The History of The Ice Palace Inn began more than 100 years ago when the city of Leadville, Colorado, built the famous Leadville Ice Palace. Constructed to bolster a sagging economy, the Ice Palace took 36 days to build and covered an entire five acres of land. Constructed of 5,000 tons of ice and 307,000 board feet of lumber, it was the largest ice palace ever built on the North American continent and the only one to have ever been fully utilized. It housed enormous ice sculptures in the many rooms and had towers 90 feet tall.

It contained an ice rink, a dining room, a grand ballroom, a snack bar and kitchen, multi-purpose room, cloakrooms, storerooms, a riding gallery housing a carousel, a mini-theater and toboggan runs. Every room, with the exception of the ice rink, was heated. Colored electric lights illuminated the crystalline castle creating a fairyland atmosphere on top ofLeadville's Capitol Hill. Leadville's 1896 whirlwind social season overshadowed the chinook winds that taunted the Ice Palace until it was officially closed on March 28, 1896.

Some of the lumber was used in 1899 to construct what is now The Ice Palace Inn, built very close to the same hill as the original Ice Palace. In 1994, it was restored and opened as a bed and breakfast inn, the rooms are named after the original Ice Palace's rooms: The Grand Ballroom Suite, The Skating Rink, The Crystal Carnival, The King's Tower and Lady Leadville.

On arrival take a look at the stunning "Gold Lady" that has been built into the parlor turret. She was made originally and given as a class gift to the Leadville High School in 1901. Amazingly about the same year the house that is now The Ice Palace Inn was ready for her first owner. At some point, she was taken down, stored, and in 1996 the school held a free day and anything not taken was to be hauled to the dump. She was saved and the perfect home was found for her, the Gold lady was built into the parlor turret.

LOCAL ART

We support the local artists of Leadville by displaying their works of art in our stairway and outside on the porch. Items are available for purchase through the artist.
Also, be sure to take a look at the wonderful and rare pictures of the original Ice Palace that adorn the dining room walls.

More from our guest book:

"We came here to visit my family roots. My great grandfather was a silver miner in Leadville in 1870-80's. The Ice Palace is great, four-star ambiance. Happy trails to all on this great journey of life." J.&D., Katy, TX

The Ice Palace Inn Bed and Breakfast is located at 813 Spruce Street, just west of Harrison Avenue (main street) in Leadville, Colorado.

Click here to link our address on MapQuest

From Denver: Travel west on I-70 to exit 195 (Copper Mountain Ski Resort). Take CO Hwy. 91 south to Leadville (24 miles). Upon entering the main business district of town, take Harrison Avenue south to 8th St., then 8th to Spruce St. Turn right (north) on Spruce -- we're the 4th Victorian on the left. From The South (Buena Vista): Follow CO Hwy. 24 north to Leadville (33 miles from Buena Vista). Upon entering the main business district of town, take Harrison Avenue north to 8th St., then left to Spruce St. Turn right (north) on Spruce -- we're the 4th Victorian on the left.