MAPLE GROVE, Minn. — Outdoor winter attractions keep falling by the wayside, victims of unseasonable temps and rapid melting that put the safety of visitors in question.
After delaying the opening of Ice Castles in Maple Grove until Jan. 24 due to daytime warmth and balmy overnight temps, the operation welcomed thousands to enjoy the icy slides, thrones, tunnels, and towers of light.
Sadly, the excitement would be short-lived. On Thursday Ice Castles announced the operation was closing for the shorter-than-expected season.
“Our disappointment in record warmth forcing this difficult decision is met with appreciation for the Ice Castles team, the amazing Castles they did build and the excitement and attention this event brought to Maple Grove,” said Experience Maple Grove Executive Director Greg Anzelc in a news release announcing the closing.
“We tried to stay open as long as the weather would let us, and unfortunately, it has been much warmer than anyone could have anticipated in this historic Minnesota season," added Ice Castles CEO Kyle Standifird.
Standifird said the company is already planning its return to Maple Grove for the 2025 edition of Ice Castles.
It is also one-and-done for Art Shanty Projects, the eclectic outdoor celebration of art, music and performance. After postponing its opening a week to allow ice on Lake Harriet to thicken, the festival welcomed more than 10,000 visitors the weekend of Jan. 27. But with record temps this week, and an extended forecast that looks to remain in the 40s, organizers shut down Art Shanty Projects and told artists to begin tearing down their facilities and getting them off the lake as conditions worsen.
"With low temps mostly above freezing and highs upwards of 50 it’s simply no longer reasonable to think it will be safe to welcome crowds onto the ice," reasoned Artistic Director Erin Lavelle. "It is not possible at this time to move into the park and continue our program (aka Plan Beach), as the ground is not frozen, there is no snow, and we would trample and damage the landscape and make a muddy mess of the shanties. The safety of artists, visitors and staff, along with preserving the environment and the art, are top priorities for us.”
Besides disappointing guests and artists, Lavelle says the forced closure also puts the festival in precarious financial straights as the operation relies on visitor donations for funding. She says visitors donated $33,000 over the first weekend, but that Art Shanty Projects' goal for individual donations over the course of the celebration was $99,000, leaving a significant gap.
Lavelle is encouraging anyone who would like to help Art Shanty Projects continue to donate at their fundraising page.
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