Jace Lamonica
Built from hundreds of thousands of hand-grown and manually placed icicles, ice castles transform terrains into breathtaking seasonal attractions. Each site features exclusive designs made of illuminated tunnels and massive slides. Let’s look at the top frozen cascades that highlight local artistry and ingenuity—worth exploring!
Midway, Utah: Towering Ice Masterpiece
Utah’s largest ice castle centerpiece changes every year, with its sculpted walls and arches. The design often mirrors Utah’s iconic landmarks, such as the Delicate Arch. The ice throne room offers colorful light shows synchronized to music, with shows occurring every 30 minutes after dusk.
Midway, Utah: Frozen Slides
Imagine a race down Midway’s longest ice slides, lit with colorful LED lights and carved with precision. The frosty chutes offer both speed and excitement. They combine the adrenaline of a playground with sculptural art. The Midway Ice Castles use about 25 million pounds of ice annually.
North Woodstock, New Hampshire: Illuminated Ice Tunnel
North Woodstock’s ice tunnel features LED-lit stalactites embedded in the ice. These stalactites create a mesmerizing display of color. The tunnel stretches approximately 60 feet. Vibrant hues of blue and purple reflect on the tunnel’s icy walls. Moreover, the design changes annually.
North Woodstock, New Hampshire: Iconic Ice Tower
Standing tall in New England’s snowy scenery, the ice tower offers the thrill of the 50-foot climb of an iced giant. Its design allows for panoramic views from its peak. The tower’s construction requires approximately 10,000 gallons of water. At night, LED lights illuminate the structure.
State Fairgrounds, Minnesota: Illuminated Structures
The Ice Castles at Saint Paul feature towering sculptured tunnels and archways illuminated with color-changing LED lights embedded. Over 20 million pounds of ice are used to create the structures. The ice artisans craft the formations using icicles grown and harvested on-site.
State Fairgrounds, Minnesota: Winter Activities
In addition to the fun ice slides that reach heights of up to 40 feet, the Ice Castles offer a variety of activities. The crawl-through tunnel, approximately 20 feet long, allows visitors to view the ice formations from the inside. There’s also an ice sculpture garden with a throne where visitors can take photos.
Cripple Creek, Colorado: The Ice Amphitheater
Cripple Creek’s ice amphitheater comes with an exceptional design. It is a venue carved entirely from ice, just like the rest of the castle. With acoustics enhanced by the frosty surfaces, this feature hosts live performances. It is a one-of-a-kind experience for entertaining adventure seekers.
Cripple Creek, Colorado: Carved Ice Staircase
The ice staircase here offers panoramic views of Colorado’s glorious mountains. Each step is a feat of engineering and artistry that blends functionality with visual appeal. The staircase rises over 20 feet and leads to a raised platform designed to enjoy the surrounding alpine beauty.
Eagle, Colorado: The Frozen Waterfall
A multi-tiered frozen waterfall runs through the center of this stunning location, with flowing water freezing into intricate shapes and textures. The towering ice formation, nearly 30 feet high, glistens in the daylight. As the sun hits, the ice refracts light, creating a mesmerizing display of shifting colors.
Eagle, Colorado: Enchanting Ice Labyrinth
The labyrinth in Eagle is a maze of lofty ice walls that test your sense of direction. Each twist and turn reveals surprises, from glowing corners to frosted passageways. Professional artists created this magical puzzle with thousands of hand-placed icicles.
