Deep in the heart of Texas, located in the charming town of Grapevine which is otherwise known as the official Christmas Capital of Texas, lies one of the grandest resort destinations in the country.
Sitting on the shores of Lake Grapevine, Gaylord Texan Resort offers 125 acres of land that includes four-and-a-half acres of lush indoor gardens, 1,511 luxury guestrooms, 400,000 square feet of event space, four award-winning restaurants, a 25,000-square-foot European-inspired spa, a 43,000-square-foot live music nightclub, a 10-acre outdoor waterpark and six unique retail stores. And during the winter months, these breathtaking resort grounds turn into something even more spectacular — a winter wonderland unlike any you have seen before!
This holiday season, Gaylord Texan will host its 11th annual Lone Star Christmas event featuring lavish décor and festive activities the whole family will enjoy. From November 13, 2014 – January 3, 2015, the resort’s indoor gardens are decked with 1.5 million twinkling lights, a magnificent 54-foot Christmas tree, 15,000 glittering ornaments, 5,600 feet of garland, 16-foot-tall toy soldiers and magical miniature train sets, just to name a few. As you stroll through the enchanting atriums, mingle with toy soldier stilt walkers, enjoy the Festival of Trees with over 20 extravagantly-decorated trees and meet Santa Claus himself!
Back and better than ever, the resort’s signature holiday event, ICE!, will delight visitors with a magical new theme, Frosty the Snowman! Master ice carvers from Harbin, China spend 30 days hand carving two million pounds of ice to create scenes and characters from the holiday classic. To keep the ice intact, the 14,000-square-foot attraction is kept at a wintry nine degrees. Each guest is provided with a complimentary parka to keep them warm as they journey through the ice show that also features six two-story ice slides, a breathtaking Nativity scene, the “Frostbite Factory” showcasing artisans carving in action, and a real ice bar for the “big” kids ages 21 and up.
After your journey through ICE! comes to an end, there is still much to see and do. Grab a tube and take a thrilling ride down a giant 12-lane snow tubing hill made with real snow, enjoy a DreamWorks character breakfast, decorate gingerbread houses at Gingy’s Gingerbread Decorating and take the kids to snuggle up beside Mrs. Claus for a milk-and-cookies story time.
“Local families have made a holiday tradition of celebrating Christmas together here at Gaylord Texan,” says Martha Neibling, the resort’s Director of Marketing and Public Relations. “We look forward to having them back come back as well as welcoming new families experiencing the holiday magic for the first time.”
