Ice Castles - Cripple Creek, Colorado

Laurie M.

Really unique attraction. We had a lot of fun exploring the ice castle and slides. Lighting is much prettier than the pictures show. Tickets are purchased with an entrance time and you can stay as long as you want (up to closing of course). Snacks, drinks and adult beverages are available. I had the hot apple cider. Yum! Family friendly. Dress warm!

Shay L.

Upon arriving, there was already a line, and we ended up waiting for about 30 minutes or more, so we didn't enter right at 4 pm.

Before going in, you're offered to take professional photos taken by a photographer, and you can later purchase at the gift shop or online.

Ended up doing it twice, once while the sun was up and again when it was dark.

The experience was fun. However, I felt the advertising was somewhat false.
There was no fire or water shows. A section was closed off, which wasn't cool since I couldn't see everything, and I couldn't come back to see it open at another time.

The slide was a lot of fun. However, the lines were long, so there was a wait time, but the slide was very pretty as it had lights inside.

We ended up getting hot chocolate with Baileys. The "bartender" hurried, and I couldn't snap a photo.
It was good but lukewarm, and I didn't get any food, but they did have some food options.

The place was too small for the crowd that it had.
The tunnels were fun but again, small and rough on knees. I suggest making high taller tunnels for adults to enjoy.

There weren't very many props or sculptures, and the few places to snap a photo couldn't be done because people were using the benches to sit and not let people take their photos.

So I also suggest having more seating arrangements for those who need to sit.

I also want to suggest that you please have adult days/nights, it would be very beneficial and more enjoyable.

Don't think you'll lose money by offering this option a few times a month, I can guarantee you'll gain business, especially at the bar area.

It was rough taking photos or selfies because people had no respect and would walk into it.

I was also shocked by the number of rude adults that I encountered on my visit.
That didn't help my experience to enjoy it more.

Kathryn F.

We had SO much fun here! The ice castles are magical and the crawl tunnels, slides, and hidden nooks were a blast to explore. We had nonstop smiles!

Highly recommend coming in the late afternoon before sunset to see it during the day and see some of the colors at night! And make sure to wear snow pants and bring gloves for the slides/crawl tunnels.

We went on a Friday afternoon and it was not busy, but we saw lots of cars driving in as we left town. And compared to some reviews, we found the size to be perfect and larger than some implied.

Kiva F.

I thought the Ice Castles were absolutely beautiful! The detail and effort that goes into creating them is incredible. My family didn’t quite prepare for the conditions, though. They wore Crocs and Hey Dudes, not realizing the ground would be a mix of ice, snow, and sand, which made it pretty slippery and cold for them. I wore snow boots and had no issues, so definitely wear good winter shoes if you go.

We went during the day because the road to get there is pretty windy and felt a little sketchy for nighttime driving. I wish we could have seen it at night with all the lights—it must be amazing—but we didn’t want to risk it.

We only stayed about half an hour, but that’s probably because our group was two teenage boys, 17 and 19. They thought it was cool but weren’t overly impressed. I think younger kids would have a blast and really appreciate the magic of it all.

All in all, I thought it was a gorgeous experience and worth going. Just be sure to dress for the weather and maybe plan a nighttime trip if you’re comfortable with the drive—it looks incredible in the photos I’ve seen!

Joshua N.

I had a fantastic time arriving on a Monday evening at 6:00 p.m. the location was slightly busy when we arrived but by 6:45 the crowd had mostly dispersed. We had a majority of the ice castles to ourselves including the slides. We didn't wait for more than a minute or two to go down the slides.

The kids had a great time and said they loved the experience. If you do go, make sure to go in the evening for the lighting. We ate dinner in cripple Creek at a local restaurant (District Kitchen and Saloon) and brought hot chocolate and cider to drink after our trip to the ice castles.

If we were to come again, which we probably will, I would encourage you to go during the week in the evening when the lights are on and the crowds are hopefully low.

Also recommend bringing your own warm drinks/snacks for before and after. The prices for the tea, hot chocolate, and cider were somewhat expensive at $7 each.

david B.

It was a cool experience. The parking was very disorganized. There were a lot of people. No restrooms inside, and if you exit, you are not allowed back in. (We didn't have an issue with that, just an observation) For the price and a small venue, the food and drinks were high priced. It gave me a carnival kinda vibe. I overheard someone say that it was new to cripple creek, so hopefully, they will expand in years to come.
We came in at 3:55 pm and it wasn't too crowded. By 5pm it was insanely packed. I did my best to get photos without people in them. You can see that the night photos are close to the ice features (avoiding the hoards of people around them).

Caitlin R.

Exceeded my expectations! This was such a fun stop and really cool to see. We got here right before sunset so we’re able to experience both day and night time at the castle which I’d highly recommend. The sunset against the glacial blue was beautiful and the lights in the ice at night make it magical. It wasn’t too crowded walking around in the castle but there was a decent line for the big slide and food.

Thomas H.

What a fun experience. Slides, tunnels, ice sculptures, concessions, gift shop, it was a lot of fun. We went during the week and it wasn't very crowded, but I imagine it gets crowded on the weekend, which should be expected. My one recommendation would be wood fire pits instead of propane. I understand that's easier said than done, but if y'all could make that happen in the future, I think that would enhance the experience. That aside, it's still a great, fun experience that I look forward to visiting again. The pictures don't do it justice.