Gaylord Rockies Resort in Aurora, Colorado, is launching a frozen holiday attraction themed after Disney Tim Burton’s "The Nightmare Before Christmas" [1, 2].
The attraction represents a significant investment in seasonal tourism for the region. By blending a popular cinematic IP with large-scale ice artistry, the resort aims to draw crowds to the Aurora area during the winter months.
The exhibit, titled "ice! featuring Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas," will be open from Nov. 20 to Jan. 3 [1]. The production requires more than 2 million pounds of ice to create the frozen environment [1].
To build the massive display, the resort employed 30 master artisans [1]. These creators are tasked with sculpting characters and scenes from the 1993 film into the frozen landscape. The resort, which is part of Marriott International, uses the "ice!" series to bring back a massive frozen experience for its guests each holiday season [1, 2].
Visitors to the Aurora site will find a wonderland that mirrors the aesthetic of the film's holiday-themed narrative. The scale of the operation involves complex refrigeration, and carving techniques to maintain the integrity of the sculptures throughout the duration of the event [1].
“The attraction will be open from Nov. 20 to Jan. 3.”
This initiative demonstrates the trend of hospitality brands leveraging intellectual property from major studios like Disney to increase the draw of seasonal events. By scaling the attraction with millions of pounds of ice, the resort is positioning itself as a destination hub rather than just a lodging provider, focusing on 'experience economy' drivers to boost revenue during the winter quarter.
