Nelson's Artesian Ice Formations In Wisconsin Only Get Bigger As The Weather Gets Colder
By Daniella DiRienzo|Published January 06, 2021
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Daniella DiRienzo
Author
Though Daniella was born in New York and has lived in a couple of other states, Mississippi has been her home for more than 30 years. After graduating from the University of Southern Mississippi, Daniella began to hone her writing skills through various internships. In the years since, she’s had the privilege of having her articles appear in several publications, such as the Mississippi-based Parents & Kids Magazine. She’s also had the honor of interviewing actress Sela Ward for The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience.
The cold winter weather has many effects on the Wisconsin landscape, but none are quite as stunning as Roger Nelson’s ice formations. Formed by Mother Nature, along with the help of some intricately placed pipes, the formations are both sporadic and spectacular! They only last as long as the cold weather, though, so don’t wait too long to visit.
This winter, when you’re craving some seasonal splendor, simply head to the town of Salem, which is where you’ll find about two dozen majestic ice formations.
Some credit goes to Roger Nelson. Not only does Nelson own the 420-acre farmstead on which the ice formations stand, but he’s the one who came up with a creative way to tap into the artesian aquifer situated 650 feet beneath his property.
Using a series of PVC pipes with holes drilled into them, Nelson is able to channel the readily available water from below the surface into frozen formations.
Undeniably majestic, the frozen creations take on the form of everything from pre-historic animals, like the wooly mammoth, to a swarm of other creatures – it all depends on your imagination!
Though breathtakingly beautiful any time of day, there’s no denying that the frozen formations are absolutely spectacular at dawn and dusk, especially on cold days when steam rises from the ice, making for a mystifying sight.
Can’t make it during daylight hours? No problem; at nighttime, the wintry scene is illuminated with spotlights, which typically stay on until midnight.
Keep in mind that the formation of the icy structures depends solely on the weather. Usually, the best viewing time is between late-January and early-February. To get to Nelson’s on Rush River, take Wisconsin Highway 35 north to Maiden Rock. Then turn right on County Road A, which is just a short distance from Maiden Rock. The site is about 4 miles down County Road A.
So, did you know about Nelson’s mammoth ice formations? Ever seen them in person? If so, what’d you think? Tell us in the comments.
This isn’t the only place for some icy fun. Read about another here.
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