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Yearly Ice Castle Built in Snowmobile Capital of the WorldNearly Eighty Years of Tradition in Eagle River, Wisconsin, and Still Going Strong!By Naomi K. Shapiro
Each winter, volunteers, headed by the area firefighters put in more than 700 "man hours" to cut nearly 3,000 12-inch-thick ice blocks from a local lake, haul them to downtown Eagle River, Wisconsin, and build a huge ice castle.
The ice palace is a cool facade that, depending on the light, is at once transparent and opaque, and it comes in a variety of shapes and sizes, different each year. The ice castle has been "happening" in Eagle River on and off since the late 1920s -- with a few years missed in the 40s, probably due to World War II -- and is now constructed annually, weather permitting, on the weekend closest to New Year's, according to Pat Weber, Chief of the Eagle River area's Volunteer Fire Department.
When asked how the ice palace got its start, Thomas speculates, "there probably weren't a lot of things to do in the winter back then; and, since my grandfather was cutting the ice anyway, and probably had some ice left over, he began building the early structures." Hanke may have begun modestly, but the ice castle has grown, developed, and evolved ever since. According to Thomas, the local Lions Club took over construction of the ice palace when it became too big a project for a small group of individuals. Then, about ten years ago, the Eagle River Volunteer Fire Department took over the project for the same reasons.
With a different design each year, the ice palace gets "a little bigger and taller each time," as Thomas studies pictures of previous ice palaces and plans the general designs. "One design we WON'T repeat is the ice castle we built that had round towers," says Weber with a smile. "It took a tremendous amount of time and effort to round off each ice block; and the volunteers told me in no uncertain terms that would be the last Ice Palace we'd build with anything round," he remembers.
First, the ice is scored and cut on Eagle River's Silver Lake. Then, over 3000 blocks of ice 10 x 10 x 20 inches are removed from the lake. The ice blocks are trucked to the site, and the construction work begins. And it is WORK! All done by hand! And although the number of blocks varies with the structure, up to 3,000 of the 60 to 70 pound blocks are used each year.
More recent photos show groups of snowmobilers posed in front of the widespread walls of an ice castle that is garnished by wreaths and a couple of fir trees. In recent years, colored floodlights were added to illuminate the palace at night – and there are some spectacular color photos silhouetting people in front of the castle.
The ice palace is one of the most photographed attractions in our area, says Conrad "Connie Heeg, Executive Director of the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. "I bet there've been a million pictures taken of people in front of and around the ice palace," echoes Weber.
"It sure brings a lot of wonderful notoriety to the area, adds Weber. "People just love it, and so do we." Costs involved with erecting the ice castle include such things as the need to upgrade and maintain the equipment, replace bulbs, pay for the gasoline, etc., not to mention the hours of time that is volunteered, Weber notes. Many local businesses donate money, as well as in-kind support, providing breakfasts, lunches, cocoa, soups, sandwiches, and candy for the volunteers. There's also a box and descriptive information at the structure, so locals and visitors can show their appreciation and support with a donation. Depending on the weather, the Ice Castle normally stands until late February, when the remains are taken down. As for the ice castle's impact on Eagle River, Connie Heeg says: "We want folks to visit our wonderful community, but it's a lot more than that: How can you measure the joy of wide-eyed kids and adults watching the ice being cut and hauled using the old equipment, and volunteers building this ice castle, by hand; and then stepping back to see this huge, utterly beautiful, and artistic ice structure? "It's special, and it's the community working as one -- and untold thousands of visitors enjoy it," notes Heeg. The Eagle River Ice Palace is one of those things that money can't buy."
Annual winter events in Eagle River include the World Championship Snowmobile Derby, Fri.-Sun., Jan. 12-21, 2007; 17th Annual Trig's Klondike Days Winter Family Festival, Sat./Sun. Feb. 17-18, 2007; US Pond Hockey fun and competitions on Dollar Lake, Sat./Sun., Feb. 17-18, 2007; Annual Ride with the Champs Celebrity Ride and fund raiser for the International Snowmobile Hall of Fame, Thurs., Feb. 22, 2007; and many more.
"Of course," Heeg smiles, "after – or sometimes instead of – being outdoors on a brisk winter day, those who wish can curl up in front of a cozy fire, bask in a whirlpool or sauna, enjoy an exceptional northwoods Wisconsin meal, and sleep in a comfortable bed at one of Eagle River's fine resorts, bed & breakfasts, or motels. Shop for candy, gifts, furniture or souvenirs. Or, just kick back and do nothing. After all, that's what a vacation getaway is for," he smiles. One of Eagle River's newest, largest resorts is The Wild Eagle Lodge and Condos on Eagle River's Chain of Lakes. (877-945-3965; 715-479-3151; e-mail: info@wildeaglelodge.com ; web: www.wildeaglelodge.com ). For more information, contact the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center, 800-359-6315; 715-479-6400; e-mail: info@eagleriver.org ; or visit Eagle River's web-site at www.eagleriver.org Naomi K. Shapiro is an outdoor/travel writer based in Madison, Wisconsin. Reached at cre8vads@cheqnet.net |
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TM
What follows is a n'ice story... an ice story...
Eagle River's ice castle has become a popular attraction
for motorists, snowmobilers, locals and visitors, as scores of people stop each
day to photograph the 20-foot high structure along Highway 45 North, right in
town near the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce and Visitors Center. 
The Eagle River Ice Castle was originated by C. H. Hanke,
who owned the Eagle River ice route way-back-when. Hanke's grandson, Jack
Thomas, a current fire department volunteer who plays a huge part in the ice
castle's design and construction, was two years old in a photo of the 1938 ice
palace.
"It's a wonderful project," comments Chief Weber. "We take
pride in our community -- and we do the ice castle for the same reasons we're
volunteer firemen -- to serve the community and the people of the area," he says
with a smile.
The volunteers still use some of the original equipment
that Hanke used, including an ice saw and the conveyor system used to get the
ice blocks from Silver Lake to the pickup truck. According to Thomas, the
volunteers used to jack up a model A Ford and use the rear wheel to turn the
conveyor. Today, the same conveyor is turned by the hydraulics from a wood
splitter.
A photo of the 1940 Ice Palace shows multi-level parapets
with American flags flying from one of the towers; a 1942 photo shows an
obelisk-shaped ice castle sporting a "V" and a red cross. Another photo, date
unknown, shows a rounded structure, about 20-feet high, with windows and a door
dummied in.
"I spent all of my growing up years on a resort ten miles
or so out of town," wrote a former Eagle River resident. "After I grew up and
moved away, I enjoyed so much seeing the ice castle on the rare visits I could
make... The ice palace two year's ago... (was) ... stunning... it's such a
special part of Eagle River's winters!"
Recently, a travel journalist, known for his first-person
reports, asked to stay overnight at the ice castle to get the "flavor" for his
story. But it is, after all, just a structure, with no inner chambers, so he had
to write his story from "the outside."
And Eagle River's Annual Ice Castle is only one special
thing about Eagle River in the winter. First, Eagle River is registered as the
"Official Snowmobile Capital of the World"Ò. Don't forget about ice fishing,
snowshoeing, cross country skiing, and other winter sports, which are all major
activities of our area," notes Heeg.
"There's more to do in Eagle River," Heeg adds: "Visit our
fabulous and famous Northwoods Children's Museum; visit the new International
Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum (just west of Eagle River in St. Germain);
head for the Fruit of the Woods Winery in nearby Three Lakes; or participate in
one of the special programs and workshops at the Trees For Tomorrow Nature
Center, including Cross Country Skiing, Snowshoe Making, or Outdoor Lore.