The World’s Largest Ice Tree: Gaylord, Michigan
It’s ice.
It’s a tree.
It’s the Gaylord Ice Tree.....in fact, the world’s largest, according to a nearby sign.
The tradition of the Ice Tree began in the 1950s when a group of local businessmen gathered up a pile of thrown-out, post-Christmas trees and sprayed down the entire heap with an over-abundance of water. Upon freezing, Gaylord’s first Ice Tree took shape and was born.
In 1957, the local newspaper held a competition for the best nickname for this clump of frozen trees. The winning name was “Cold Faithful” of which the contest winner won a two-pound box of chocolates.
Other communities made attempts to copy it, but they just couldn’t match Gaylord’s grandeur. In the 1960s, knowing that others were out to beat their Ice Tree, community members created a metal frame with underground piping (to prevent waterlines from freezing) in front of the new courthouse. This is used to create the Ice Tree each year.
So, is it really the World’s Largest Ice Tree?
So far, competitors seem to have fallen by the wayside.
Holding its own, this remains the world’s most unique and intriguing Ice Tree, refreshed each and every year thanks to Mother Nature (and underground piping). During its peak ice-covered time of year, the Ice Tree’s weight has topped at 200 tons! Scroll down to see photos in the gallery below...
Gaylord Ice Tree