Just imagine, A Christmas Story™ described so vividly in an icy maze of beauty and wonder. This is the experience that the Gaylord has brought back this year to astonish and amaze, not just visitors, YOU! If you have never been to the Gaylord Rockies Resort,, this is your chance for you and your family to experience a once in a lifetime event.
2 MILLION POUNDS OF ICE! What does that look like? How heavy is it? Where did they get it? How many ice cubes is that? While being engulfed with A Christmas Story™, all of your icy questions will be quelled. Get Ready
Holiday Classic ‘A Christmas Story™’ Told Through Hand-Carved Ice Sculptures
ICE!, the annual holiday tradition at Gaylord Rockies Resort, returns Nov. 17, 2023 through Jan. 1, 2024. Using more than two million pounds - or 1,000 tons - of ice, the amusing Warner Bros. holiday classic, ‘A Christmas Story™' will be brought to life in ice sculpture form by a team of 40 world-class ice artisans from Harbin, China. The holiday celebration continues with performances from “Cirque: Spirit of Christmas,” ice slides, Christmas activities and a visit from Santa Claus.
With over ten scenes from the hilarious family tale in hand-carved sculptures made of ice, these are a few. Featured scenes include the old man's major award, Aunt Clara's pink nightmare, the ultimate triple dog dare at the school's flagpole and more. Colored ice, clear ice, and LED lights will encompass you with every step into this adventure.
Starting with more than 6,000 massive ice blocks, the carvers work approximately six weeks - more than 12,000 man-hours - to create the nearly 17,000 square foot frozen attraction. The artisans, using skills passed down through generations, follow a 300-page design book to create the ice spectacle. Ice carvings range in size from details as tiny as a coin to soaring scenes more than 30 feet tall. Your environment will be kept frozen by a state-of-the-art chilling system that maintains the temperature at nine degrees Fahrenheit. BUT, you will be hugged in a signature blue parka to stay warm during your excursion.
The carvers have traveled more than 5,700 miles from their homes in Harbin, China to Aurora, Colorado. Known as “Ice City,” Harbin is home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival in the world. At Gaylord Rockies Resort, some of the same artisans who create the Harbin festival will carve 300-pound blocks of ice into the larger-than-life, whimsical scenes. Carvers will use chisels, chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders and even chainsaws to bring “A Christmas Story™” to life.
In addition to the amazing ice sculptures from the fan-favorite Christmas movie, you can also take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides and traverse through ice tunnels and arches. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved, and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice.
‘A Christmas Story™ and all related characters and elements & Turner Entertainment Co. (s23)