Every winter, a group of professional ice artists gather in several cities across the United States to create magnificent ice castles using hundreds of thousands of ice pillars. These fairy tale-like giant ice fortresses allow millions of families in North America to fully enjoy the endless fun brought by ice and snow.
The grandeur of these castles is astonishing. Occupying about one acre of frozen land, they feature arches adorned with ice pillars, ice tunnels, thrones, fountains, slides, and other distinctive structures, along with ice towers that shimmer with colorful lights synchronized to music to create a dreamlike atmosphere. Especially at night, the interior lights of the entire castle illuminate, making the experience even more surreal.
It is understood that these ice castles are meticulously constructed by ice sculptors over thousands of hours, using around 25 million pounds of ice pillars with pure manual labor. They start by letting water flow on structures resembling linked fences to create numerous ice pillars. Then, they stack these pillars by hand and utilize a semi-melted mixture as an adhesive, which freezes to connect them together.
So, how did this novel idea come about? The story begins with founder Brent Christensen’s first ice and snow creation in his own front yard.
Over a decade ago, when the Christensen family moved from sunny California to snowy Utah, Brent Christensen wanted to ensure that his six children could also enjoy outdoor activities in the winter. He attempted to build an ice cave in the yard, not expecting that this seemingly casual act would lead to unexpected results.
Not only did this ice cave bring joy to his children, but it also attracted many kids from the community to come and play. Eventually, children from the entire town flocked to experience this winter wonderland, affectionately calling it “Ice Castles.”
Starting in 2011, Christensen’s Ice Castles began popping up in various states across the United States and quickly evolved into a popular entertainment brand in North America. This year, there are five locations, including in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Utah, and two in Colorado.
Here are scenes of joy for adults and children playing in the Ice Castles in North Woodstock, New Hampshire: