At the mention of 'ice castles,' thoughts of a place like Sweden's ice hotel or China's massive ice festival are often what come to mind. One thing that doesn't necessarily pop into one's head is the thought of Lake George boasting a similar landscape. This New York community is known for being a hot summer retreat but in the winter, it has even found a way to attract the most adventurous of travelers.
Ice castles are only one reason to visit Lake George this winter, and it's not the only ice-themed activity one can expect to find there. While taking in the stunning views of the Adirondacks surrounding, visitors will be treated to ice castles, ice mazes, ice slides, and so much more in Upstate New York this January.
Lake George: Land Of Snow And Ice (Castles)
The Lake George tourism site describes Ice Castles as 'an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon that brings fairy tales to life.' What makes this location so unique is that it's one of only five in the entire country, only adding to the allure that Lake George has on its own. The castles themselves are intricate and all-encompassing, with each one spanning the length of a full acre. In order to set such a magical scene, professionals carved more than 25 million pounds of ice. These same professional artists were able to carve, chisel, and detail every facet of Ice Castles by hand without the use of machinery, making it that much more authentic (and impressive!).
The castles themselves feature various effects depending on the time of day, as well. During the daytime, their natural blueish hue is permitted to shine through, resembling a very Arendelle-type of village. At night, however, the entire ice complex is lit with bright LEDs. These lights flicker in various patterns in time to music, bringing the entire scene to life right before guests' very eyes.
- Fun Fact: The icicles that guests see hanging from various structures around Ice Castles are very real. In order to create these incredible formations, Lake George's naturally low temps are combined with the use of spray bottles. Once icicles have been collected and placed, they're continuously sprayed and re-frozen to achieve the desired visual effect. Most will measure between 15 and 20 feet, and wind and other natural weather phenomena shape the icicles into unique forms.
The entire Ice Castles village took roughly eight weeks to finish in full, with up to 40 artisans working on it at any one time. The rest is left up to Mother Nature - as long as Lake George remains on the Arctic side of the thermometer, those visiting can look forward to a true winter wonderland.
What To Expect At Ice Castles, Lake George
Now, for the fun part. Walking through giant ice castles is fun, but there's so much more that visitors to Lake George can do in the winter. Some additional icy features to look forward to include:
- Ice Crawl Tunnels: Feeling adventurous? Put those hand-eye coordination skills to the test in order to wind through icy tunnels that challenge everyone's directional abilities. For kids and adults.
- Ice Maze: Forget about corn mazes because this one is made purely out of ice. With a thrilling combination of excitement and disorientation, guests can attempt to navigate their way through this frozen, walled-in maze.
- Ice Slides: It's only natural that ice is left to do what it does, right? In this case, that means an ultra-fun ice slide! No sleds are needed for this adventurous ice 'ride.'
- Ice Caverns: A truly magical experience is having the chance to walk through massive ice caves, with stunning icicle displays just overhead. This unique cavern experience brings the ice caves to guests as they traverse a frozen wonderland, with each feature more captivating than the last.
Ice Castles Details
Tickets are likely to sell out fast for the event this year, so it's advised that visitors consider purchasing them early. The attraction officially opens on January 23rd and will continue until Mother Nature decides that it's time to warm things up. Guests should also be aware that the event is weather-dependent and in the case of inclement or unseasonably warm weather, guests will not be permitted.
- Admission Cost: $20 for adults on weekdays, $27 on weekends | $15 for children ages 4-11 on weekdays, $22 on weekends
- Dates: Dates are currently scheduled through the remainder of January and through the month of February
While Ice Castles is a traveling event that sets up across the country, a Lake George Ice Castles experience is truly one of a kind. With as dramatic a setting as the Adirondacks, it's a once-in-a-lifetime chance to experience a winter wonderland like no other.