Pierce, Day and about 12 other ice carvers all work diligently for a week to create the ice bar.

"Monday we all travel up to our sister property in Bolton Landing, N.Y., to carve that ice bar," said Day. We all look forward to it for next year. We'll have a brand new theme and lots of ice to carve."