We love the Ice Castles! We’ve been since they came to Wisconsin, originally in Wisconsin Dells, and now in Lake Geneva. The Ice Castles Lake Geneva is a must experience. They add new and different features every year, plus bring back fan favorites. Ice Castles will return to Wisconsin in 2023, but different yet again! Per a press release on December 6, 2023:
LATEST UPDATE: Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, February 8, 2024 – One of Wisconsin’s cherished winter attractions, Winter Realms, formerly Ice Castles located in Lake Geneva, will be closing for the 2024 season as of today, February 8, 2024.
The unseasonably warm winter delayed Winter Realms’ opening until January 26, yet during the
shorter than expected season, thousands of people visited and enjoyed the icy fortress’s ice
slides, igloos, ice sculptures, sleigh rides, ice thrones, mystic light walk, ice-carved tunnels, and
a sledding hill, during the event.
Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, January 23, 2024 – “The wait will soon be over for the opening of one of Wisconsin’s most popular winter attractions, Winter Realms, formerly known as Ice Castles. Located in Lake Geneva, Winter Realms will open to the public at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, January 26, 2024.
Ice artisans are working around the clock to get the attraction in southeastern Wisconsin ready for the grand opening on Friday. The snowy fairy-tale playground will feature ice-carved tunnels, a fountain, slides, frozen thrones, the Polar Ice Bar, horse-drawn sleighs along the golf course at Geneva National Resort, a snow tubing hill, a mystic light walk, ice and snow igloos, and cascading towers of ice embedded with color-changing LED lights.
“It is no secret that the weather this year has provided unexpected challenges, but our team has powered through and we are excited to officially announce our grand opening.” said Ice Castles CEO Kyle Standifird. “We do not know how long we will be able to remain open due to unpredictable weather forecasts, and we encourage guests to come as soon as possible and not wait.”
Due to popular demand, Winter Realms, originally planned to be closed on Tuesdays for maintenance, will be open on Tuesday, January 30 from 4:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Tickets are available for purchase on the attraction’s website.
Tickets are sold in 30-minute entry time slot increments. Once guests have entered, they are welcome to enjoy the Winter Realms for as long as they would like. Depending on the cold winter weather, Winter Realms is tentatively planned to be open until mid February.
The Utah-based company has one other Winter Realms location in Lake George, New York, and four other Ice Castles locations in Midway, Utah; Cripple Creek, Colorado; Maple Grove, Minnesota; and North Woodstock, New Hampshire.”
Find updates on the attraction’s website, icecastles.com.
We attended on February 5, 2023. See our experience HERE.
3 THINGS TO KNOW REGARDING ICE CASTLES as WINTER REALMS IN WISCONSIN
– ICE CASTLES Returning at Winter Realms
– TICKETS will go on sale Wednesday, December 6.
– Use code LCFF23 for 15% off tickets!
– Winter Realms is projected to open in late January 2024.
This post contains affiliate links from Amazon. Lake Country Family Fun is an Amazon associate and earns from qualifying purchases.
Ice Castles is coming back to Lake Geneva as Winter Realms in January 2024! Hooray!
What is Ice Castles?
Ice Castles is an awe-inspiring, must-see winter phenomenon that brings fairy tales to life. The frozen attraction is located in six cities across North America. The experience is built entirely by hand using hundreds of thousands of icicles hand-placed by professional ice artists. The castles include breathtaking LED-lit sculptures, frozen thrones, ice-carved tunnels, slides, and fountains.
Ice Castles as Winter Realms in Wisconsin – Lake Geneva
Lake Country Family Fun is so excited to see the Ice Castles returning to Lake Geneva! They will be at the same location as last year: GENEVA NATIONAL RESORT AND CLUB. Get excited! Ice Castles is a great fun family time.
Winter Realms is a premier winter attraction that seamlessly blends the enchanting elements of the season into a captivating wonderland of lights, snow, and ice.
When you visit the Ice Castles in 2023, we’d love to see your family’s photos! So tag us on Instagram @lakecountryfamilyfun and use the hasthag #icecastles and #LoveLCFF.
When Ice Castles OPEN for the Season
Ice Castles as Winter Realms coming back in January 2024!
For communication right to your email, sign up for Lake Country Family Fun’s newsletter and subscribe to Ice Castles information by going here. Again, it is very important to remember that Ice Castles Winter Realms is a totally weather-dependent attraction and may close based on conditions various days.
When you buy TICKETS, use code
LCFF23
to get 15% off tickets online!
Getting There
Ice Castles are located 1221 Geneva National Avenue South in Lake Geneva.
Located off the wooded slopes and shores of Lake Como, Destination Geneva National offers 214 luxurious guest rooms between the Cottages & Suites of Geneva National and the Ridge Hotel. The Resort also features 5 different award-winning dining options including a family friendly Character Brunch and the festive, wintery Snow Globes. Overnight lodging guests can also enjoy the indoor saltwater pool and hot tub at the Ridge Hotel to warm up after a cold night out. Dine and stay at Geneva National while attending Winter Realm Lake Geneva to create the perfect winter
getaway for the whole family.
From Pewaukee, it took me about 50 minutes to get there. Parking is free at the Geneva National Resort and Club. There are plenty of Ice Castles staff to assist you entering the property, parking, and getting to the actual Ice Castles. You won’t miss the signs leading up to the event.
Tips for Your Visit
- Bring boots! NO joke! I saw a lady in heels. I almost jokingly asked if she’d worn them as ice picks – ha! Warm, winter boots all around. It’s cold, icy and wet.
- Make a day, night or weekend of it!
- Don’t bring a stroller, instead opt for a sled. Strollers will not work. Bring your own sled. Ice Castles does not provide sleds for guests.
- Bring your camera. These make for some great photo ops. Post your photos to #icecastles (but leave your tripods at home).
- Buy tickets online to save money and then have them sent right to your phone so you don’t have to remember or waste paper.
- Bring cash or credit if you are hungry or thirsty. You can purchase a snack or drink right in and outside of the Ice Castles.
- Check their FACEBOOK page before going. In case of warmer weather, they told me they may possibly need to shut down due to slush, but will be up and running when the temperature goes back down. Therefore, they suggest checking their Facebook page for updates related to weather.
Ice Castles Giveaway
Not in winter 2023-2024.
Be sure to LIKE the Ice Castles Facebook page.
The Giveaway has ended. Congrats to Antonio and Jacki for winning in 2022-2023!
You can read more about The Ridge hotel here, including details how to book for your stay-cation when you visit the Ice Castles as Winter Realms in Lake Geneva.
Like them on Facebook and Instagram.
Use #icecastles and #lovelcff when you visit so we can see your photos!
Sneak Peak
Lake Country Family Fun attended the Ice Castles in the final construction stages on January 18th, 2018. We met with Paul. Check out the interview and sneak peak.
Comment and join the conversation on this Facebook Live here.
See our trip review for when we attended Ice Castles in Wisconsin Dells a few years ago here. There are many tips for attending in this post.
Make it a Stay-Cation
Lake Country Family Fun visited two Lake Geneva hotels – THE Ridge and the Inns in past years. You can read our reviews here. If you want to make a stay-cation out of your visit, we highly recommend these hotels. The Inns is especially good for groups. THE Ridge is simply amazing and offers TONS to do (igloo experience, ice skating, Crafted Americana Restaurant and more). If you are just coming to town for the Ice Castles, the Ridge has an awesome coffee shop (Bean + Vine Coffee and Wine Bar) where you can grab a hot treat. Ice skating at the Ridge is also FREE if you bring your own skates (and you don’t have to be staying there to skate) or a small fee to rent for non-hotel guests (for hotel guests, skate rental is complimentary).
Five Fascinating Facts
- Ice Castles weigh more than 25 million pounds!
- Ten thousand icicles are hand-placed every day.
- More than 1 million visitors since 2011.
- Ice Castles is made entirely of ice.
- Each Ice Castle takes more than 4,000 man hours to build.
Ice Castles Ticket Prices
2024 prices
Peak Visit Tickets: $30
Off-Peak Tickets: $26
USE CODE LCFF23 for 15% off
For guaranteed entry and the lowest price, buy tickets online in advance.
**Ticket sales are final. Ticket dates and times may be changed as long as changes are made at least 24 hours in advance. Please take this into considerations if there is inclement weather imminent or if you have a sudden change of circumstances.
Ice Castles Contact Information
Ice Castles – Lake Geneva
1221 Geneva National Avenue South, Lake Geneva
Contact Form
Facebook
Website
Other: Entrants must be 18 years or older at the time of entering the giveaway. Entrants must be located in the U.S. The winner will be selected at random and notified via the email that was submitted. Winner must respond within 48 hours to claim their prize, or another winner will be chosen. Only one entry person. Duplicates will be deleted.
Ice Castle Tickets: Ticket codes will be provided to the winning individuals. Code will be used to book online. Subject to availability.
Disclosure: Many thanks to Ice Castles for providing the giveaway items. See DISCLOSURE AND PRIVACY POLICY here. The winner may be congratulated on Facebook or Instagram (with the official prize notification going through email). For giveaways that are announced or promoted on Facebook or Instagram, please note that these promotions are in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook or Instagram.
THE RIDGE & THE INNS HOTEL REVIEWS – LAKE GENEVA
Stay right by the Ice Castles!
This post contains affiliate links from Amazon. Lake Country Family Fun is an Amazon associate and earns from qualifying purchases.
When will tickets for this go on sale?
Tom Garza, Christina Arteaga, Mike Bosmans
Can’t wait to experience this fun adventure.
My 6 year old daughter, eight year old son and me!
So excited to go back again to see the Ice Castled
Will the ice castles in Lake Geneva be closed on Tuesdays?
They are still adjusting their hours. It’s weather dependent.
So much fun for a winter break activity!!!
Looks cool!!!❄️
Can’t wait
Dying to go! Mark Schafer, Beatriz Cahue &Faniel Cahue
This sounds so cool!!
Melissa Klingele, Colleen Frei, Kerri Pomper
super excited to see the beauty of it all
I’ve always wanted to go. I hope I make it there!
So excited! My birthday is in January. What an awesome time for me to be able to go.
Love it
We have never been to Ice Castle and would absolutely love to go this year! It looks magical.
Hope we make it this year!
I would love to take my family including Gavin, Colin, Ryan and my mom Jan who is going through some serious health issues. Seems like a magical experience!
Already have our room booked for January 23-25 at the Abbey. Hoping it is open by then!
I hope Ice Castles is open by that late in January, too!
Looking forward to seeing the ice castles. What a great outdoor venture.
The castles look so neat!!
Would be so fun to take my daughter for her birthday!
I cant wait to experience the ice castles again! Went to the one in the Dells a few years ago and it was beautiful.
Ice castles experience is the must see event !
This looks amazing! We’ve heard how fun the slides and tunnels are and can’t wait to try for ourselves!
Idea for 2023 Giveaway: Sleigh ride!