The Eagle River Ice Castle: A 92-year-old winter tradition
Northern Wisconsin is home to its own beautifully constructed castle, but only for a short time when the weather is just right.
Not many Wisconsin communities can claim to have their own castle, but Eagle River, a city in northern Wisconsin, certainly can—at least, when the weather allows for it. Nearly every year, Eagle River is home to the Eagle River Ice Castle, an annual tradition that has been delighting residents and visitors in the winter for nearly a century.
The Ice Castle, which dates back to 1933, consists of thousands of heavy ice blocks, carved out of a local lake and placed in an intricate design to replicate a traditional castle. It takes hundreds of hours of volunteer labor to construct the castle, and it can only be done under certain weather conditions, like when the ice on the lake is more than a foot thick.
What is the Eagle River Ice Castle?
One of the literal coolest sites in northern Wisconsin, the Eagle River Ice Castle is a large castle, made entirely of blocks of ice carved from the city’s Silver Lake each year (when the winter weather isn’t too warm, of course). The attraction is one of the most popular spots in Eagle River throughout the winter, according to the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce. While it’s not possible to enter the castle, it’s an ideal spot for grabbing winter photos and admiring the hours and hours of work that go into making the impressive structure, as well as its ice throne.
Nighttime visitors can also enjoy the Ice Castle’s light display, which fully illuminates the castle in colored lights and draws in large crowds. The castle is also free to visit.
What’s the history of the ice castle?
For more than nine decades, the Eagle River Ice Castle has been a tradition in the northern Wisconsin city. It first started in 1933, as part of the town’s King Winter Festival, according to the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce. The project was organized by Ed Bandow and William Radue, who cut the ice themselves from Silver Lake, a 57-acre lake in the city.
Two years later, another ice castle was built with only 250 ice blocks, making the castle relatively small in comparison to the approximately 3,000 used by volunteers today. A photo of the 1940 Ice Castle shows a multi-level castle with a parapet and towers. The Eagle River Ice Castle continued to grow in size and popularity as it became an annual event.
The Ice Castle wasn’t constructed during World War II, according to the Chamber of Commerce, but the tradition resumed in 1948, with Charles Hanke, the owner of C. H. Hanke Ice Co., building an ice castle in his front yard. Hanke continued to design the castles until 1980, when his grandson, Jack Thomas, took over. The Eagle River Area Volunteer Fire Department began managing the project in the mid-80s and continues to do so to this day.
Who builds the ice castle?
The Eagle River Ice Castle may look like it came straight out of a fairytale, but it didn’t—it was constructed by numerous hard-working volunteers. Every year, Eagle River volunteer firefighters, alongside additional volunteers, spend hundreds of hours constructing the city’s famed ice castle. According to the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, volunteers cut approximately 3,000 blocks of ice from nearby Silver Lake, each of which is 12 inches thick and weighs between 60 and 70 pounds, from a nearby lake and bring them to Eagle River, where the castle is constructed.
Does it happen every year?
While the city of Eagle River tries to make the Ice Castle an annual tradition, it’s not always possible to construct the castle every year due to warm winters, as the ice on Silver Lake has to be more than a foot thick before it can be cut. Recently, there was a four-year stretch when the Ice Castle was not constructed, from when it was taken down in 2018 until it was brought back in 2022. The castle was also not constructed in 2015 and 2016, and was delayed until mid-January 2017.
Where is it?
The Eagle River Ice Castle is located at 116 S. Railroad St., in Eagle River. It’s located on the same site as the Eagle River Historical Society.
How do you get to Eagle River?
Located in the Northwoods, Eagle River is a city in Vilas County, where it’s also the county seat. It’s located along northern Wisconsin’s Eagle River, from which the city derives its name. Eagle River can be reached from several major highways, including U.S. Highway 45 and State Trunk Highways 17, 32, and 70.
The city is home to the Eagle River Union Airport, primarily used by seasonal homeowners in the area who own planes. The nearest commercial airport to the city is in Rhinelander, Wisc., 30 miles from Eagle River.
When can visitors go?
Understandably, the Eagle River Ice Castle is seasonally dependent and has a pretty short season, usually running a maximum of two months. Typically, the ice castle is constructed and open for visitors by the end of December or early January. According to the Eagle River Area Chamber of Commerce, the structure usually stands until mid-February, when whatever remains unmelted is taken down.
What else is there to do in Eagle River?
While many people in the Midwest see winter as an opportunity to bundle up and stay indoors for a few months, some brave souls seek the chance to get outdoors and enjoy all that the season has to offer, and it has a lot to offer in Eagle River. In addition to checking out the Eagle River Ice Castle, visitors to Eagle River and locals can enjoy taking a ride behind a team of adorable huskies at Top of the Hill Huskies, or a scenic sleigh ride with Haven Pines.
Even if you don’t want to spend a lot of time outdoors, there is still plenty to do in Eagle River, like spending a day at the Northwoods Children’s Museum, which has been in operation for nearly three decades and offers several exhibits, in addition to an art studio, where kids can showcase their creativity.
It’s not just ideal for visiting in the winter—there is plenty of summer fun to be had in the Northwoods, and Eagle River in particular. Go swimming, fishing, or kayaking in one of the many lakes that surround the city, or go on a scenic boat tour with Bill’s Guide Service, an Eagle River-based fishing guide and boat tour company.
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