To the editor:

With the 2026 Winter Carnival behind us and the blocks from the Ice Palace slowly melting into the lake, where they will wait to be used next year, I would like to thank the members of the IPW101 and the multiple individuals, groups and businesses throughout the community who helped make this year’s Ice Palace a huge success.

Mother Nature was kind to us again this year with below freezing temps through much of December. This year we started building on January 21st, a full two weeks before the start of carnival and no time was wasted. The IPW 101 volunteers were able to cut and stack 2,500 blocks from Lake Flower, which started at 12″ thick and grew to an impressive 20″, thicker than we’ve had in years. A long build, as exciting as it is, also means more volunteer hours in harsh conditions. As the days continued on, so did the IPW101, showing up at 7:45 a.m. and staying until the day’s work was complete for fourteen straight days.

The IPW101 and their slush gloves alone wouldn’t get the job done if it wasn’t for the amazing groups and businesses throughout this community. From heavy equipment and diesel donations to breakfast and lunch provided every day, the amount of support was amazing and I know I can speak for the rest of the IPW101 when I say how humbled we are for the generosity.

The following is a list of the groups and businesses that donated to the build this year and inspire us to do it year after year.

Bitters & Bones, Blue Moon Cafe, Boyers Septic, Cochrans Excavating, Demarco Disposal, Dirt Dudes Construction, Downhill Grill, Early Dawn Confections, Equipment Rentals Inc., Fusion Market, Hulbert Supply, Hyde Fuel and Markets, Lakeview Catering, Little Italy Pizzeria, Luck Brothers, Maddens Transfer and Storage, Nutrition 365, Owl’s Nest Pizza, Paul Smith’s College, Pickled Pig, Raybrook Brewery, Saranac Lake Police Department, Saranac Lake Volunteer Fire Department, Saranac Lake Volunteer Rescue Squad, Specialty Wood Products, St. Joes, Stewarts, Taylor Rental, The Moose Club, Town of Harrietstown, UPS Store and the Village of Saranac Lake DPW.

Joe Plumb

Saranac Lake