Photos: Empires of ice

Constructing the Ice Castles

News | December 28, 2019

Liz Copan

DILLON — From their groundbreaking first icicles in November until their opening day on Saturday, Dec. 28, crews battled with mother nature and labored tirelessly around the clock to create the artistic arctic marvel, the Dillon Ice Castles. To the ice artists, it was all worth it as they gauged the crowd’s wondrous reaction on opening night.

**Families enter the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.**
*Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com*

**People explore the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.**
*Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com*

**Dramatically lit icicles hang from structures in the Ice Castles on Saturday, Dec. 28.**
*Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com*

**Fire dancers entertain the crowd at the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.**
*Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com*

**In a performance of fire and ice, entertainers dazzle the crowd at the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.**
*Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com*

Annie Delminico works at the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28. Delminico has been working on the construction of the Ice Castles since early November and loves the reaction of the public to the finished work of art.
*Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com*

Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Alan Dilts works on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. the day before it is scheduled to open on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Storm Dye and Logan Britton work on the finishing touches at the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Fire dancers entertained the crowd at the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo. on Friday, Dec. 27. The attraction is officially open to the public on Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Workers put the finishing touches on the Ice Castles in Dillon on Friday, Dec. 27.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Crowds flock to the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Highlights from the Saturday, Dec. 28, opening night of the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
People explore the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Highlights from the Saturday, Dec. 28, opening night of the Ice Castles in Dillon, Colo.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
People enjoy the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Families enter the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com
Annie Delminico works at the Dillon Ice Castles on opening night, Saturday, Dec. 28. Delminico has been working on the construction of the Ice Castles since early November and loves the reaction of the public to the finished work of art.
Liz Copan / ecopan@summitdaily.com