EAGLE RIVER ICE CASTLE

AN EAGLE RIVER TRADITION

Eagle River has proudly displayed some of the most amazing frozen works of art since the early 1930’s.  Originally, Charles Hanke (Fire Chief 1942 – 1959) owned the local icehouse, and F.W. Janusch from Eagle River and Chicago created designs which members of the community then transformed into the Eagle River Ice Castle.

The ice castles were discontinued during World War II and then started again shortly after the end of the war. During the 1950s and through the 1960s the Eagle River Lions Club spearheaded the ice castles’ construction with the fire chief, Charles Hanke, designing the castles for the club. As the Lion’s Eagle River Snowmobile Derby grew, the Lion’s Club gave up on the ice castle project due to the lack of time and manpower. A few attempts were undertaken in the 1970s to again construct an ice castles but the task was too large and the attempts came to quick end.

In 1987 the Eagle River Fire Chief, Jack Thomas, was approached to resurrect the ice castle project.  Since then the fire department has constructed the ice castles using much of the same ice equipment used during the first ice harvests (ice saw, hand saws and scrapers).  Ice and weather conditions determine if an ice castle can be built.  Ice needs to be between 12 – 14 inches thick by the end of December.  In a good year, approximately 3,000 blocks measuring 10” X 20” are cut out of Silver Lake and transported by pickup trucks to the construction site near the historic Rail Road Depot. Construction takes a good three days with finishing touches completed throughout the first week.  Lights are placed inside making a spectacular sight at night.

Since 1987 Jack Thomas, grandson of Charles Hanke, has designed the ice castles keeping a family and fire department tradition alive.  The fire department and community takes great pride in their beautiful creations. The annual Eagle River Ice Castle attracts visitors from around the country.