SARANAC LAKE – Construction of the Saranac Lake Winter Carnival Ice Palace is scheduled to begin on January 17. Construction involves harvesting ice from Lake Flower, transporting it to the shore and assembling it according to a blueprint. Construction on the palace will likely continue until the start of the carnival on February 1.
The Ice Palace is built by volunteers, organized by a group informally known as the Ice Palace Workers 101 (IPW 101). Starting January 18, the public is welcome to volunteer and roles are assigned based on comfort level, skill and ability.
The construction of the Ice Palace is a community effort by those dedicated to keeping this time-honored tradition alive. Volunteers are subject to very cold temperatures and inclement weather conditions, all while handling ice and snow. Despite these harsh conditions, camaraderie is evident and a sense of pride is felt among the volunteers who contribute to continuing the legacy of the Ice Palace.
Modern equipment is used for the heavy lifting, but traditional manual methods are practiced as well, including antique hand saws and ice tongs. Another manual process which is critical to the construction is making slush, a mixture of water and snow. The slush forms the mortar which holds the Ice Palace together. Volunteers fill countless buckets with water, pound in snow, carry it to the palace walls and apply the slush with rubber gloved hands.
The Ice Palace is a crowning achievement and is the most popular attraction at the winter carnival. The palace is located adjacent to the Lake Flower State Boat Launch on River Street.
