Science Lesson #5: Ice Castles in Wisconsin & 10 Other Places to See Ice Castles

Ice Castles, Photo by Krenda

If you grew up watching Superman and the fantasy of the Fortress of Solitude and then have a daughter who loves Frozen and the magical winter landscapes, you might also dream of Ice Castles.

What began as a dad entertaining his kids in his Utah front yard, Ice Castles is now company providing a magical experience to thousand of visitor in multiple locations (Colorado, Utah, New Hampshire, Wisconsin, and Alberta).  We visited the Ice Castles in Wisconsin Dells.  Later years placed the Wisconsin Ice Castles in Lake Geneva.

The Ice Castles have impressive size with approximately 10,000 icicles, castles over 20 million pounds each, and can stand up to 30 feet high.  It can take approximately six weeks to build.

You can purchase tickets only (approximately $23) or book a hotel package.  We booked the hotel package through Mt. Olympus.  For the Lake Geneva location, check out Geneva National Resort or The Ridge Hotel for packages.

It captured my attention and we spent several hours, walking through the caves and tunnels in awe.  Entry was timed and I chose evening, so we could see the castles illuminated with bright LED lights.  Every area was unique and the artists told us every location and day is unique because the icicles are grown daily and hand placed.  I wasn't the only one smitten by the natural grand architecture and winter playground.  CNN, Travel & Leisure, and Oprah.com featured the event too.  Oprah.com describes the experience as magical too "magical...twinkling and sense-defying and straight out of fairytales."

We spent more time than we had planned.  Ditch the princess gown and crown, wear your warm snowpants and boots with grips.  You'll walk on bumpy paths of crushed and ice snow.  Your kids will see the ice slide and they could wait up to 30 minutes for the unique ride.  Also, take time to ask questions to the employees - they might be the ice artists and they provide more background about the castle construction and ice science.

The Ice Castles LLC made 3 of the 10 sites listed in Fodor's Travel "10 Amazing Ice Castles Around the World" by Annie Bruce (2017).  Here's the full list in case you are fortunate to travel around the world:

1.  Stratton Ice Castle- Stratton Mountain Resort, Vermont

2.  Snow Castle of Kemi - Kemi, Finland, biggest snow fort in the world

3.  Lincoln Ice Castle - Lincoln, New Hampshire

4.  Jungfraujoch Ice Palace - Jungfraujoch, Switzerland, among the highest in the world in the Swiss Alps

5.  Eden Prairie Ice Castles - Eden Prairie, MN

6.  Harbin Ice Festival - Harbin, China, largest ice festival in the world

7.  Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace - Saranac Lake, New York, castles as tall as 60 feet high

8.  The Fairmonth Chateau Lake Louise - Lake Louise, Alberta, giant blocks of ice

9.  The White Pines Cottage Resort - Calabogie, Ontario, 800 blocks of ice from Black Donald Lake

10.  Quebec Winter Carnival - Quebec City, Quebec called "Bonhomme's Palace" using 300 tons of ice