Colossal crystal stalactites rise 30 feet into the air, forming the walls and towers of Brent Christensen’s striking Ice Castle attractions. Winding through tunnels and caves, visitors can sit on frozen thrones, zip down chilly slides, and admire billowing snow fountains.

More than a decade ago, after his family relocated to Utah from California, Christensen experimented with sprinklers and icicles in his front yard to forge a one-of-a-kind ice cave for his children. People from all over the neighborhood soon started stopping by as word of the “castle” spread.

“I don’t know if I would call myself an artist, but I do love to create,” Christensen tells Dornob. “Ever since I was young, I’ve looked at things a little differently. There’s something about the creative process…to be able to step back and look at something, whether its paper or metal or ice…that wasn’t there before you came along. It’s very empowering and very satisfying.”
And what started as simply a winter boredom-buster for his kids has since expanded into a 400-employee, multi-site business for Christensen. Beginning with an interactive display in Midway, Utah in 2011, he and his company have put up Ice Castles all over the country to share the magic of their masterpieces.
This year’s frozen palaces – located in New Hampshire, Colorado, Utah, and Wisconsin – each required two months of construction bef...