An award-winning frozen attraction brings winter magic to several cities across North America each year. Professional ice artists create a unique experience hand-placing hundreds of thousands of icicles. The castle journey takes visitors through breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, ice-carved tunnels, frozen thrones, fountains, slides, and much more. Each location has a unique design with one-of-a-kind features. Host cities change annually, so keep an eye for the updates to make you are in the right place at the right time.
The first spectacular ice structures in the world were created in a town of Midway, Utah. The founder of the Ice Castles—Brent Christensen—initially made an ice cave for his daughter, but later he decided to expand his creativity. Now his amazing ice castles decorate winter landscape not only in Utah but also in New Hampshire, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Colorado, and Alberta (Canada).
Thousands of visitors from all over the globe come to see how this unique ice architecture is being created. Ice artists use tens of thousands of icicles to make one castle. The process takes around 17 days. The icicles are grown, harvested and then placed together and sprinkled with water. Altogether over 100 million kilograms of ice are used for these creations.
The castles are open for visits as long as the weather is cold. Kids and adults adore walking there, crawling through the tunnels and sliding from the small slides. During the evening visit, everyone can enjoy the variety of colourful lights twinkling inside the ice. So dress warmly if you want to see everything and try all the activities. Ice castles move to different cities throughout the country and to neighbouring Canada as well.
Unfortunately, some winters might be too warm for such beauty and the castles melt before everyone gets a chance to see them.
Practical info
When is the best time to visit the Ice Castles in Utah and other locations?
To see the Ice Castles, it is best to visit between December and February as the temperature is low enough to keep them frozen. It's important to confirm the dates and times in advance, as these can vary at each location based on weather conditions and time required for construction. Show more
Where are the Ice Castles located in North America?
Several US and Canadian cities host the Ice Castles, including Utah, Alberta, and New Hampshire. Previous hosts include Minneapolis, Minnesota, Salt Lake City, Colorado, and Wisconsin. The host cities vary each year, so stay informed by checking the Ice Castles' official website. Show more
How long does it take to create an ice castle?
Ice castles are entirely handmade, requiring hundreds of thousands of icicles. They take up to 17 days to finish, depending on size. The construction process involves cutting icicles to size, joining them together with snow and water. The final result is an over 20,000-ton, 30-foot-high castle made of ice! Show more
What kind of activities visitors can do at the Ice Castles?
Visitors can slide on small ice slides, crawl through tunnels, and walk around the castle. At night, the LED lights create a magical ambiance. The Ice Castle makes a great location for photographs and even weddings. Don't forget that activities can change per location due to weather conditions and construction timelines. Show more
What happens if the weather is too warm for the Ice Castles?
The Ice Castles cannot be repaired if they start melting, which means they may be forced to close if the weather is too warm. The Ice Castles will close for safety reasons until the weather is cold enough to reconstruct them. In such cases, consult the Ice Castle's website or social media to avoid disappointment. Show more
