AURORA, Colo. — More than two million pounds of ice will be transformed into a winter wonderland in Aurora this holiday season.
Forty ice artisans arrived at Gaylord Rockies on Friday to begin work on the Aurora resort's annual holiday tradition "ICE!"
The carvers traveled more than 5,700 miles from "Ice City" Harbin, China, home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival.
Gaylord Rockies said the carvers will start with 6,000 ice blocks to create the 17,000-square-foot frozen attraction. This year's ice exhibition will use the more than two million pounds of ice to celebrate the 1983 holiday film "A Christmas Story."
Colored ice, clear ice and LED lights will be used to create 10 scenes from "A Christmas Story," including the old man's major award, Aunt Clara's pink nightmare, the ultimate triple dog dare and more. The exhibition will also have two-story-tall ice slides, ice tunnels and arches and a separate area dedicated to a Nativity scene.
The resort said each artisan brings a unique skill to the table, some specializing in demolition by chainsaw while others specialize in carving precise details.
Ice artisans arrive at Gaylord Rockies
It will take the artisans about six weeks to create the attraction, which is scheduled to open Friday, Nov. 17.
The environment is kept frozen by a chilling system that maintains the attraction’s temperature at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests get to wear a blue parka to stay warm inside the exhibition.
The exhibition first appeared at Gaylord Rockies in 2019.
“ICE! has been a tradition at Gaylord Hotels for two decades now,” said General Manager Suzy Hart. “This is the first time Rockies has put on ‘A Christmas Story’ and watching people come together to enjoy it never gets old.”
Gaylord Rockies has also announced its family-friendly cirque show is back for the 2023 holiday season.
"Cirque: Spirit of Christmas" returns for another year at the hotel's Bubly Theater with dazzling costumes and aerial performances. The show will be performed by an international cast of 25 artists from Germany, Hungary, Portugal, Ethiopia, Czech Republic, Mongolia, Russia and the United States.
Gaylord Rockies said its other holiday season activities this year include a Naughty or Nice escape room, gingerbread decorating, elf training academy, scavenger hunt, Mistletoe Village with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and Build-A-Bear Workshop.
The resort's Christmas-season events run through Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.
For tickets, information, or to book a stay, guests can visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com.
ICE! at Gaylord Rockies
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