In December, the Ouray Ice Park will beckon visitors of all ages wishing to experience something fun and different. This longtime Ouray favorite won’t cost you any money to visit and it has more than 100 ice and mixed climbing routes to try. Now that we’ve briefly acquainted you with it, let’s briefly explore the park’s history to give you a better idea of how far it’s come.
Ouray had already cemented itself as an ice climbing destination as far back as the 1970s, yet informal development of the Ouray Ice Park remained dormant until 1991. Two gentlemen going by the names of Gary Wild and Bill Whitt used PVC pipe, assorted garden hoses, and shower heads to commence ice park development.
The sport of ice climbing didn’t come to Ouray Ice Park until 1996. A year later, Ouray Ice Park, Inc. (OIPI) was launched as a non-profit organization comprised of several volunteer board members with extensive experience in working with plumbing systems and digging ditches.
By the time the 2000s came around, Ouray Ice Park had upgraded its water supply tank technology to boost ice farming efforts. The OIPI was now in charge of managing the Ouray Ice Festival, which celebrated fifteen years back in 2010.
This update is provided by The River’s Edge Motel Lodge & Resort. You’ll find five unique types of Ouray Colorado hotels at our location on the banks of the Uncompahgre River, and every single room has a view of the mountains. For more information on accommodations Ouray, amenities, questions about hosting your special event, or hotel specials, please call 888-547-5962. You can also visit us at 110 7th Avenue.