The Eagle River Fire Department won’t be able to create its well-known Ice Castle this year.
The department usually pulls ice from Silver Lake. The ice needs to be at least 12 inches thick for the volunteers to create block big enough for the castle and for it to be safe enough for them to cut and pull the blocks out the ice.
In a Facebook post, the Eagle River Fire Department said the ice is 11 inches thick and the forecast doesn't show cold enough days ahead to gain that extra inch.
The last time conditions allowed for the creation of the Ice Castle was in 2018. That's the photos you're seeing. Due to uncooperative weather, the castle has been built just twice since 2014.
From the Eagle River Chamber of Commerce website, the first ice castle began as an addition to the annual “King Winter” festival in 1933. The project was led by Ed Bandow and William Radue who would cut the ice from Silver Lake. The first castle was built on the Chicago and Northwestern Railroad property across from current day Moccasin Shop & Gifts.
