10/21/2025
AURORA, Colo. — 40 ice artisans from Harbin, China, arrived at Gaylord Rockies to begin the annual carving process for the Gaylord Hotels' immersive Christmas experience, ICE!, featuring ice sculptures that will bring this year's theme, Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! to life. Over the next five weeks, they will hand-carve 2 million pounds of ice into a 17,000-square-foot display, using chippers, tongs, handsaws, grinders, and chainsaws.
The artisans traveled over 5,700 miles from Harbin, China, famously known as "Ice City," and home to the world's largest ice and snow sculpting festival. Since 2001, Gaylord Hotels has partnered with these talented artists to capture their extraordinary craftsmanship here in the U.S. At Gaylord Rockies, some of the same artisans behind the Harbin festival sculpt 300-pound blocks of ice into larger-than-life scenes from Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
Starting with more than 6,000 massive blocks of ice, each artisan brings a specialized skill to the process—some mastering demolition with chainsaws, while others perfect intricate details by hand. Drawing on generations of expertise, the carvers work from a detailed 300-page design book and sculpt everything from designs as small as a coin to towering scenes more than 30 feet tall.
Guests will embark on a whimsical journey through hand-carved ice sculptures depicting iconic scenes from Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The experience brings the beloved story to life; from the Grinch's mountaintop lair and his sneaky sleigh ride into Whoville, to the Whos' joyful celebration and the moment his heart grows three sizes. The attraction features vibrant colored ice, crystal-clear ice, and dazzling LED lights used to create a breathtaking, frozen wonderland. A state-of-the-art chilling system maintains the attraction's 9 degrees Fahrenheit setting, while guests will stay warm in the attraction's signature blue parkas.
In addition to the awe-inspiring ice sculptures from the beloved Christmas film, guests can take rides down the two-story-tall ice slides, traverse through ice tunnels and arches, and visit the carver showcase to watch artisans perform live carving demonstrations. The ICE! experience concludes in a separate area dedicated to the Nativity scene, meticulously carved, and shaped in a dramatic display of crystal-clear ice. ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will run from Nov. 24, 2025, to Jan. 2, 2026.
While ICE! is the signature attraction at Christmas at Gaylord Rockies, there are plenty more merry activities, hands-on events, and dazzling decorations, both indoors and outdoors to experience. A true winter wonderland, the resort boasts millions of twinkling lights and over 200 Christmas trees. Here is a rundown of other holiday happenings at the resort:
• NEW: Sugar Snow Station - A whimsical new holiday-themed area featuring:
• NEW: Feast with the Grinch - Join everyone's favorite green and grouchy character for a festive dining experience inspired by How The Grinch Stole Christmas! Max will also be on hand as the Grinch makes a rare appearance outside of Whoville.
• NEW: Sippin' Santa - A holiday-themed tiki bar pop-up on the Old Hickory terrace, featuring festive cocktails, island-inspired décor, and collectible mugs.
• NEW: Gingerbread Mountain Cabin - A life-sized cabin made entirely from gingerbread and handcrafted by the Gaylord Rockies pastry team using over 1,400 pounds of gingerbread, icing, and candy. Standing more than 16 feet tall, this festive centerpiece features a stone chimney, gingerbread skis, and snowy sugar windows and is expected to set a new benchmark for gingerbread houses in Colorado.
• Festival of Trees - This holiday fundraiser features beautifully decorated trees available for auction, with proceeds benefiting Lantern (formerly Bright by Text) and its mission to ensure every child has access to trusted early childhood resources.
• The Grinch's Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt - The Grinch has hidden clues of his mischievous plan throughout the resort. Solve riddles to help save the joy of the season and earn a special stocking stuffer upon completion.
• Gingerbread Decorating Corner - Guests can personalize their own gingerbread cookies made fresh by the Gaylord Rockies pastry team, and meet Nutmeg, the resort's jolly gingerbread mascot.
• Build-A-Bear Workshop® - Personalize a furry friend at Build-A-Bear® and take part in the brand's one-of-a-kind Heart Ceremony. Add scents, sounds, and outfits to create the perfect gift or Christmas keepsake.
• Photos with Santa - Skip the letter to the North Pole and deliver your wish list in person. Capture a festive photo with Santa and make sure you're on the nice list.
• Elf Training Academy - Step inside Santa's Workshop and learn how to become one of his helpers. Led by one of Santa's top toymakers, guests will complete elf training and craft a holiday keepsake.
• Mrs. Claus Christmas Traditions - Join Mrs. Claus for a cozy celebration of Christmas traditions, including a retelling of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas, carols, and Santa's favorite cookies and milk.
• Yuletide Street Market in Mistletoe Village - This festive market features wall-to-wall holiday gifts, collectibles, plush toys, home décor, apparel, ornaments, and more.
• Holiday Dining - Enjoy festive meals and seasonal treats across the resort, including holiday menus at select restaurants, themed cocktails, Auntie Anne's pretzels, and Cinnabon favorites.
• Relâche Spa - Guests can unwind in the award-winning Relâche Spa with seasonal treatments designed to refresh and rejuvenate.
Overnight guests will enjoy perks including:
Also being unwrapped are Christmas at Gaylord Rockies packages that include special room rates and admission to select events. Guests are encouraged to book their experiences early, as advance online reservations are required for all ticketed events. Tickets are limited to many of the experiences and peak weekends sell out quickly. For tickets, more information, or to book an overnight stay, guests may visit ChristmasatGaylordRockies.com.
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About ICE! An Immersive Christmas Experience
Gaylord Hotels' original ICE! Christmas experience immerses guests in beloved holiday stories hand-carved by master artisans from Harbin, China at resorts across the United States. Created in 2001, the ICE! attraction debuted at Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tennessee. Since then, tens of millions of visitors have traveled to experience this frozen tradition, where more than 2 million pounds of ice are transformed into memorable scenes and characters, two-story ice slides, photo-worthy tunnels and more. The ICE! Christmas showcase takes place at select resorts, including Gaylord National Resort in National Harbor, Md., Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville, Tenn., Gaylord Palms Resort in Kissimmee, Fla., Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colo., Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, Texas and at JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country in San Antonio, Texas. More information can be found at ICE.marriott.com.
About Dr. Seuss Enterprises
Founded in 1993, Dr. Seuss Enterprises is a global entertainment company. Our mission is to educate and entertain generations around the world by promoting and protecting the literary and artistic works of Dr. Seuss. We provide world-class content that drives joyful learning and creates hopeful futures.
All Dr. Seuss Enterprises' profits benefit charitable organizations that focus on causes such as education, science, health, animal conservation, and the arts. For more information, subscribe to our YouTube channel, visit DrSeussEnterprises.com, or follow us on Instagram.
About Build-A-Bear
Since its beginning in 1997, Build-A-Bear has evolved to become a beloved multi-generational brand focused on its mission to "add a little more heart to life," where guests of all ages make their own "furry friends" in celebration and commemoration of life moments. Guests create their own stuffed animals by participating in the stuffing, dressing, accessorizing, and naming of their own teddy bears and other plush toys based on the Company's own intellectual property and in conjunction with a variety of best-in-class licenses. The hands-on and interactive nature of our more than 600 company-owned, partner-operated and franchise experience locations around the world, combined with Build-A-Bear's pop-culture appeal, often fosters a lasting and emotional brand connection with consumers and has enabled the Company to expand beyond its retail stores to include e-commerce sales on www.buildabear.com and non-plush branded consumer categories via out-bound licensing agreements with leading manufacturers, as well as the creation of engaging content via Build-A-Bear Entertainment (a subsidiary of Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc.). The brand's newest communications campaign, "The Stuff You Love," commemorates more than a quarter-century of creating cherished memories worldwide. Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. (NYSE: BBW) posted consolidated total revenues of $496.0 million for fiscal 2024. For more information, visit the Investor Relations section of buildabear.com.
TM & © 2025 Dr. Seuss Enterprises, L.P. All Rights Reserved.
© Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. Used with permission. All rights reserved.
PRESS KIT: https://marrstar.box.com/s/0uy9oqjz9ahvn79rni51j5fgz0uyeg7u
Media Contact:
Andi Lawley, Public Relations Manager
Andi.lawley@gaylordhotels.com
