To prepare each site, sod is laid with irrigation piping and electrical wiring that allow the castles to grow and also for lighting to be fixed and frozen into the formations. The lattice scaffolds are created with icicles grown at night in special "icicle farms," often as many as 10,000 at a time. The base of each castle is approximately 10-15 feet thick and the structure grows in stages of two to three foot increments.
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One of Ice Castles' "icicle farms". Image © Brian Benson Courtesy of Ice Castles
“We fuse the icicles in formations – vertically and horizontally – where we intend for the towers and walls to grow,” says Christensen. “We start on the ground and as each layer collects more ice and thickens we add layer upon layer until the structures grow upwards of 20-35 feet tall.” Because the process involves ice being added to more ice, Christensen says the method is not unlike welding. “Since the process of adding new icicles involves the spraying of water, everything is melted and frozen together so that the structures are basically one solid piece of ice.”
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The castles are created by spraying water over a scaffold of icicles. Image © Brian Benson Courtesy of Ice Castles
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Constructing the scaffold using farmed icicles. Image © Brian Benson Courtesy of Ice Castles
While each castle begins with a blueprint of sorts, and the gradual buildup allows for degrees of control, the process is ultimately an organic one - “Mother Nature always has the final say,” as Christensen puts it. In the past, the company did experiment with other materials being used to further shape the constructions, but
Ice Castles has found that solid ice has the most structural integrity. As these are outdoor creations, susceptible to the whims of changing weather, the castles are constantly being rebuilt throughout the season, but the overall design remains the same. And although different elements are incorporated (such as slides, waterfalls, and fountains) from location to location and year to year, the castles all share a signature flowing appearance.
