Eagle River Ice Castle Canceled Because Of Warm Weather

Eagle River will not have its traditional ice castle this winter because of the recent stretch of warm weather.

Eagle River Fire Chief Patrick Weber said the ice on Silver Lake is too thin to safely support the vehicles and people who cut the ice blocks for the castle.

“This year’s ice castle has been cancelled due to safety issues out on the lake, with the lack of ice thickness, plus a layer of water,” said Weber.

Although the community was able to build the ice castle last winter, Weber says the weather has not always cooperated in recent years.

“Back in the ’80s, we were able to do it practically every year. I don’t know if you want to call it global warming, or if you want to call it a change in the weather pattern, but it has definitely been a lot more complicated with Mother Nature in the last 10 to 12 years,” said Weber.

The ice castle is a fixture of the Eagle River snowmobile derby, which take place in two weeks.