UNITED STATES NEWS

Dazzling Ice Castles draw tourists to New Hampshire, other states

Jan 12, 2025, 10:08 PM

Colorful lights shine inside inside the walls of ice at Ice Castles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in Nort...

Colorful lights shine inside inside the walls of ice at Ice Castles, Friday, Jan. 10, 2025, in North Woodstock, N.H. (AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)
Credit: ASSOCIATED PRESS

(AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty)

NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H. (AP) — An annual architectural celebration of ice is up and running again in New Hampshire and several other states.

Ice Castles, which are both temporary art installations and tourist attractions, feature towers, tunnels, archways and caves, all created by growing, harvesting and arranging thousands of icicles and then blasting them with sprinklers.

The company behind the displays has expanded since its first installation in 2011. This year it has operations in Utah, Minnesota, two locations in Colorado and New Hampshire, where the site includes a snow tubing hill and ice bar. After a mild winter last year, officials were thrilled that temperatures were cold enough to open earlier this season.

“It’s one of the biggest ice castles we’ve ever built,” said Jared Henningsen, the company’s vice president for operations. “We’re looking at about 25 million pounds of ice spread over two acres.”

As a winter storm brought biting cold and wet snow to the South, visitors to the New Hampshire castle bundled up to explore its twists and turns Friday.

Julia Jones of Gloucester, Massachusetts, said she travels to northern New Hampshire several times a year but had not experienced the ice castles until her opening-day visit.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said. “Honestly I didn’t think it was gonna be this big.”

Jessica Sullivan, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, also was surprised, and not just by the frozen environment. Her boyfriend, Brian Jacques, proposed to her during their visit.

“It’s a beautiful place,” said Jacques, who got the “yes” he was hoping for. “I definitely thought, this is the time and place to do it.”

By day the walls and other structures shine with a pale blue hue. After darkness falls, lights embedded within the ice glow pink, purple and green.

“Once you enter into an ice castle, you’re transitioning into something that’s totally immersive and unlike something that most guests have ever seen,” Henningsen said. “I think it inspires people.”

United States News

In this still image from video provided by the Second Judicial District Court multiple people brawl...

Associated Press

New Mexico courtroom devolves into brawl as men rush defendant in homicide case

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A routine hearing in a New Mexico state courtroom devolved into chaos when two people rushed the defendant in a murder case, setting off a brawl with flying fists and kicks. Courtroom video cameras recorded the Jan. 31 melee that has resulted in felony charges against two men who apparently rushed […]

1 hour ago

President Donald Trump attends the National Prayer Breakfast at Washington Hilton, Thursday, Feb. 6...

Associated Press

Are government-paid media subscriptions a ‘scandal’? That’s what Donald Trump is now asserting

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal government payments to news outlets like Politico, The New York Times and The Associated Press for subscriptions or to license content are in the crosshairs of Trump administration spending hawks, with the president on Thursday calling it potentially “THE BIGGEST SCANDAL OF THEM ALL.” White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt […]

2 hours ago

Associated Press

Former college adjunct professor gets 8 years in prison for sexually abusing women from El Salvador

NEW YORK (AP) — A former City College chemistry adjunct professor was sentenced Thursday to eight years in prison for sexually abusing three women from El Salvador after convincing them to travel to the U.S. for a better life. Jorge Alberto Ramos, 45, was sentenced in Manhattan federal court by Judge John G. Koeltl. He […]

3 hours ago

Associated Press

Trump administration plans to slash all but a fraction of USAID jobs, officials say

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Trump administration presented a plan Thursday to dramatically cut staffing worldwide for U.S. aid projects as part of its dismantling of the U.S. Agency for International Development, leaving fewer than 300 workers out of thousands. Two current USAID employees and one former senior USAID official told The Associated Press of the […]

3 hours ago

Law officials escort a suspect from an apartment to a waiting utility vehicle for transport during ...

Associated Press

US border czar blames leaks for hindering immigration raids in Colorado suburb spotlighted by Trump

DENVER (AP) — Donald Trump’s border czar on Thursday blamed news media leaks for hindering a large-scale operation in a Denver suburb the president has held up in his efforts to link violent crime with immigration. More than 100 members of the Tren de Aragua gang were targeted Wednesday at apartment buildings and other sites […]

3 hours ago

FILE - In this photo reviewed by U.S. military officials, flags fly at half-staff at Camp Justice, ...

Associated Press

Newly unsealed documents reveal more details of prosecutors’ evidence in 9/11 attacks

WASHINGTON (AP) — Newly unsealed documents give one of the most detailed views yet of the evidence gathered on the accused 9/11 mastermind Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, including how prosecutors allege he and others interacted with the hijackers who carried out the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks. The summaries of evidence released Thursday include Mohammed’s own statements […]

4 hours ago

Sponsored Articles

...

Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax

How to optimize the most money in 2024 tax returns

As tax season begins, getting your financials in order is important to maximize your tax return.

...

Bright Wealth Management

How to save money on retirement planning following 2024 election

PHOENIX -- With the 2024 election over, economic changes could impact how people plan for retirement as 2025 is on the horizon.

...

Sanderson Ford

Sanderson Ford’s Operation Santa Claus: Spreading holiday cheer through pickleball

Phoenix, AZ – Sanderson Ford, a staple in the Arizona community, is once again gearing up for its annual Operation Santa Claus charity drive.

Dazzling Ice Castles draw tourists to New Hampshire, other states