News
Man builds giant ice castle in backyard
Posted: Feb 25, 2010 9:21 AM by Bea Karnes, News First 5
Updated: Feb 25, 2010 9:21 AM
A proverbial expression has been proven in Big Lake, Minnesota. Roger Hanson's home is his castle.
"I call it the Crompton castle, that is after my wife Linda," Hanson said, speaking of the 54 foot high 130 foot long ice castle he built in his backyard.
In Minnesota, we learn to embrace winter in all kinds of ways. But this, this is one way, off the beaten path.
"It's fun, it's something to do and I've got to have a reason to live in Minnesota," Hanson said laughing.
Hanson is a software engineer by day, an ice savant by night. For the last three years he has devoted the doldrums of winter to his ice.
And now, his biggest feat yet. A castle named for his bride.
Roger built the frame with rebar and it grows in size with water sprayed on it all day long.
But the water is from a well, that first goes into a geothermal system that heats his entire home and then pumps back out to build the castle.
The water would run into the river anyway, and what's the fun in that?
"Kind of gives winter a new twist," Hanson said.
Roger says people come by daily to witness his handiwork.
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