We’re exploring one of the world’s coolest Winter attractions – Ice Castles! Ice Castles is an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon that brings winter fairy tales to life. This interactive ice experience is built using hundreds of thousands (!) of icicles, hand-placed by professional ice artists. Featuring breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, slides, and fountains, this over-the-top ice kingdom is the ultimate winter experience that you will never forget. We recently had the opportunity to tour this frozen fairytale – and can promise you that it is even more magical in person. Read on for our experience and tips on this must-visit frozen phenomenon with kids.
Behind the Ice
Who is behind this incredible frozen abyss? Ice Castles was founded in 2011 by Brent Christensen, a Utah father of six. After moving from sunny California to snowy Utah, Christensen built an ice cave in his yard to get his kids out of the house and to help his family to enjoy the outdoors together, even through the cold winter months. His icy invention wasn’t just a hit with his own children. Kids from all over the neighborhood – and eventually from all across town — heard of his creation and came to play at his wintry wonderland. Those who came to visit affectionately called this winter playground an “ice castle” and the name stuck. Ice Castles was born.
King of the Ice Castle
Ice Castles has grown to a Cultural phenomenon and will not be melting away soon. The award-winning frozen attraction has now grown to six locations across North America – including Alberta Canada; Dillion, Colorado; New Brighton, Minnesota; North Woodstock, New Hampshire; Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and Midway, Utah. Ice castles have gained the attention of countless news and press organizations, television shows, and movies, and has gained in popularity with a Social Media following. As such, it is HIGHLY! (that’s bold, AND with exclamation point!) recommended that you purchase your tickets well in advance via Ice Castles website. Seriously -it sells out often within hours of tickets going on sale. You have been warned.
Even with the significant popularity and growth the mission remains the same for the company – to create happiness, laughter, and unforgettable winter memories for all those who visit – and to be a source of joy and inspiration.
Brick by Brick – Building the Ice Experience
The experience is built using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists, and as you can imagine – the building of the castles is quite a process. Each ice castle takes thousands (!) of man-hours to create.
Each towering, walk-through structure is made entirely of ice, weighs 20 million pounds, and is approximately one acre in size. It takes a team of 20-40 ice artisans two months to construct each castle. Once built, there is a daily upkeep process as well – which consists of growing 5,000 to 12,000 icicles. These icicles are then harvested by hand and individually sculpted into existing ice formations. Newly placed icicles are then drenched with water. The blend of icicle placement, temperatures, water volume and wind result in an astonishing and ever-changing variety of ice formations.
These are not just simple formations. LED lights frozen inside the ice light up and twinkle to music adding a magical ambiance to the breathtaking interactive sculptures. Visitors will also find frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, fountains and much more built within the complex. All Ice Castles sites are located next to a natural water source so the water returns directly to the environment to be used again by wildlife, people and plants in spring.
Ice Castles: Our Experience | Visiting Ice Castles with Kids
We scanned our tickets inside at Geneva National admission desk and walked outside to the main entrance. At that very moment our jaws were already stretched wide open. The Ice Castle complex was MASSIVE, and much larger than we were expecting, to the point that we couldn’t see to the other side of the complex. It looked much like a mystical fortress, with a jagged ice wall encompassing it. What treasures were hiding inside of those ice walls? We were about to find out.
Upon entering we were thrust into a frozen maze unlike anything I have never seen. Hidden ice tunnels and crawl spaces were dotted along the complex. Each and every turn was a new jaw-dropping discovery, and new immersive experience to discover. Some trails lead you to a top of hill with an overlook, others through a small nook that only a child could possibly crawl through. There were slides and thrones, and king sized ice sculptures with such exquisite shapes that they more fittingly belonged in an art gallery and not a frozen field.
We chose to visit during the daytime hours and were really happy with this decision. Personally, I loved viewing the experience with the sun rays kissing and warming the sculptures, as it brought them alive with sparkling color. The sun not only naturally illuminated the structures- it helped to highlight (the multiple) frozen ice layers, and the complexity it took for the ice to form. Without the glistening rays these moments were harder to realize. I was in awe by the depth and triviality of this process and lost myself thinking about how long it must have taken for the artisans to complete this.
Another note on time of visit – it becomes muccch colder in the evening. Something for consideration for little ones, or those who are allergic to cold settings (raises hand).
This being said – there is magic to be had with an evening visit, as some of the ice sculptures are built upon rainbow light apparatuses. It. Is. Stunning. A light show for the ages, in vibrant night strewn pastels. Less ice (as you miss the delicacies of the structures), but more lights and color.
Images courtesy of Ice Castles
Our suggestion: if possible, try to go for both. Once you enter Ice Castles you can stay as long as you’d like. Entering right before dusk, and then stay long enough to catch nightfall. This option would give you the best of both worlds! (It is important to note: you will not be alone. Many are on to this notion and as such it is the most popular time period.)
More specific tips and tricks for your visit in the bullet points below!
Ice Castles: Food and Beverage
Thirsty or want to warm up with hot cocoa? No worries, dos and drink is available on-site at Ice Castles. The Lake Geneva location offered multiple food & drink options, such as:
- Hot Shotties: An outdoor drink depot offering cold drinks as well as cocoa and hot toddies, located at the entrance. (These beverages may be taken inside Ice Castles.)
Frost Bites: Located inside Ice Castles, this sweets station serves coffee, cocoa, and cookies.
turf. kitchen + tap: Inside the on-site Geneva National Clubhouse, this restaurant will be serving curds, cocktails, tacos, wings, mac & cheese and more.
Each location has its own eats and drinks, be sure to check with each directly if you are looking for something specific.
Stay and Play: Steps from the Ice Castles
While each location is different – the Lake Geneva experience offered a stay and play Overnight packages just steps from Ice Castles!
Offering exclusive Ice Castles Overnight Packages, The Inns at Geneva National are boutique vacation villas just steps from Ice Castles. Choose to rent a full six-bedroom home with game room– ideal for extended families, friends-cations, and corporate retreats — or book an individual room within an Inn for more of a B&B experience. More on Geneva National HERE.
Just down the road – the sister Property The Ridge, offers Ice Castle shuttle transportation and other (awesome) fun winter experiences. We stayed at The Ridge during our visit and loved the contemporary, tech-friendly lobby, gorgeous pool, and fun winter activities that included ice skating, igloos, smore making, and more. Bonus – The Ridge is fur-friend friendly as well! Read more about The Ridge HERE.
Tips for Visiting Ice Castles with Kids:
- If you’re reading this and interested in tickets – BOOK THEM NOW. A bit dramatic, but the urgency is real. Prime times sell out almost immediately. Look into tickets here.
- It’s cold as ice. Seriously. A bit of (duh!) but even if you are ready for the cold, it gets super cold QUICK. If you plan on staying for a while plan on layers and layers, adequate scarfs, mittens and headgear, and hand warmers.
- Do not bring a stroller. It is literally impossible to do so – as the waking paths are literally large ice chunks ground up. They wouldn’t even roll an inch. Sleds are welcomed as transportation for little kids.
- The walking paths are not slippery but (as mentioned) are deep in ground ice – and are quite hard to walk on. It takes lots of energy and motivation – I attribute the sensation to like walking through a 2-foot deep snow bank. Boots are essential; and children (and adults!) tire waking through these quickly. Plan accordingly.
- Hand (and body) warming bonfire stations are sprinkled throughout the experience. These are not heat lamps – but real bonfires that produce ash and (of course) smoke. Be weary of children around the areas.
- The Lake Geneva location did not have a bathroom within the experience but did have an indoor bathroom before entering the complex. Check with each location before entering.
- Food and drink are available – everything from coffee to hot toddies, hot chocolate and cookies.
- A reminder that Camera batteries die quick in cold conditions – it is essential to bring a back up battery or charger for all electronics (camera, phone, etc).
Ice Castles
Locations: Midway, Utah | North Woodstock, NH | Edmonton, Alberta |New Brighton, MN | Dillon, Colorado |Lake Geneva, Wisconsin
Opening Dates: Weather dependent. Most locations in North America open in late December or early January and remain open until early March.
More information on this frozen attraction HERE. Get your tickets HERE.
Thank you Ice Castles for hosting our visit. As always, all reviews and opinions are our own.
