Silverthorne Ice Castles a victim of warm weather
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- Created on Friday, 23 March 2012 22:02
- Written by Scott Rappold
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The Ice Castles at Silverthorne, a unique attraction you may have read about this winter, are melting away.
It's been an unseasonably warm late winter-early spring in the high country, and though the creator hoped to stay open into April, the castles will close for good Sunday (March 25).
See photos of the Ice Castles!
From the website:
"At the ice castle, we watch the forecast religiously. This year we’ve found that most days are warmer than projected (especially if sunny). Yesterday was nearly 60 degrees and today is even warmer. A good portion of the new ice that we froze over the last week is melting and will be gone by Monday. We sincerely wish we could stay open, but we want to make sure that if we are open the experience is the best that we could offer…and with all the melting that is happening, we’re starting to cross the line of feeling like we are providing the best possible experience for our guests. Because of this we have decided that the last day that the Ice Castles will be open will be Sunday March 25th.
"For those who have purchased tickets through Groupon, we have extended the expiration date of the tickets from March 31, 2012 to December 31, 2012. This will allow you to come see the ice castle when it is fresh and frozen. Please watch our website next winter to see when we will open.
"Is it worth coming this weekend? The ice towers are still 30′ tall, the tunnels through the large tower are very much the same as they were in January or February. Most of our recent guests have told us that they wish the weather was warmer cooler so that the ice was not melting so much, but they still loved the ice castle experience. Others have felt that the melting of the ice decreased from the experience. The feedback from the night time when the ice is lit up has remained overwhelmingly positive. The after dark experience of the ice is very similar now to what it was like during the peak of winter – the main difference being that the temperature now is in the 30′s after the sun goes down, rather than in the low 20′s to mid teens in January and February.
"If you do decide to come, the price has been reduced to $5 per person. Wear boots that can get wet. The dripping ice onto the snow walking surface creates slush that you’ll be walking through during the day. At night it isn’t as wet, but you’ll still want boots.
"We sincerely wish that we could stay open longer, and it is a melancholy experience for us to watch our work of art and labor of love melting so quickly. Thank you for understanding."
