Colossal ice towers, multi-colored sculptures, playful tunnels, and invigorating sleigh rides—most of us have only seen these views through the lens of a snow globe. But did you know you could experience this stunning winter wonderland in person? Five U.S. states construct incredible ice castles during winter, making for an unforgettable family vacation. Plus, since these castles are always near a water source for drainage purposes, many are by the lake! So if you want to take a winter lake vacation to Lake George, Long Lake, or Lake Geneva, you can pair your trip with a visit to a nearby ice castle. If you want to learn about these wintry fortresses, join us as we dive into the history of ice castles!
What are Ice Castles?
Entering an ice castle is like stepping into a fairy tale. Dazzling lights, snowy heights, and endless amusements abound at every corner. These wintry fortresses showcase complex chandeliers of sparkling icicles and intricate caverns and archways. Recently, many castles have added an ice bar, a relaxing spot to chill while the kids enjoy games and activities. Plus, many ice castles feature an active alcove—available for VIP booking and perfect for proposing to that special someone.
If you bring children along, they will delight in the beguiling ice slides and adventurous crawl tunnels. Additionally, they can visit the beloved winter reindeer room—a designated area where they can take pictures with real reindeer. After this, they can wind through delightful wooded trails on winter sleigh rides outside the castle.
What Are the Origins of Ice Castles?
Brent Christensen is the mastermind behind Ice Castles. Fifteen years ago, Christensen and his family moved from sunny California to snowy Utah. On one freezing day, Christensen devised a plan to get his six stir-crazy kids outdoors. He built an ice cave in his front yard. It was an immediate success, attracting children from all around the neighborhood. The kids began to call this wintry paradise an “ice castle,” inaugurating Christensen’s vision for the five ice castles that exist today.
Today, ice castles host tens of thousands of annual visitors. CEO Ryan Davis owns and operates the company alongside COO Andrew Child, CFO Kyle Standifird, and CCO and creator Brent Christensen. They have patented their construction method and ice architecture, which features whimsical backdrops, formidable ice thrones, meandering tunnels, and amusing slides.
How Are Ice Castles Created and Maintained?
Ice Castles now boasts five locations—Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Utah, and Wisconsin. Each year, Brent and a team of 20-40 ice artists construct these castles entirely by hand. When the weather turns cold, the architects spray water in the designated castle area. They prefer the temperature to be around 10 degrees to grow the icicles. For every castle, they must grow around 12,000 icicles every day for two months to complete the structure. After a week, most structures reach 10 feet high, and the architects continue to add to them for a month or two until they reach the desired height.
Once all the icicles are harvested, the artists create the iconic tunnels, slides, fountains, arches, and thrones. Each castle weighs around 25 million pounds, and by the time the team completes all five castles, they have used hundreds of thousands of icicles!
We hope you enjoyed learning about the history of ice castles. Now it’s time to head to the lake and experience these winter wonderlands for yourself!