LAKEVILLE, PA:The Sculpted Ice Works Factory Tour and Natural Ice Harvesting Museum held a Grand Opening June 30. In a fun spin on the traditional ribbon cutting, employees carved a ribbon from ice and presented it be “cut” with a chainsaw by owner Mark Crouthamel.
Ice carving demonstrations were given, guest speaker Rick Smith discussed ice harvesting tools, patrons enjoyed old-fashioned ice cream and sno-cones, and author Bob Eckstein signed copies of his book “The History of the Snowman”. Area businesses and organizations stopped in to congratulate Crouthamel on his vision and his team’s efforts to create the tour and museum. The facility will be open daily throughout the summer.
Each year Sculpted Ice Works manufactures over 12,000 crystal clear ice carving blocks in their plant, and transforms them into brilliant ice sculptures of all sizes. Mark Crouthamel, master carver and founder of Sculpted Ice Works in 1999, has spent several years developing a factory tour of the ice plant and a museum to capture the history of naturally harvested ice, with a focus on the Pocono region.
Years ago, harvesting lake ice in the region was both a large commercial industry as well as done locally for farms and families. Step back in time to learn how ice was “made” before commercial refrigeration. The museum will showcase local ice harvesting tools, uses of ice before refrigeration, and how ice was delivered. Enter into the modern ice plant, and watch how clear ice is manufactured today. Take a glimpse through the windows into the freezer and learn how ice sculptures are made in the Sculpted Ice Works Factory Tour.
Open daily, summer hours are Monday- Saturday from 10 AM-5 PM, and Sundays from 11 AM – 4 PM. Admission is $5 per person, children under 3 are free.
Sculpted Ice Works is located in Lakeville, PA on route 590 between Hawley and Hamlin. It is an easy drive from Philadelphia and New York City. More info can be found online at sculptediceworks.com/tour or by calling 570-226-6246
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