Over 12,000 Hours Dedicated To Creating Colorado’s Largest Indoor Ice Attraction
by Mark Smiley
Thirty ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrived at Gaylord Rockies to begin the annual carving process for ICE!, a holiday attraction featuring ice sculptures that will bring this year’s theme, The Polar Express, to life. They have transformed 2 million pounds of ice into a 17,000-square-foot display, using chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, and chainsaws.
The artisans traveled over 5,700 miles from Harbin, China, famously known as “Ice City,” home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. Since 2001, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Experiences and these talented artists to capture their extraordinary craftsmanship here in the U.S. At Gaylord Rockies, some of the same artisans behind the Harbin festival will sculpt 300-pound blocks of ice into larger-than-life scenes from Warner Bros. The Polar Express™.
The artisans, drawing on generations of expertise, work from a detailed 300-page design book to bring the ice spectacle to life. Each artisan contributes a unique talent — some mastering demolition with chainsaws, while others focus on intricate, precise carvings. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to scenes more than 30 feet tall. A cutting-edge chilling system will keep the entire space at a frosty 9 degrees Fahrenheit, and guests will stay cozy in the attraction’s signature blue parkas.
This holiday season, guests will embark on a journey through hand-carved ice sculptures depicting nine scenes from The Polar Express. In celebration of the film’s 20th anniversary, featured scenes include the Polar Express arriving at Hero Boy’s house, passengers enjoying hot chocolate aboard the train, an exhilarating descent through Glacier Gulch, and the enchanting arrival at the North Pole. The attraction will use colored ice, clear ice, and LED lights to create the breathtaking display.
In addition to the awe-inspiring ice sculptures from the beloved Christmas film, guests can take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides, traverse through ice tunnels and arches, and visit the carver showcase to watch artisans perform live carving demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes
in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. ICE! featuring The Polar Express will run from Nov. 22, 2024, to Jan. 1, 2025.
Christmas at Gaylord Rockies packages that include special room rates and admission to select events are now available. Guests are encouraged to book their experiences early, as advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events, and prime dates are expected to sell out. For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, guests may visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com.