Appropriately, the largest state houses the World’s Largest Ice Museum or, to be very specific, world’s largest year-round ice environment. The Aurora Ice Museum is truly an amazing feat of art, architecture, and engineering. This enormous building stays below the freezing point and houses beautiful ice sculptures all year round. Come visit the winter wonderland any time of year and experience cold temperatures and the collection of ice sculptures by a pair of master ice carvers. You’ll be amazed at the grandeur of the Aurora Ice Museum at Chena Hot Springs Resort outside of Fairbanks.
Interactive Map to Aurora Ice Museum here.
The Aurora Ice Museum is one of the attractions at the Chena Hot Springs Resort that lies about an hour’s drive outside Fairbanks.
Chena Hot Springs Official Website
The museum was completed in January 2005 and stays a cool 25° Fahrenheit (-7° Celsius) inside. Guests are offered warm, insulated coats and hats to wear while on the 45-minute ice museum tour.
Eric | Flickr
Its one-of-a-kind patented three stage ammonia absorption chiller (powered by geothermal energy from hot springs) that keeps it from melting in the summers, which can get as hot as 80 degrees.
Mark Wilson | Flickr
The tour shows you the wide collection of ice sculptures created by world champion ice carvers Steve & Heather Brice. Knights on horseback are one of the larger ice sculpture displays.
Eric | Flickr
Chandeliers made of ice light the grand room, lit with constantly changing colored lighting. This gives the illusion that you are underneath the dancing aurora on a dark night.
Sun2202 | TripAdvisor
There is an igloo with a tiny door that you can duck into. The tiny building, entirely made of ice, has a surprise inside…
Eric | Flickr
…a xylophone made of ice! It works. You can play a song and hear the cool reverberation in the small igloo.
よしめ | TripAdvisor
There is also this lovely ice chapel for those who wish to have their wedding in this magical location. There are bride and groom faux fur capes available to keep you toasty during the ceremony.
Chena Hot Springs Resort Official Facebook
The ice globes that adorn the room were created with different decorative effects. Some have frozen flowers inside them, some have designs created while the ice was freezing, and some have carved details on the outside.
Caledoniamist | TripAdvisor
If you are really crazy, you can stay in the ice museum and sleep in this four poster Polar bear bed! Originally envisioned as an “ice hotel,” the museum was created so the most people could experience the beauty of ice sculpture year-round.
Eric | Flickr
Hang out on the caribou hide covered stools by the “fireplace” carved out of ice. You can spend hours noticing all the details in the room and examining all the beautiful sculptures.
Chena Hot Springs Resort Official Facebook
The bar opens near the end of the tour and the guides pour drinks for the guests. The ice bar only serves one kind of drink: their signature icy cold Appletini.
Jeff’s Canon | Flickr
Appletinis are served in martini glasses individually carved out of ice. You can take it with you if you want to enjoy an icy beverage until it melts in your hands.
よしめ | TripAdvisor
The in-house workshop is where the ice carver’s work, making the signature martini glasses daily. They also maintain the beauty of the ice museum and teach workshops for those interested in learning the art of ice carving.
Eric | Flickr
The whole museum was created out of locally harvested ice, cut from deep within ponds in the area, the ice blocks are stored frozen year round to create appletini glasses.
Eric | Flickr
The beauty of the ice sculptures twinkling in the lights will enchant you. Visit the Aurora Ice Museum in Alaska for a totally unique experience at the largest year-round ice environment in the world.
よしめ | Tripadvisor
Watch them carve a martini glass out of ice here!
Chena Hot Springs Official Website
Eric | Flickr
Mark Wilson | Flickr
Sun2202 | TripAdvisor
よしめ | TripAdvisor
Chena Hot Springs Resort Official Facebook
Caledoniamist | TripAdvisor
Jeff’s Canon | Flickr
よしめ | Tripadvisor
Learn more about the hot springs in Everyone In Alaska Must Visit This Epic Hot Spring As Soon As Possible. And you might want to try This Beautiful Trail in Alaska Leads You Right To A Gorgeous Hot Spring.
Have you been to the Aurora Ice Museum? Tell us about it in the comments below.
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