After exploring Breckenridge’s breathtaking Ice Castle, I searched for the artist behind this magical place. I contacted Brent Christensen, the founder of Ice Castles, who also built them in New Hampshire and Utah this winter.
Take it away Brent!
“I’m the artist and designer of the layout at each of our three locations, but I rely heavily on our many well-trained, hard working, dedicated employees. Each of our sites took about 4 weeks of working 12-16 (hour) days. Our Breck site has about 10 full and part-time employees, New Hampshire about 15 and Midway (Utah), about 20.”
Fire and ice.
“We are very vigilant about safety. But believe it or not, we are more concerned about the walking surfaces than we are about falling icicles. Icicles on the edge of a roof are prone to falling, especially when the sun hits the roof and causes the ice to melt at the union. Icicles hanging from an ice bridge will only melt at the thinnest spot, which is at the bottom. So on very warm days, the hanging icicles in the castles will melt and drip away starting at the bottom but they don’t fall off.”
Colored lights change in seconds and add to the drama.
“Snowfall doesn’t damage the castles. It can add a very beautiful elegance to the appearance. Before we continue growing them we usually remove the bulk of the snow by hand or brooms. The most fun part is growing and building. The most laborious part is clearing and grooming the trails on a daily basis. We often have to remove several tons of excess ice from the trails and spend up to 40 man hours per day just to make our trails safe for our guests.”
“Regarding our sites for next year: Unfortunately, I can’t yet say where they will be. We usually finish out the winter and analyze how everything went. We consider weather patterns, traffic patterns, how the city or resort was to work with, etc. You’ll just have to keep an eye on our website.” —– Brent Christensen.
To see the first photo essay of my tour, click HERE!
Click on photos to enlarge.
Would you like to take the tour?
Dillon will host the ice castle in 2018 -19. Click for information.
Click for more of the Wild Ride!
Related articles:
Explore an Ice Castle – more photos from my adventure!
This is a very interesting post, but I could’ve sworn I’ve read it before… 🙂
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You did not! This is a new post!
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Just incredible.. And I agree slippery surfaces are far more dangerous
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It was really easy to walk through. Thanks Linda!
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Beautiful image (and interview) capture(s), Susie.
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Thanks so much! I had to do it in two posts since I took so many photos!
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Oh, wow! Your photos are gorgeous! What an awesome experience. 🙂 If you’re going to be cold, might as well be in an ice castle! 🙂
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It was cold last weekend, but once I entered, I forgot all about the temperature! Thanks Sophie!
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It looks like a pretty amazing place to spend an evening, or winter day, walking around taking it all in…. thanks.
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Thanks for taking the virtual tour with me Clay! It really is a unique experience. I had to share!
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I would indeed love to see this!! The people in the photos give scale to the ice, I love all the fun colors.
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The colors are always changing from behind the ice. It is a huge art project!
Thanks John!
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I love that their are people in this world whose job title is Ice Castle Builder. Way more interesting than Accountant.
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Isn’t that the truth! 🙂 Thanks Robin!
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So cool! Wonderful job with the pictures! This reminds me of the Ice Art Championships in Fairbanks, AK. It’s amazing because it brings ice artists together from all over the world. I’ll have to check this out. So, he goes to different places each year, correct?
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I bet that would be a great art festival to experience.
He does choose different places. I hope he comes back to Breck. It has really been an incredible attraction!
Thanks for stopping by Laura!
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Amazing photos!
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Thanks so much Anneli!
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I would love to take the tour! He mentioned a website but it wasn’t linked. Do you know the name of it?
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I just linked it, but the link was at the bottom of the story too. http://www.icecastles.com/
Thanks!
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Sorry, I must have missed it. Thanks.
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I should have made it more obvious that it was Brent’s site. It was a good catch on your part. Thanks!
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These (and the previous posting’s) photos are stunning! I’m going to try and get to the one in New Hampshire. I think it’s about 4 hours away. Plus I know of a pub on the way, and in NH, that makes the best rubens! Thanks for all the pictures and the information. I wouldn’t known anything about these otherwise. 🙂
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That sounds very cool Mary and a Ruben too! Sounds like a wonderful road trip awaits! 🙂
Thanks so much!
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More beautifuls! 😀 … 20 million pounds of ice, is gonna be one helluva cleanup!
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Thanks so much. I have a lot more, believe me!
It will all melt and evaporate in the dry intense Colorado sunshine! 🙂
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Love that he’s made a safe, accessible way for people to get lost in wild nature!
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He has! I never once worried about my footing. It was an amazing place. Thanks for coming by again Guapo!
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I Always have a good time here!
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I am so glad to hear that! Thank you. 🙂
How’s the polar vortex? Does it extend to your part of the world?
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It actually extends right to my toes, which are wrapped in fuzzy monster feet slippers right now.
We’re looking at another week or so of sub-freezing temps. Starting to hate winter…
Is your part of the world bearable?
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Oh Susie, I just showed my husband the pictures! So magical. I was thrilled to learn that they have one in New Hampshire. I really should check out where in NH it is. Love it! 🙂
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Definitely go before spring arrives. You will love it! Wait. I don’t think spring will come to the northern states until July!!!!! 🙂
Thanks Maria!
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Wow!
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Thanks Julie! You probably don’t have these out there with your warm weather..:)
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That’s amazing and so beautiful!
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Thanks Diana! I had to post more photos. The Castle was other-worldly.
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My goodness, this is magic, just magic. Utterly beautiful, Susie. This is Heaven on Earth!
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Thanks so much! I tried to capture its beauty, but it is something to behold in person!
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This is wicked cool stuff, Susie! And you KNOW a song usually comes to mind with me….
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NICE! Thanks for the Ice Ice Baby!
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I never would’ve imagined that I would be wowed by ice, not after the winter we’re having.
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Are you part of the Polar Vortex?
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We’ve had our dalliance with the Polar Vortex, yes. So I guess we should be thankful for these 10 degree days….
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That is cold since I am assuming that’s the high temperature. (((shiver)))
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What can I say?
Cool!
Seriously, these shots are incredible, Susie.
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Thanks Hook! I’m glad you came along on my virtual tour!
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Simply amazing! I went back and looked through your other shots too that are equally breathtaking. I can totally relate to the number of photos you took. Thanks for introducing us to Brent Christensen. It was fabulous to learn how these incredible fantasmagorical structures come to be. Hey, Brent, how about Whistler, BC next year?
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Thanks Pat! I bet, if I went again, I could take another 150 pictures. It was like stepping into another world!
Maybe he will consider Whisltler!
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Stunning. Gives me a new appreciation for cold!
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It was cold that night. Next time, I will take a video.
Thanks so much for taking the virtual tour with me!
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Finally, a face and name to go with the art! Thanks so much for sharing this beauty with us, Susie. We’ll keep an eye out for the next display on their site. 😉
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Most excellent! Thanks for stopping back!
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Looks very whimsical, breathtaking, and verra verra cold!
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It was verra verra cold! I couldn’t get over the alien landscape Brent created with lights and ice. Super “cool!”
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Just amazing …. similar to our Ice Hotel that is built every years … and that melts away from every spring and during the winter they collect the building blocks from the crystal clear river and store them until next year … people from all over the world make it happens. Thanks for sharing this .. never heard about this before. Learn something new everyday. *smile
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Ha! I missed your comment from 2014, Viveka! Hope all is well with you.
I would love to go to the Ice Hotel!
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Hi there, glad to see you and hear from you! I hope life touches you gently. Things are okay with me, I have some health issues that slows me down, but they haven’t stopped me.
I would love to the Ice Hotel too. On my bucket list. Be good to yourself.
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Four week. WOW. Delight worth all the effort. Thanks for the interview – must keep an eye on this guy’s work. SImply a must see…and now that’s you’ve seen one, how can you keep from locating his iced castles every year?
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I know and he’s innovative, so the ones he builds next year would be unique! Tickets were only $10!!!
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