Ice Castles are Coming Back to Minnesota! Here’s an EXCLUSIVE 15% Discount (valid winter 2023- 2024)
Ice Castles are coming to Maple Grove, Minnesota this Winter (2023 – 2024)!
Plus, I’m excited to announce that once again I have an exclusive 15% discount for tickets! Use code FrugalMN online!
Ice Castles will open in mid-January. Stay tuned for updates.
NOTE: Tickets went on sale November 29th.
Ice Castles in Minnesota
We’ve loved Ice Castles since they first came to Minnesota in 2015.
They were in Eden Prairie, then Stillwater, then New Brighton, and now they’re coming to Maple Grove!
“The decision to move to Maple Grove comes after careful consideration and a desire to continually improve the guest experience,” said Ice Castles CEO Kyle Standifird. “In addition to our regular attention to improving the ice features we offer, one of the overall improvements we will see in Maple Grove is the availability of ample parking. We are dedicated to enhancing the guest experience in every possible way.”
“We are thrilled to show off the City of Maple Grove as a true winter destination hosting this crown jewel of Minnesota winters,” said Experience Maple Grove Executive Director Greg Anzelc. “On top of the Ice Castle experience, visitors can take a short walk to Central Park and lace up their skates on our unique ice-skating loop, and also buckle up snowshoes for an adventure through our park system. Maple Grove is known for shopping and dining, which is just a short walk down Main Street from the Ice Castle. For those planning a staycation or traveling in from around the region, we have an abundance of warm and welcoming hotel properties that will be offering special Ice Castle room night packages.”
Ice Castles will be an acre in size, and will feature ice slides, fire shows, caverns, tunnels, ice sculptures, a light walk, an ice bar, and a variety of other awe-inspiring ice formations.
It will be open as early as late December.
Minnesota isn’t the only location for Ice Castles. The company, based in Utah, will have three other Ice Castles locations in Midway, Utah; Cripple Creek, Colorado; and North Woodstock, New Hampshire. There will also be a new attraction, Winter Realm, in New York and Wisconsin, featuring seasonal elements such as winter sleigh rides, ice skating, and a whimsical light walk.
I love Maple Grove! There are many businesses I’ve visited and written about there.
And you can save 15% with my code FrugalMN.
Learn more about Ice Castles here.
Our Experience in 2022
It was so beautiful at night! There were new features and lights this year, including the swirling lights inside the slide.
I loved walking through the tunnels.
The tunnels and pathways were illuminated blue and seemed to go on and on.
Even walking out there were cool lights to see.
Our Experience in 2020
First, here’s a video tour from our visit in 2020:
The whole walk-through attraction was full of ice formations, rooms, waterfalls, and even fountains. There were fire pits to warm up at, slides big enough for adults and kids alike, and tunnels for kids (and brave adults) to crawl through.
There was a place to buy hot drinks and sweet treats, like hot chocolate, coffee, cake pops, nuts, and cookies.
Here’s the menu if you want to plan in advance!
We had some hot chocolate and treats, and took some pictures with the Snow Princesses who were there ready for meet and greets (not sure if they’re back this year).
There was a bigger enclosed slide that was very popular. You could pick up a blue mat and wait in a line that went to the top. I guess it was like the giant slide at the fair, but made of ice? My kids didn’t want to wait in line so we didn’t go on it, but the line was moving pretty steadily and it looked like fun.
Kids were LOVING all the cool tunnels and surprises throughout the place. I especially loved the “rooms” you could walk through. They’re located near the exit.
We visited during the day – there was music playing, and everything was a pretty soft blue. But at night everything is lit up so it’s like a whole different place. No matter when you go, it’s a memorable experience.
What You’ll Love:
- Plenty of unique picture opportunities, both day and night.
- Being among the many people smiling and posing for pictures and curiously exploring different ice formations and features. Kids and families squeezing, squishing, sliding, stomping and crawling through parts of the stunning, Narnia-like display.
- Amazing ice features including possibly archways, tunnels, slot canyons, ice slide, caverns, glacial waterfalls and a frozen throne (these vary year to year).
- Natural frozen ice tones during the day; colorful LED-lit ice set to music at night.
- Having a good reason to brave the cold for a little while – a unique experience for all.
What You Can Probably Expect (based on previous years):
- There is no place to warm up or sit down. There have been “porta-potties,” but no warming house. In previous years I saw people warm up in their cars, waiting for family members who are in the ice castles. (This year when we visited it wasn’t that cold.)
- The ground is uneven and slippery. It’s full of crushed ice, and all the people traffic helps to pat it mostly down. However, wear good boots and assist children or anyone in your party who may be pregnant, elderly or disabled. You have to walk carefully, and you definitely can’t bring a stroller in here.
- In the evening, the lights go on and off and change color inside the ice, so if you’re planning to take pictures, you may have to wait until the lights cycle to a brighter intensity. I had to wait a few times through some darker moments.
Tips for visiting:
- To avoid the crowds I recommend visiting on a non-holiday weekday. You may not see all the entertainment, but you’ll get in and out quicker.
- Bring a sled for the kids! We saw people pulling kids around on sleds everywhere.
- BUNDLE UP to be outside for at least 45 minutes.
- Bring your camera – the best camera you have, if possible.
- Bring cash as there may be concessions. You’ll probably at least want something warm to drink, and the cookies and cake pops are SO tempting!
- Get your tickets in advance. The line for buying tickets can be long!
NOTE: All of these features vary year to year – the above tips are based on our visits from previous years.
PRICING AND EXCLUSIVE DISCOUNT!
I’m excited to share an EXCLUSIVE discount for Ice Castles 2023 – 2024!
Just use my code FrugalMN and you’ll save 15% off tickets any day of the season!
Visit their website to purchase the tickets and use the code here: https://icecastles.com/minnesota
(Tickets go on sale Wednesday, November 29th, 2023.)
Regular admission (ages 12 and up) is $23.
Child admission (ages 4 – 11) is $16.
MORE INFORMATION!
Visit the Ice Castles website for more information!
My Reviews Each Year
Read my previous reviews here:
Ice Castles in Stillwater 2018
Ice Castles in Stillwater 2017
Ice Castles in Eden Prairie’s Miller Park 2016
Ice Castles in Eden Prairie’s Miller Park 2015
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