What are the Ice Sculptures and Where can you Experience them in Minnesota?
Have you heard of Ice Castles in Minnesota? It’s an attraction where you can see ice formations or ice castles that are made by growing 5,000 icicles each day and are harvested and sculpted together. It’s open for visitors for only a few months out of the year and only in four locations. Here is a look at how the ice sculpting works and how you can experience them in Minnesota.
How it works
They basically grow, harvest and sculpt together 5,000 icicles a day. The newly placed icicles are drenched in freezing water. The blend of the changing temperatures, icicle placement, water volume and wind results in amazing ice formations. It’s not only a piece of artwork by the ice sculpture but it’s a work of Mother Nature.
The process takes place once or twice a day based on temperatures. After a few weeks of growth, they’ll create tunnels, caves, large towers, pathways and archways for the public to come explore. They continue working all winter to develop the structures so that it’s a continuous masterpiece. You can visit Ice Castles multiple times and get a different experience.
Visiting
Ice Castles is located at 17970 East Miller Parkway in Eden Prairie, MN. They are open weekends from noon until 10pm, and weekdays from 2pm to 9pm. Children ages 4 and older are required to have a ticket to enter while kids 3 and under are free.
Pricing includes:
- Weekend admission $12.96
- Weekend Child admission $8.95
- Weekday Admission $9.95
- Weekday Child $6.95
- Individual Season Pass $20
Visitors should dress warm with flat soles, winter boots and warm clothes. Beware that sunny days will make the pathways slippery.
When Can I Visit?
Ice Castles only open depending on the weather. It’s expected to open on December 29th for Eden Prairie but this is an estimation. It’s hopeful that it will be available until March 7th, 2015. They remain open on holidays.
Don’t miss Ice Castles this year in Eden Prairie. Each Ice Castle contains 20,000,000 pounds of ice to explore so you won’t want to miss this beautiful work of nature.
