AURORA, Colo. — More than two million pounds of ice have been built into Colorado's largest indoor frozen attraction.
A team of thirty ice carvers are putting the final touches on Gaylord Rockies Resort's annual holiday exhibition "ICE," which opens Friday.
Gaylord Rockies said the artisans began with 6,000 ice blocks in order to create the 17,000-square-foot winter wonderland.
The carvers traveled 5,700 miles from "Ice City" Harbin, China, home to the world’s largest annual ice and snow sculpting festival. Blocks weighing 300 pounds have been carved using chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders and chainsaws.
It has taken four weeks to create this year's frozen attraction which celebrates the 2004 holiday film "The Polar Express."
Colored ice, clear ice and LED lights have created 10 scenes from the movie, including the Polar Express arriving at Hero Boy’s house, passengers enjoying hot chocolate aboard the train, a descent through Glacier Gulch, and the arrival at the North Pole.
The attraction features five, two-story tall interactive ice slides and uses colored ice, clear ice and LED lights to create the display, as well as a separate area dedicated to a Nativity scene.
The environment is kept frozen by a chilling system that maintains the attraction’s temperature at 9 degrees Fahrenheit. Guests get to wear a blue parka to stay warm inside the exhibition.
ICE! at Gaylord Resorts
Gaylord Rockies also opens a family friendly cirque show on Friday.
"Cirque: Frost" will follow young Jack as he discovers his destiny as the legendary winter spirit, Jack Frost. The 50-minute show will high-flying stunts and feats in a heartwarming tale of a dreamer who brings enchantment and wonder to the world.
Gaylord Rockies said its other holiday season activities this year include gingerbread decorating, elf training academy, scavenger hunt, Mistletoe Village with Mr. and Mrs. Claus, and Build-A-Bear Workshop.
The resort's Christmas-season events run through Wednesday, Jan. 1.
