A visit to the ICE! Gaylord Texan attraction is a must for all ages! This year’s theme is Santa Claus is Coming to Town, and the beloved Christmas tale is told through a series of intricately hand-carved ice sculptures made from two million pounds of ice!
The ice is created in crystal clear, white and colored blocks using special “recipes”, and believe it or not, they have to start freezing it a year in advance. Talented artisans come all the way from Harbin, China to work their magic on those giant blocks of ice over a period of about 30 days, and they have to work in shifts in order to survive the numbing temperatures.
And the results are magical!
Tucked inside the middle of the exhibit, adults can visit the “On the Blocks” ice bar for some holiday cocktails.
Don’t worry, kids! There’s plenty of fun for you too. Ride the five two-story ice slides in Santa’s Toy Factory!
Perhaps the most amazing part of the entire ICE! exhibit was the nativity scene at the end. It was incredibly beautiful, and definitely my favorite part.
Although the ice sculptures are far and away the shining glory of an ICE! Gaylord Texan visit, there are several other available attractions you can add on to your ICE! adventure.
Snow Tubing
Head up to the top of one of the twelve two-story-high ice slides, and then whoosh merrily down the snowy hill! It’s an extra charge, but you’re able to go down a dozen times with your ticket, so you can try every single run!
Hungry? Need souvenirs? There are roasted nuts and snacks, hot cocoa to warm you up and even a gift shop with everything imaginable inside.
Other activities include: a snowball throwing workshop, cookies and milk with Mrs. Claus, The Elf on the Shelf® Scavenger Hunt, a gingerbread decorating corner, ice skating, pictures with Santa, ICE! Meet and Greets, a Build-a-Bear workshop and lots of photo opps!
And be sure to spend some time enjoying a Lone Star Christmas in the Gaylord Texan Resort. It’s decked out with over a million twinkling lights, thousands of ornaments, a rotating Christmas tree, a giant gingerbread house and photo opps everywhere!
ICE! Gaylord Texan tickets & information: Website
Grapevine, TX visitor information: Website
I visited ICE! at the Gaylord Texan Resort as a guest of Grapevine, Texas. All expenses were paid, but opinions of my experiences are my own.
Have you ever been to the ICE! Gaylord Texan event? What was your favorite part?
Comments & Reviews
I have been to one of these before, i accidentally made the mistake of leaving my thick jacket at home.
Oh no! At this show, they provide parkas! It’s cold in there!
Sweet! i went to the spongebob one at moody gardens and i think they had jackets but for like $20
That looks like a lot of fun. It must take some talent to create all those ice sculptures. I would love to see them for myself.
That looks like a blast! I wish it was closer to where I live.
What an amazing get away. Seems to be so much to do all of your senses will be pleased. Kids of all ages will enjoy! A must see destination, with such creativity.
This display is way too cool! I have never seen a real ice sculpture up close before – on my bucket list!
So clever! I love the theme this year.
I LIKE DIS
Brr!! This place looks cool – in both meanings! How impressive is this ice work?! Wow… totally would take my nieces to see this.
This looks like it is a must see if you’re near the gaylord Texan for the holidays. The nativity scene looks beautiful and would probably be my favorite part too.
That looks like a ton of fun. I wish I lived closer. This would be a great place to go with my family. We’d love to see it sometime.
how super cool. i love your photos and it looks like so much fun
Those are amazing. I love how there is colored ice.
This looks like a wonderful holiday trip! I live about 3 hours from the Gaylord in DC and I would love to go!
I have never been to one of these before. It looks so magical. I would love to see all the decorations.
My family would love this getaway. We love the Holidays. I have been thinking about a destination Christmas next year.
These are fantastic photos. I would love to take my family here for a weekend.
I will have to look at doing this with my kids next year. I think they would love it here.
Wow this looks amazing. Hats off to those amazing artisans.
Oh my goodness this place looks so cute! I would love to go see this if I am ever in the area. The ice bar looks pretty awesome too!
Love the photos! This place looks like fun. :
Wow! Looks like lots of fun. I’m with you, the Nativity Scene look phenomenal!
This is so fun! The Gaylord is always a show stopper!
Hand carved ice sculptures, that’s pretty dope. Sounds like a lot of work has gone into these especially as it’s done a year in advanced. I’m so stunned at them as they’re definitely not your ordinary ice sculptures. Stunning work, looks like a brilliant time.
That’s son fun! My kids will surely love to visit here! If this is near us, we’ll go there in a heart beat! 😀
Looks so fun! Would be worth a visit. = )
That looks so cute and fun! I would love to visit there.
I am hearing a lot about this Gaylord Texan Resort and it was a hit. Especially the ICE theme this Xmas holiday. I was so amazed at the sculpture and the Iced Nativity Scene with Joseph, Mary and Jesus.
Those slides look like so much fun! I would love to visit this place some day 🙂 I love Christmas and I love places that get all decked out like this!
That is so amazing! I LOVE the old school Christmas specials, so I love that they had so many of the characters present.
I am with you on that it is so nice being taken back to your childhood, it somehow reignites some of that inner magic.
Oh wow, does this bring back memories. I have loved Christmas specials since I was a kid, and the ones I’ve always loved the most are the ones from the 60s. I’d love to go see ICE!
What an amazing fun place to go see. Since I don’t live near by I will just enjoy it through your photos.
I’ve always wanted to go to ICE! We live near the National Harbor and cannot wait to take our son when he is a little older.
Such a magical place to visit. I want to go! I suspect they are booked solid so we will need to make plans now for next year. It’s hard to believe those are ice blocks, the artistry is amazing!
This is on my list of attractions to take my kids to before. I think ice sculptures are breath-taking.
We love ICE at the Gaylord. And even though it’s a popular holiday spot, it’s so big I never feel too crowded.
WOW! That looks amazing and the characters look just as I remember them! Looks like a fun place too.
Oh my GOSH! Santa Claus is Coming to Town is my FAVORITE Christmas film. I would LOVE to visit the ICE! Gaylord Texan attraction, it looks amazing!
Those sculptures are breathtaking, it’s hard to believe they are ice sculptures! I can see why they need to take shifts in creating them, they have incredible detail. There is so much to see and to here, looks to be a wonderful time!
We love the Gaylord ICE event. We go each year to the one at Gaylord Palms in Orlando! Fun times.
So cute, we have ICE here at our Gaylord in Maryland every year. I don’t know the theme for this year, I wonder if they are the same. I plan to take the kids a week before Christmas.
This place is amazing! I would love to go to see this Ice Palace and all the attractions. What a magical place to visit and I would have a blast with my family.
Oh my gosh is this bring back so many memories! I remember this cartoon is a child and I always always loved watching it. I wish I was closer because I would love to take my child to this.
I love anything festive and Christmassy like this x
oh wow! these look fantastic, would never guess that some of these are made from ice. Love the bunnies and the reindeers, they look really cute. But I must admit, Santa does look a little scary.
I love this list and your writing style is so great! Thank you for the enjoyment while I drank my coffee.
This looks like so much fun! Happy Holidays!
Oh my goodness!!! Classic Christmas movie… one of our favorites in our home! The displays look absolutely amazing! The ice sculptures are really incredible. We’ve never been, but now it’s a must see on our list!
Oh wow! Those ice sculptures are a work of art. I would love to see them.
These ice sculptures are pretty amazing! Looks like a fun time too. It’s already cold where I am though so I’m dreaming of warmth lol but this is definitely a must see!
What a fun event to attend!!! I am sure it makes Texas feel more like winter then it normally does there.
Oh my gosh, that’s a serious winter wonderland! My kids would DIE over those ice slides. So much holiday spirit, I love it!
That looks amazing and like so much fun – and so very very cold!
I love that your Gaylord did something different from ours. Love the Rudolph theme! ICE is so much fun!
ICE! looks like a place my family and i would love. Those sculptures are amazing, and my kids would love those slides!
I wish we lived close to this, my kids would have such a good time! We are all about filling up on experiences during the holidays over focusing on just gifts and this would be a really great one to do with them!
Oooh that really puts me in a Christmas mood now! the place looks really cool.
Mika
I went to ice several years ago but my husband has never been. I look forward to us taking our little boy in a year or two
It sounds like an awesome place to take kids. I love finding holiday events like this!
This is fantastic and definitely beats any holiday lights show. I wish somewhere near me did something similar.
This is great and looks like a fun day out for families. This would be something we would definitely enjoy!
How amazing is this place?? I would love to go and see this. The characters look just like they came out of the movie. Fantastic!
What a fun place. Those ice slides would be so fun!
That looks like fun. It would be a good thing to do every Christmas with the whole family.
OMG that’s amazing I’ve never seen anything like that before I bet it was brilliant! The slide looks like fun x
What a fun place! I’ve been to Grapevine twice and loved it, looks like I have a reason to go back!
WOW I actually felt the excitement like a little kid looking at this. The ice slide looks amazing! All of this is so beautiful. I have never even seen snow! I would love to go here!
This would be such a blast to see! My kids would love it.
How fun. I would love to see this one day. It looks so fun and amazing.
Wow! That’s truly amazing! I can’t believe the preparations start a year in advance, I can only imagine the hardwork that goes into these sculptures! It’s worth going to without a doubt!
Goodness, these ice sculptures are amazing! I love that they have an ice bar for a little adult treat too.
This certainly looks like a happy place to be!
What a very unique destination idea.
My son would totally love the Ice Gaylord! This looks like so much fun to visit and enjoy with the whole family 🙂 Wish we have them here.
I love those characters, and the whole thing looks so amazing. Oh, and I’ll take the cinnamon roasted cashews please!
I love that movie! We watch it every year at least twice. I’m from upstate New York and it cracks me up that people go sledding inside! Looks like a great time
They say that Christmas are for the children.. goodness! this place is for everyone! what a great spot to visit!
Oh my goodness, that’s so neat! I had no clue it was ice until I read that it was!
This looks like so much fun. I would love to visit Ice.
I have seen photos of this display before and would love to visit. I hate being cold but I think I could stick it out for this amazing art!
We were just at the Gaylord Texan a few weeks ago!!!! We had the best time at Ice!!! Super cold, but so fun!!!
I love this! These pictures are so mesmerizing I need to go to one of these
We have that ICE event here in Orlando at the Gaylord Palms Celebration it is just beautiful great experience. And you get into the spirit really fast.
Oh wow. It all looks so exciting. Love that they provide the parkas!
This is really cool! I never knew they had something like this in Texas! It must be hard to keep it going! Here where we live they have an ice hotel every year! It is a lot of fun and they change the theme every year!
This is so fun! Kids and adults alike will surely enjoy here. Wish I can visit with my family!
Wow this is totally enjoyable i wish i would be there so can enjoy a lot, in between lovely post.
So many amazing attraction, wonderful Ice exhibit and fun activities to visit this place. These are all great!
This looks fantastic! I think it’s something that my nieces and nephews would love.
Oh I wish we lived closer! This show looks so incredible, my kids would love this!
This looks like an amazing sight to see and great event. I have never been to a Ice Gaylord Texan event before but would love to go some day. Thanks for sharing these awesome ice sculptures and great event.
Jesus I can’t believe they begin work on this over a year in advance! It is very, very impressive though so hard work pays off!
Oh wow this looks amazing! I’d love to go and see them x
oh we have nothing at all like this near to us which is a shame as it looks amazing and we would sure visit
What an amazing display! We’d love something like this near us! Love the sculptures
Those sculptures are insane. So beautiful and so well done. I wonder if they are doing this at other Gaylords. Looks like such a fun way to spend the day.
Ohhhh that looks like it was so much fun! I just love all the cool things this season is full of!
How fun is this? My kids would have a blast if they had the chance to experience this!
those ice sculptures are literally works of art! It’s like a winter wonderland and perfect way to kick off the holiday season- your photos are AMAZING!
Wow, I dont think I have ever quite seen anything like this before, it looks just magical!
Wow! This looks like something to see! I would love to be able to at some point. A friend of mine goes to Texas often to visit family so I will have to tell her to check it out!
This looks like such a fun place to visit! I love how it brings winter to Texas when they normally don’t get much of a winter.
Wow, I can’t stop looking at these pictures! This is such a gorgeous show and I would love to see it in person.
They freeze it a year in advance oh wow, what an amazing work done and though cold looks absolutely amazing. Fan for everyone.
This looks like a fun place to visit! I love how it brings the winter look and vibe to a place where it’s normally warm!
I thought it was hot in Texas? My kids would love this activity for the day! This looks like a great family day experience if we are ever in Texas
Sounds like a great, family-friendly place to go for the holidays!
Nina
aworldofdresses.com
I would love to visit with my family in that amazing place. So many beautiful attractions to see.
I’ve never been to this place but I would love to visit someday with my family. Such an amazing attractions and fun activities to do.
THAT’S AMAZING WHAT they do to make the ice sculptures, imagine working in shifts, imagine coming all the way from as far as China. This does look like a cool place, too bad I don’t live in Texas.
How absolutely amazing does that look?! Gosh, my kids would LOVE to see that for themselves.
This reminds me of an exhibit that I have seen happens in Japan. The ice sculptures are absolutely stunning!
It’s amazing what they can do with ice. I absolutely love this display of pictures. I bet that slide is a blast for the kids too (an ice blast, ha!). My famiy would love to see this! What a great holiday adventure.
What an impressive exhibition! It looks like tons of fun to have a family outing
What a fantastic exhibit to get you in the Christmas mood! The ice sculptures look simply magical and so creative, the artisans are so talented! I’d love to go there!
I love going to the Gaylord. I just wish the price tag wasn’t so high, lol.
Wow this is all ice? I am so impressed I would love to visit this place it would put me in the Christmas spirit more!
That’s awesome! I loved every sculpture that you posted here! I’m sure it won’t be hard for my daughter to fall in love with these as well! There’s so much hard work that was put into these sculptures, they’re amazing!
I love the fact that there’s something for kids too. This looks so exciting and entertaining while you freeze hahaha
Wow now this looks like a lot of fun!! The snow tubing would make me very excited haha
This looks amazing, I don’t think I will be showing the children, or I may have an expensive trip on my hands!
This is one of the places that will lift your Christmas spirits, without a doubt! It would be nice to go here and just enjoy all the lovely sculptures!
OMG that looks so awesome, I wish we had something like this in London. x
What am amazing place and the ice slideslook really fun.
This is a really nice place. I haven’t seen a place like this before. Spending some quality time here will be fun.
That looks just incredible, just the most Christmassy place ever! And love the Icebar for an adult getaway!
The ice needs to be frozen from a year in advance?? This is so much work!
The final result is quite magical 🙂
Holy moly this would be so much fun to see in person! What a fun place to go!
Wow! That looks so fun. Wishing we have that too here in our country! That tube looks sooo pretty amazing.
I have always loved this Christmas classic. I would love to see it on ice! Looks like a lot of fun!
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Wow I would love to travel to Texas to visit this place. I am in NC and wish it was a place like it closer. Put you in the Christmas mood that for sure. My kids would enjoy it too.
Everything looks so fascinating indeed! I’d love to visit there!