Frosty Fantasy Land: Ice Castles Unveil a Winter Wonderland in North Woodstock

This past weekend marked the commencement of the yearly Ice Castles display in North Woodstock — a somewhat early initiation, following a recent phase of frigid weather that provided optimal building conditions.

While some residents of the Granite State pursuing outdoor activities flocked to nearby ski slopes, families queued to discover towers, tunnels, slides, and thrones — all constructed from ice.

Luke Ely, who contributed to overseeing the castle’s construction this year, mentioned that it took over a month to reach this stage. He stated that his team has adapted some of their building methods, as climate change elevates winter temperatures.

“The manner in which we construct the walls has evolved; we attempt to make them sturdier and thicker now,” he expressed. “And there are various factors we’ve needed to consider that weren’t as critical for my predecessors.”

In recent years, warming winters have hindered the construction process. However, Ely noted that this year has proven favorable.

“We encountered much better, colder weather early in the season,” he said. “Thus, we could open significantly sooner than we usually do.”

This colder weather enabled the builders to exercise greater creativity — for instance, creating a tunnel roof from icicles fused together.

The castle withstood 5 inches of rainfall during its construction and is designed to endure even more wear and tear as visitors explore its interiors and open spaces this winter.

Ely shared that creating the castle demands long hours and significant effort. Nonetheless, it is fulfilling to provide a touch of beauty to people during the coldest, darkest months of the year.

The castles will continue to welcome visitors — until they eventually melt away.