CHULA VISTA – More than two million pounds of ice, dozens of master artisans from China, and a production process that began more than a year before opening day will transform Gaylord Pacific Resort into the stage for the West Coast debut of ice!
Created by Gaylord Hotels in 2001 and experienced by tens of millions of visitors at resorts across the country, the attraction will make its California premiere with ice! Featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas, headlining the inaugural Christmas at Gaylord Pacific celebration from Nov. 20, 2026, through Jan. 3, 2027.
Inspired by the beloved Peanuts holiday television special, the immersive experience was unveiled during an exclusive media preview, where organizers explained that guests will walk among monumental ice sculptures of Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Lucy, Linus, and the rest of the Peanuts gang across 12 fully carved, immersive scenes.
Although the attraction is open only during the holiday season, its creation begins more than a year in advance. Andrés Calvo, Director of Production and Logistics for Special Events at Gaylord Hotels, explained that the process starts with an extensive production manual containing blueprints, illustrations, technical specifications, and three-dimensional models that serve as guides for the sculptors.
“The production book for ice! alone is about 300 pages long,” Calvo said. “It includes every sculpture, visual renderings, and all the details our artisans need to bring the designs to life.”
The next phase belongs to master ice sculptors from Harbin, China, internationally recognized for hosting one of the world’s largest and most renowned Ice and Snow Festivals.
More than 30 specialized artisans will spend approximately 40 days transforming nearly 7,500 blocks of ice—more than two million pounds in total—into a 20,000-square-foot frozen attraction.
FROM HARBIN, CHINA, TO SAN DIEGO
Among the featured artists are master sculptors Xiaodong Zhai and Zhi Zheng, who shared insights into the creative process behind the exhibit. Both said their expertise comes from working at the Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, where they have built monumental ice structures reaching six stories high.
“Compared with some of the projects we create in Harbin, this production is relatively small,” they said during an interview. “There, we build sculptures as tall as six-story buildings.”
The artists are involved from the design stage, helping determine which artistic elements can be recreated in ice without compromising structural integrity or fine detail.
HANDCRAFTED ARTISTRY
Despite the scale of the production, most of the work is still done by hand. Calvo explained that the largest tool used is a chainsaw, employed only to rough-cut the large ice blocks before the detailed carving begins.
“We don’t rely on heavy machinery to create these sculptures,” Calvo said. “Our artists work with chisels, specialized tools, and, most importantly, their hands.”
For Xiaodong Zhai, the greatest challenge is faithfully reproducing the expressions of characters recognized by millions around the world. Speaking through an interpreter, he said he pays particular attention to facial proportions—especially the eyes—which he considers the defining feature that gives each sculpture its life and personality.
THE SCIENCE BEHIND THE ICE
Not every sculpture is made from the same type of ice. Organizers explained that the production combines crystal-clear ice, white ice produced through rapid freezing techniques, and colored ice created through specialized processes.
Achieving the vibrant colors requires technical testing and scientific expertise to ensure every shade accurately reflects the appearance of the Peanuts characters.
“There is real chemistry behind creating colored ice,” the artisans explained during the presentation.
MORE THAN ICE SCULPTURES
In addition to exploring scenes inspired by A Charlie Brown Christmas, visitors will enjoy two-story ice slides—including a smaller slide designed for children—walk through frozen tunnels, visit themed photo opportunities, and watch live carving demonstrations at the Carver Showcase.
The attraction is part of Christmas at Gaylord Pacific, a seasonal celebration that will also feature Peanuts-themed character dining, photos with Santa Claus, live Christmas carol performances, interactive scavenger hunts, holiday pop-up shops, and ice tubing.
Resort guests will receive preferred access through the Chill Pass program while enjoying the property’s amenities, including 1,600 guest rooms, 89 suites, more than a dozen restaurants, a 4.25-acre water park, and the Relâche Spa & Salon.
A NEW HOLIDAY TRADITION
With the arrival of ice!, Gaylord Hotels hopes to establish a new holiday tradition in Southern California by bringing to the West Coast, for the first time, a production inspired by the world-famous Harbin Ice Festival and one of America’s most iconic Christmas classics.
Tickets, hotel packages, and additional information about Christmas at Gaylord Pacific are now available at ChristmasAtGaylordPacific.com, while more information about ice! can be found at SoMuchChristmas.com.