Despite lower crowds, Creek Ice Fest Rated As Major Success

~ by Rick Langenberg ~

 

Question of the week? Do you want an unprecedented winter event with ideal conditions for the actual ice artisans, or for the visitors coming into town?

 

For the 12th annual Cripple Creek Ice Fest, the first scenario occurred with Mother Nature providing good artic temperatures for the assortment of ice sculptors to craft masterpieces on Bennett Avenue for two weekends. The end result, the annual event had a significant reduction in visitors from its peak year in 2018. Still, local officials are classifying the winter festival as a major success.

 

Special Events and Marketing Director Steve Kitzman estimated that the town experienced about 55,000 visitors over the two weekends. This is down from the 80,000 mark set a year ago, when some leaders even mulled extending the festival for three weekends.

 

“It was well-attended,” said Kitzman, in describing the 2019 event. “It is a very recognized event.”

 

In fact, the marketing director noted that one Denver tourist magazine even described the Ice Fest celebration as “one of the top ten things to do in February” in Colorado.

 

Kitzman attributed the cold temperatures to lower visitor counts this year. But on the upside, he said sales at local businesses were up, and the local restaurants and casinos reported good crowds. At peak times, many visitors had to wait extended periods to get a table at certain eateries. Kitzman believes that many ice-goers spent more time this year indoors due to the colder weather, either playing a few games of chance or buying a souvenir, before braving the elements.

 

The only complaint echoed by city elected leaders regarding the 2019 event: What happened to the ice bar?

 

Kitzman said this particular project was handled by the participating casinos, and he expects the ice bar may make a return next year.

 

The marketing chief also lauded the ice sculptures themselves. This year’s theme was Super Heroes In Ice.

Several people who contacted TMJ complained about the lack of sculptures during the first weekend.

But Kitzman labeled that time as an exhibition period, when the sculptures are being assembled. He said the festival tries to cater to fans that enjoy seeing the ice artisans do their creative thing, while other visitors mainly want to see the final product.

 

Ironically, the Sunday of the first weekend, Feb. 11, actually produced the biggest crowds for the event, with Cripple Creek experiencing a rare dose of sunny, warmer weather. Unfortunately, that was when many of the signature pieces were under construction. 

 

The Cripple Creek Ice Fest is always rated as one of the best special events in town, based on Best Of survey contests, sponsored by TMJ. It is one event that garners good participation among the casinos and the city.

 

The Ice Fest isn’t the only ice news on the horizon.

 

During last week’s presentation, Kitzman reported that the town has received a freely donated, mega, 30 by 100 foot, ice skating rink by Jeff Mosher of Woodland Park, who is planning on doing ATV tours in Cripple Creek.

 

The only question is where it can be located and maintained. “We would need a flat location,” said Kitzman. “It could be an asset.”

 

The council reacted positively to the gift and encouraged the marketing director to work with the parks and rec department in securing a location. The basketball court of the parks and rec facility was cited as one possible home for the rink. With the town’s cold temperatures this year, and the district’s affinity for hockey, this was touted as a big plus for the community.

 

A Safe Place to Live

Cripple Creek last week also received some good news from fire chief Dean O’Nale.

 

O’Nale reported to the council that the town has received an outstanding rating from the main insurance group that scrutinizes the community’s fire ready situation, the Insurance Services Office (ISO). These  ratings then play a role in homeowner insurance bills that residents ultimately pay. O’Nale said the town has now received a rating of 2, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being the top rating a community can receive and 10 being the worst.

 

He said this puts Cripple Creek in the top three percent of ISO rated towns. “That will help with our insurance rates. We have improved,” said the fire chief.

 

ISO looks at a variety of factors, such as the department staff, emergency preparedness, community support, equipment and response times.

 

In reality, O’Nale said Cripple Creek can never really obtain the top rating.

 

The new chief has taken a more active role in publicizing their agency. In a recent meeting, O’Nale outlined a 50-plus-page wildfire prevention plan before the county commissioners.