New Scavenger Hunts, Games and Fire Shows Cap the 2026 Lineup at Cripple Creek’s Ice Castles
Trevor Phipps
Anyone who is a fan of outdoor sports in the high country knows that Old Man Winter definitely took his sweet time making it to Colorado this year.
Traditional cold-spirited activities, such as ice fishing, skiing and snowboarding, all experienced unprecedented delays with warmer-than-average temperatures, bordering on record highs, lasting until mid-January. And then after a short cold spell, the region got hit with another surprising streak of balmy temperatures later in the month.
As a result, the Colorado Ice Castles in Cripple Creek, Teller’s most renown winter attraction, encountered a three-week delay in opening their doors. The high temperatures during December made preparation efforts difficult because the crafted castles would melt in the daytime.
The Ice Castles officially opened their doors to visitors on Jan. 10, well past their normal opening time of the last two seasons. But fret not, the 2026 castles attraction offers more activities than what has been showcased in the past. They are open for a full schedule until at least Feb. 21, so get your tickets now.
According to Kate Buys, the Ice Castles’ assistant event manager, the attraction, located just a block or two from the main street, will remain open for as long as weather permits. Customers can’t currently book anything past Feb. 21, but Buys said she hopes the Ice Castles can stay open until sometime in March. In the past two season, they closed around the middle of March
Castle Themes for 2026
For 2026, the Cripple Creek Ice Castles theme is a “Frozen Reef.” “So, we are pulling inspiration from ocean reefs,” Buys explained. “So, you will see a lot of aspects in the castle that kind of pull from that. All of our sculptures are related to the ocean. When you enter, the idea is that you are following through a dock.”
The Ice Castle attraction also added characters this year to enhance the frozen reef theme. “In the castle itself, this year we have ‘Cora’ the frozen reef fairy,” Buys said. “So, she is one of our character performers and the idea is that she kind of runs the whole frozen reef. It’s a cool aspect of the castles.”
Cora the frozen reef fairy can be found in the center of the attraction. She interacts with visitors and she offers children (and even adults) a chance for a great photo opportunity.
Another added attraction new to this year is a fire show, a display that has already commanded main stage attention on social media outlets. In the center of the castle, flames ignite starting at about 5 p.m., lasting for a few minutes. Once the sun sets, the fire show occurs (twice per hour) until the castle closes for the night.
“It’s been a huge hit,” Buys said about the new fire show. “The fire kind of comes up behind the ice. Also, the guests can feel the warmth from the fire, which is pretty cool and people really enjoy that.”
Moreover, the attraction now has added the “Castle Quests” feature to their lineup. There are three quests that visitors can take that require them to walk through the castle and accomplish certain tasks. The quests prompt guests to ask staff members for secret words, find hidden yetis in the ice, and look for other items, such as “glow-in-the-dark starfish inside the one-of-a-kind UV room.”
An Infusion of Quality Entertainment for Kids and Adults
Aside from the new theme and additions for the 2026 season, the Ice Castles attraction also brought back many of the aspects that made their attraction a big wintertime hit during the past two years. For children, the castles offer several unique places where they can explore.
The castles also feature ice slides, some for just children and some that adults apparently relish. In addition, the Cripple Creek Ice Castles abounds with small tunnels, enabling kids to get on their hands and knees and discover new ice secrets.
For adults, the attraction also has special adult tunnels that show them sculptures and lead them to the “glow-in-the-dark UV room.” Adults can also get lost in mazes and explore unique ice caverns.
But if the adults want to relax while the kids continue to explore, the Frozen Tap ice bar made its return for 2026. The frozen bar offers winter-themed cocktails that adults can enjoy next to a frozen table with a fire pit. The attraction also features a food truck, aimed at satisfying the culinary desires of many visitors without having to wait until they exit the attraction. One of the initial complaints of the Ice Castles attraction during their first season was the lack of immediate food options.
After all, crawling through ice tunnels and dealing with the endless enthusiasm of your kids can create a hearty appetite and the need for an adult beverage.
Overall, Ice Castles offers something for every type of visitor. From octopuses stuck in the ice to canoes lodged in the snow, the popular winter attraction offers 360-degree views of unique formations, sculptures and more.
2026 marks the third consecutive year the Ice Castles attraction has landed in Cripple Creek. This year, the Utah-based company has sites scattered across North America, showcasing different themes.
In Colorado, the company opened up a second location in Silverthorne, located about two and a half hours from Cripple Creek. The Silverthorne castles offer all of the same attractions, but feature a different-style castle than what is displayed in Cripple Creek. It also is adorned with different sculptures.
Outside of the state, Ice Castles has sites in Edmonton, Canada, Minnesota and New Hampshire this year.
For ticket information, visit the city of Cripple Creek’s tourism website.
