300 Ice Sculptors Arrive From China to Build Massive Frozen Christmas Attractions at 8 U.S. Resorts
More than 300 ice sculptors from Harbin, China, have arrived in the United States to build this year’s ICE! Christmas attractions. They’re turning millions of pounds of ice into characters and scenes that visitors can walk through.
Marriott announced the artists’ arrival on October 19, with the attractions opening at six Gaylord resorts and two JW Marriott resorts in November. The carving process takes nearly 40 days.
The artists start with blocks of ice weighing 300 pounds and use tools ranging from handsaws to chainsaws. Some of the details they carve are no larger than a coin, while the tallest scenes stand more than 30 feet high.
Visitors will be able to walk through frozen passageways and ride down two-story ice slides. The attractions are kept at 9 degrees Fahrenheit to preserve the sculptures, and guests get blue parkas to wear inside.
The Sculptors Follow 300-Page Design Books
Embedded media follows. Please allow a moment for it to load.
The carvers follow 300-page books of sketches and blueprints, and some use custom-made tools for the small details. At Gaylord Texan in Grapevine, Texas, this year’s Harry Potter display will use 6,700 blocks of ice weighing 2 million pounds.
A chemist makes a special coloring formula to match the characters. It also keeps the ice from losing its bright colors during the season. A few sculptors stay at the resorts after ICE! opens to maintain the displays, and visitors can watch them work during daily carving demonstrations.
Visitors Will Find Hogwarts and more
The Texas display will have 10 scenes from Harry Potter, including the Hogwarts Express and Hogsmeade. There will also be floating candles and frozen Chocolate Frogs.
Gaylord Opryland in Nashville is recreating scenes from Home Alone, with Kevin McCallister and the Wet Bandits carved from ice. The resort will have a smaller ice slide for children, too.
At Gaylord Rockies in Aurora, Colorado, The Nightmare Before Christmas display will take guests through Halloween Town and Christmas Town. Its ice slides will run through Oogie Boogie’s lair.
Two Resorts Will Host ICE! for the First Time
Gaylord Pacific in Chula Vista, California, is adding ICE! for the first time with A Charlie Brown Christmas. JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge is the other new location and will have an Elf display.
Nashville’s attraction opens November 6 and runs through January 2, 2027. The other seven displays open later in November and continue through January 3. The full list of themes, dates, and ticket options is available on the event website.
