The Ice Castles in Dillon, Colorado are relatively new to the state but nonetheless drawing ice lovers from around Colorado. The Ice Castles in Colorado are of the same group of ice castle artists who build these massive structures around the nation. You can find the ice castles in five other locations other than Colorado.
If you time your trip right, you may also get to see the Snow Sculpture structures in Breckenridge, Colorado as well.
When I saw the ice castles, I couldn’t believe how impressive everything was. I couldn’t believe that this had been in Colorado and I had still hadn’t seen it. It is a true piece of art. Being there made me feel like a child again and it is the perfect place for children of all ages.
So, you want to plan a trip to Summit County, see the ice castles, maybe see some snow sculptures? Below are some of my recommendations on how to do the trip right.
*When planning your trip, please make sure you check with your hotels and restaurants to make sure they are up to date with COVID-19 prevention measures!
Watch the Video!
About the Ice Castles
The ice castles are located in Dillon, Colorado, which is an incredibly cold area, making it the perfect place to construct these ice castles. The castles are built by professional artists who specialize in ice art creation. They use hundreds of thousands of icicles to create the structures and weigh in at a combined 20 million pounds per castle. On average, 12,000 icicles are grown daily.
At the Dillon Ice Castles, you’ll find there’s a lot to do. Tunnels to crawl through, brilliantly LED colored structures, incredible fountains, and giant slides that are perfect for all ages.
The founder, Brent Christensen, created these ice castles starting with building his own structures in his front yard for children in his neighborhood. And in 2011, the national ice castles were born.
Brent’s mission? “To create happiness, laughter, and unforgettable winter memories.”
Preparing For Your Ice Castle Journey
When I was there, I thought there were a few things people should keep in mind when visiting. Obviously, it is super cold so you should dress appropriately.
It’s a good idea to wear & pack the following:
- Hand and feet warmers as temperatures can get super low.
- Scarves
- Long Underwear
- Wool Socks
- Hats
- Jackets
- Waterproof gloves & pants
- Snowboarding and skiing gear
- Good boots
- Camera
- Tripod
- Knee pads (you will crawl in some places)
- Face mask
You may get down on your hands and knees at this interactive location. If you wear cloth items, you may get a little wet and cold and that’s just no fun.
Plan to stay for at least an hour because it is a maze and you want to make sure you explore every corner of the castles and get your perfect photo to boot.
I also recommend buying your tickets for around 5:00 and 5:30 entrance.
It is the perfect time to go because you can see the ice castles while there is still a little bit of daylight. You’ll then be able to see them at night when the lights come on. The best time to go is during the week when there aren’t as many people.
Visit the International Snow Sculpture Championships
This little added extra bit of fun is completely free to the public. The International Snow Sculpture Championships welcomes snow sculpting teams from around the world to craft massive snow structures.
Only 16 teams are selected from 250 candidates. These select teams arrived in Breckenridge ready and pumped to create some awe-inspiring pieces of art that were thought-provoking and well-thought-out by the artists.
And all of these structures are constructed using common household items like cheese graters and wooden spoons.
Each team has a 12-foot high cube of super-packed snow to work with and 96 hours of allotted time to create their temporary masterpiece. That’s over 320 tons of snow and 15,000 pounds of snow per team. Make sure to view all sides of the sculptures to see the many facets of the design! (I learned this fact from a friend after having already left the event.)
If you didn’t get a chance to see the structures this year, no worries, the event has been active since 1990 and shows no signs of stopping, so, you’re sure to see it next year!
Other places you might like to visit in the area if you have extra time on your trips are:
Luckily, you will be in the same area as many other wonderful Colorado destinations and will have many other activities to add to your Dillon Ice Castles journey!
Get Hand Warmers!
Where to Stay When Visiting the Ice Castles
When I was first looking for places to stay in Dillon and Breckenridge, I was so shocked with the options and their prices. Some hotels and lodging options were as much as $425 a night in Breckenridge and Dillon. And being that I planned my trip during the Breckenridge Snow Sculptures finals and ski season and it’s a luxury area, I assumed that was why I was having such a hard time finding a reasonable one night stay.
I turned to the town of Frisco to see if there were places where I could stay in for relatively cheap. Frisco, first of all, is an adorable little town right in between Dillon and Breckenridge and a perfect place to spend an evening or two during your visit.
In Frisco is the super cute, Hotel Frisco, which is situated right on the main street and within walking distance of over a dozen restaurants, cafes, shopping, and other recreational activities. I booked a room for me and my travel companion and it came with a fridge full of beers and nightcaps and snacks for your stay. One night stay with them was around $120 a night and perfect for those who don’t want to stay long.
Some other places you might like staying:
There are other places in the surrounding areas, including Breckenridge, Colorado.
Restaurants to Visit in Frisco, Colorado
So many restaurants are within walking distance of Hotel Frisco. Hotel Frisco does not serve breakfast, but the receptionist was kind to recommend us the Log Cabin Cafe for breakfast, which is just up the street on your way out of Frisco. You can walk there from Hotel Frisco within just a few minutes. Their prices are reasonable and they have super fast service.
For dinner, you can stroll down the street and let the south warm you up at the Lost Cajun restaurant. Get a giant bowl of spicy Crawfish Etouffee or a basket of fried catfish and then finish off with some warm beignets.
Other Great Restaurants:
- Dillon Dam Brewery (Dillon, Colorado)
- Arapahoe Cafe (Dillon, Colorado)
- Chimayo Grill (Dillon, Colorado(
- Vinny’s Restaurant (Frisco, Colorado)
- Ollie’s Pub & Grub (Frisco, Colorado)
- Butterhorn Bakery and Cafe (Frisco, Colorado)
The Dillon Ice Castles in Colorado are well worth the visit and an inexpensive way to make memories with whoever you ask to tag along with you. Make the visit at least once in your life! And if you do it right, you can explore many other wonderful FREE events in the area while you’re at it!
Have you been to the Ice Castles in Colorado? Tell me about your experience in the comments below!
Download the Checklist!
5 Comments
Is it harmless?
Is this open this year? (2021)
Unfortunately, it is not. They cancelled for 2021 but have high hopes of opening next year!
I hope to get tickets soon. Great tips!
I hope you do too! Thanks so much!