Andy’s Igloo Founder, Roger Caroll Anderson, Passes Away at 99
by James Coulter
More than 70 years ago, the area that sits at 703 3rd St. SW in Winter Haven was nothing but orange groves. Aside from Cypress Gardens, Sundown Drive-In, and Doty’s Nursery, there were no other notable landmarks in that part of the Winter Haven area. Otherwise, the surrounding area was nothing but citrus trees and railroads.
That all changed when a young man and his family arrived to clear away that orange grove and create their own business. What initially started as a Dairy Queen franchise soon expanded to an eatery that would become a Winter Haven icon: Andy’s Igloo.
Roger Caroll Anderson moved with his parents to Florida in 1950 to open the ice cream stand that is now Andy’s Igloo. He and his parents built the building themselves. When the eatery first opened, there was no indoor dining, only benches outside with a mechanical horse.
In 1959, Roger bought the ice cream stand from his parents. He was not happy with Dairy Queen, so he became independent, built the Snak Time expansion with indoor seating and food, and later renamed his restaurant to Andy’s Igloo in 1964. Along with ice cream, the eatery also served hot dogs, hamburgers, and sandwiches.
The menu was more affordable back then. Hamburgers and milkshakes both sold for 15 cents. So customers could order a burger and a shake for only 30 cents. Since then, inflation may have increased prices, but Roger remained committed to selling food at reasonable prices.
“Dad’s motto was fine food at reasonable prices,” his daughter, Carol Anderson-Bohac, said. “He wanted to keep things quality and reasonable and make it affordable for families. He would keep the restaurant clean and family-oriented. He wanted it to be a place for families. Anyone was welcome. He would not turn away anybody.”
And when Roger said he wanted to serve anybody, he truly meant anybody. In a time when segregation still existed, Roger accepted every customer no matter their skin color. Black customers regularly frequented the establishment, much to the chagrin of hate groups like the Ku Klux Klan.
“The police chief came to him one day and said, ‘We cannot offer you protection if you continue to serve black people’,” his older daughter, Susan Anderson-Mathews, said. “My dad told him, ‘That is fine. I will not change what I will do, they have not created any issues, and I will continue to serve them.'”
Both Susan and Carol were born and raised in Winter Haven. Both worked at their father’s eatery at a young age before going to college and pursuing careers and families outside the city. Susan eventually returned to Winter Haven and worked there until 1989. Carol, meanwhile, moved to Panama City.
Roger himself had a humble upbringing. He was born in Chicago on Dec. 19, 1925. He was the youngest of two sons in a relatively poor family. His first job was as a messenger for the railroad. Being born into a family that barely had a nickel to buy a newspaper, let alone a new pair of shoes, instilled in him a frugal work ethic that remained with him through his life and career.
“He told me that his drive for making a business work was that he remembered his house not having a nickel to buy a newspaper,” Susan said.
“He knew savings was important and working for things was important,” Carol added. “He did not believe in credit. He paid in payments. He did not believe in making loans for something he did not need.”
Roger later joined the army at the ripe age of 18, while his other brother joined the Navy, and served in the early years of World War II. Afterward, he attended college on the GI Bill and graduated with a bachelor of science degree in business.
The rest, of course, was history. He moved with his family to Florida in 1950 and helped them open the ice cream stand that he would later purchase and transform into Andy’s Igloo. Since then, the iconic diner continues to serve hungry customers to this day.
Back when he initially purchased the eatery, not only did he own and operate the business to support his own family, not only did he support his aging parents, but he also helped support his wife’s parents as well. A hard work ethic driven into him by being raised in the Depression and having served in the military allowed him to accomplish just that.
His knack for hard work and elbow grease not only allowed him and his family to prosper but also his employees as well. Many of them worked with him for more than 20 years and even received bonuses during their time working there.
Throughout the years, Andy’s Igloo supported local sports teams, many of which would visit his eatery after a game. The walls of his dining area have since been adorned with baseball caps, guest checks, and signed baseballs. He would also treat local students with free ice cream sundae if they received straight A’s on their report cards and a free cone if they received A’s and B’s.
As an army veteran, Roger was a proud American. He and his daughters would often travel the country visiting national landmarks. He even had the privilege of traveling on an Honor Flight to Washington D.C. And, of course, he was a proud supporter of our honorable Sheriff Grady Judd.
Along with his two daughters, Roger had many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. His wife passed away 17 years ago. Soon he followed, having recently passed away on June 7, 2025. He was 99 years old.
“He was a man of many stories. I told him you have instilled good values in your daughter, and we have tried to do the same with our own daughters. We have tried to pass that legacy on,” Carol said.
Upon posting the obituary on Facebook, his daughters were inundated with loving comments from past customers, former employees, and other friends and acquaintances. All of them shared memories they had of the local businessman and how welcome he made his business.
“It has touched us that mom and dad created positive memories in town,” Susan said. “Even folks who have been away from 25 years [remember him fondly].”
