The Minnesota Ice Maze was one of the coolest (pun intended) parts of the Winter Skolstice event at the Omni Viking Lakes hotel. What could be better than getting lost in a giant maze made of ice blocks on a chilly winter evening?
Not sure what the Winter Skolstice is? Check out my previous post for details.
When we attended the Winter Skolstice event, we decided to take in all the event had to offer, including the Minnesota Ice Maze. Previously located in Stillwater, the ice maze moved to the Omni Viking Lakes hotel and became part of the Winter Skolstice event.
This was an excellent decision. What could be a better location for an ice maze than an outdoor event already set up around outdoor winter sports, activities, and ice?
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What is the Minnesota Ice Maze?
The Minnesota Ice Maze is exactly what it sounds like, a giant maze made of blocks of ice. Ok so that may not sound so exciting but it was a ton of fun!
The exterior walls are described as eight feet tall. I didn’t measure but will take their word for it. The interior walls were a bit shorter but that does not mean it was easy to navigate. There were many twists and turns with surprises along the way.
Where is the Minnesota Ice Maze Located?
As I mentioned before, the Minnesota Ice Maze is located on the grounds of the Omni Viking Lakes hotel. The Omni Viking Lakes hotel is part of the larger Minnesota Vikings Training complex near the TCO Stadium and TCO Performance Center.
The complex is approximately 15 minutes south of downtown St Paul off interstate 494 between Dodd Road and Delaware Ave.
The Omni Viking Lakes hotel sits on one end of the complex overlooking the TCO Performance Center and TCO Stadium. Between the hotel and the stadium is the home to the Minnesota Ice Maze.
How much does it cost?
The Minnesota Ice Maze requires a ticket to enter. This year the cost per ticket is $24.99 plus fees for adults and $12.99 plus fees for kids. The tickets are purchased for an entrance time but you are allowed to stay as long as you want.
The ticket times start during the day which may be fun but the real fun starts at night when the Minnesota Ice Castle is lit up.
What to expect at the maze?
The Minnesota Ice Maze is tall enough to see the maze but a fence surrounds the perimeter making it harder to see the magic that is inside without a ticket.
Since this was the first time I’d attended the Minnesota Ice Maze or any ice maze for that matter, I was not sure what to expect. When we walked in, I was amazed. Seeing the giant ice block walls illuminated from the inside made the whole maze glow.
The colors danced making every turn a different experience. Music playing makes the Minnesota Ice Maze feel like a dance party.
The maze was not impossible to complete but also not as difficult as I feared. There were a lot of dead ends and turns but eventually, we were able to find our way out.
It was slippery in spots so make sure you wear good boots!
What else is there to see and do?
There is more to take advantage of than just the ice maze. Surrounding the Minnesota Ice Maze were beautiful hand-carved ice sculptures.
A giant ice Viking ship was a perfect addition to the Winter Skolstice theme of the overall event. They also played off the ice and Nordic theme of the area with ice sculptures of Elsa and Olaf from the Disney movie Frozen.
My personal favorite was Yoda!
How can I stay warm?
There were several bonfires and chairs to relax and enjoy the evening. The warmth of a bonfire in the winter is extra cozy. Snuggle up close to the fire and warm up.
There were limited options for some food and beverages in the Minnesota Ice Maze area but I would recommend going to the Winter Skolstice Warming Haus for a beverage.
Maybe even try the illuminated ice cornhole boards. They were being used by others when we were there so we didn’t get to try them, but they looked fun!
Why you should go to the Minnesota Ice Maze
I really enjoyed the Minnesota Ice Maze. The ice sculptures were amazing on their own and the maze was fun to wander around. The music and lights make for a fun party-like atmosphere. Warm yourself by the bonfire and you could easily spend a few hours enjoying the evening.
It would be great for a date night or a family event that even teenage kids won’t mind hanging out with parents.
If you can, do what we did and spend the whole evening mixing in the events of the Winter Skolstice with the Ice Maze. You will enjoy the evening with dinner, drinks, hockey, and curling, and end the night wandering through the Minnesota Ice Maze.
If it is going to be a late night, rent a room at the Omni Viking Lakes hotel. We did and I would stay there again in a minute. Check back later for my post on the time we spent inside the hotel…
Always remember, life should be an adventure!! Live your best life and explore the world around you.
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