NORTH WOODSTOCK, N.H. — An annual architectural celebration of ice is up and running again in New Hampshire and several other states.

Ice Castles, which are both temporary art installations and tourist attractions, feature towers, tunnels, archways and caves, all created by growing, harvesting and arranging thousands of icicles and then blasting them with sprinklers.

The company behind the displays has expanded since its first installation in 2011. This year it has operations in Utah, Minnesota, two locations in Colorado and New Hampshire, where the site includes a snow tubing hill and ice bar. After a mild winter last year, officials were thrilled that temperatures were cold enough to open earlier this season.

“It’s one of the biggest ice castles we’ve ever built,” said Jared Henningsen, the company’s vice president for operations. “We’re looking at about 25 million pounds of ice spread over two acres.”

As a winter storm brought biting cold and wet snow to the South, visitors to the New Hampshire castle bundled up to explore its twists and turns Friday.

Julia Jones of Gloucester, Massachusetts, said she travels to northern New Hampshire several times a year but had not experienced the ice castles until her opening-day visit.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” she said. “Honestly I didn’t think it was gonna be this big.”

Jessica Sullivan, of Fairhaven, Massachusetts, also was surprised, and not just by the frozen environment. Her boyfriend, Brian Jacques, proposed to her during their visit.

“It’s a beautiful place,” said Jacques, who got the “yes” he was hoping for. “I definitely thought, this is the time and place to do it.”

By day the walls and other structures shine with a pale blue hue. After darkness falls, lights embedded within the ice glow pink, purple and green.

“Once you enter into an ice castle, you’re transitioning into something that’s totally immersive and unlike something that most guests have ever seen,” Henningsen said. “I think it inspires people.”

The search is expected to continue Sunday for a woman believed to have fallen through the ice at a New Hampshire pond and likely drowned.

The incident at Big Island Pond in Atkinson began just before 5:30 p.m., when first responders were called to Chase Island Road for reports of someone yelling for help.

New Hampshire State Police said based on a preliminary investigation, marine patrol officers believe the woman fell through the ice and likely drowned. She has not yet been found, with the search suspended late Saturday night.

The woman’s family is expected to meet with police Sunday morning. The woman’s name has not been released.

State police are urging people to be careful with frozen bodies of water, reminding everyone that all ice is potentially dangerous.

There should be a minimum of 6 inches of hard ice before someone sets foot onto it. And even if it’s thick, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s strong.

There are safety tips to follow during ice-related activities.

“Don’t ever go alone. Always have a phone with you. Don’t ever go alone and if you do happen to fall in, there are methods to try and get yourself out, keep your elbows on the ice and just kick with your feet and do your best to get back up on that ice, and when you’re on the ice, don’t stand up, roll your way back to shore,” explained Chief Thomas Cahill of the Cambridge Fire Department.

Outdoor skating conditions are expected to be ideal this weekend, but that’s not an excuse to be reckless.

Anyone with additional information that may assist the ongoing investigation is asked to contact Marine Patrol Sgt. Nicholas Haroutunian at 603-227-2112 or Nicholas.M.Haroutunian@DOS.NH.GOV.

Thomas M. “Tom” Estona

OBITUARY

Merrimack, NH

Thomas M. ‘Tom’ Estona, 75, died peacefully on Thursday, January 2, 2025, at the Community Hospice House surrounded by his loving family. He is the beloved husband of Elizabeth A. ‘Beth’ (Cronan) Estona with whom he shared 42 years of marriage.

Tom was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, on September 15, 1949, and was the son of the late Martin and Eunice (Tillotson) Estona. He received his education in Peterborough, New Hampshire, and was a graduate of Peterborough High School.

Tom worked as a truck driver, purchasing agent and most recently was employed as a branch manager for Kamco Supply in Woburn until his retirement.

In his free time, Tom was an avid fisherman, fishing fresh water throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire and ocean fishing at both York Beach, Maine, and the Florida Keys. He enjoyed playing golf, gardening and was a loyal New England Patriots Fan. He cherished time spent with his family at their peaceful lake house in Merrimack, as well as his retirement years in Barefoot Bay, Florida, with his wife, Beth. Recently, Tom found pleasure in learning to paint pictures depicting nature. Sipping on a single malt scotch and dining on his favorite Chinese food were some of the simplest aspects of life Tom loved. He will be missed by all who had the opportunity to know him.

In addition to his wife, Beth, of Merrimack, he is survived by his daughter Karen and her partner Doug; his son Jeff Godwin and his wife Angela; and his grandsons, Connor and Parker Godwin. He is also survived by his two sisters, Gwenne Hume and Marcia Lee and her husband Ken, as well as his niece Marcie Hume, and his brother-in-law Don Cronan and his family.

A private family gathering to celebrate Tom’s life is planned. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Tom’s name to the Community Hospice House, 7 Executive Park Drive, Merrimack, NH, 03054. Arrangements entrusted to the care of ROCHETTE FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATION SERVICES, 21 Kinsley Street, Nashua, NH. Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.ANCTIL-ROCHETTE.com.