I love that Yelp has a "local flavor" category, a category for those things that make your community different and weird and truly special.
Veal's Ice Tree is such an attraction. It could easily be called a roadside attraction. It's listed in Weird Indiana and on Atlas Obscura. Started in 1961 almost by accident, Veal's Ice Tree is essentially an ice sculpture that was originally built around the foundation of bushes. After three years (in 1965), the family decided to simply build the "tree" without the bushes to avoid harming any of the bushes. It's an annual attraction created by the family that incorporates water from their nearby pond essentially frozen upon an actual tree that over the course of the winter becomes a beautifully sculpted, wondrously awesome ice tree.
This family tradition has literally spanned 60 years. The tree usually gets started in January as the temperature has to be below 30 degrees for at least five days in a row. In Indiana, that typically occurs in January.
The Ice Tree typically melts in April. Per the family, the longest it has lasted is May 5th.
In an average year, the ice tree grows to 35-40 feet high. In 2014, it actually achieved 79-80 feet.
For those who are people of faith, there is a strong element of faith that serves as the foundation of why the family continues to maintain the tree annually long past when the original tree creator, patriarch Vierl G. Veal (the family's name is Veal - thus, Veal's Ice Tree), has passed away.
The family acknowledges a love for watching nature and things growing during the year - that's harder during the winter and they love watching the tree grow. They also love watching their visitors experience the wonder of the tree (especially when they start adding color to it - which they do!). They also find it to be fun and great exercise.
However, they also note they continue it in memory of their father and his never failing positive outlook on life. According to the family, "He once wrote, "God states in the Bible we can be happy in adverse circumstances." Their father didn't always enjoy the winter weather but he did love to create beauty from adversity. Repeatedly, Daddy found that many events that look like misfortunes to us are really God's opportunity for us to find greater happiness.
In essence, Veal's Ice Tree is created as a reminder that beautiful things can come out of adversity.
Veal's Ice Tree is worth a visit. As I looked at it, it felt like a prayer to me and it felt like bit of a frozen labyrinth. You can easily experience the labyrinth if you're in a wheelchair, though obviously you won't be climbing it and being respectful of property is expected. The family requests visits from dawn to dusk, though this is allowed 7 days weekly. stay on the blacktop (they do have 2-3 spaces where you can park if you want to pull over for a photo). However, you can also simply drive around it.
The family does not collect money. They don't accept donations. You can catch current info on their Facebook page.
There's just a lot that I love about this and it's a truly beautiful thing to behold. I love the ice tree itself and I love the family's maintaining of it to honor their father and for their own personal faith reasons.
If you've never checked out this attraction here in Central Indiana, I recommend taking the time and visiting it on a day when you need a reminder that good things can come out of adversity. read more