EAGLE RIVER — Construction of the Eagle River Fire Department’s iconic Ice Castle has begun.
Volunteers, primarily Eagle River firefighters and local residents, are spending hundreds of hours crafting the frozen palace.
The process involves cutting nearly 3,000 12-inch-thick ice blocks from a nearby lake, transporting them to downtown Eagle River, and meticulously stacking them into a towering 20-foot-high structure.
The Ice Castle is a beloved local attraction, drawing visitors from far and wide to marvel at its grandeur.
On Friday, volunteers lined up with trucks to transport the harvested ice blocks from Silver Lake.
“We still have a little bit to go before we start the outer wall,” the fire department reported in a social media update. “We will need lots of volunteers to build the outer wall. If you are interested in helping, please show up around 10 a.m. tomorrow morning (Saturday).”
Depending on weather conditions, the ice castle usually stays up until the middle of February, when the remains are taken down. Visitors will find information about the castle and its local sponsors, as well as a donation box, at the back of the structure.
