Cold Hard Magic: Inside the Making of The Sagamore Resort’s Glacier Ice Bar
Photo courtesy: Sagamore Resort, Bolton Landing.
Winter in the Adirondacks has a way of turning “ordinary” into something cinematic. The lakes go quiet. The sky blushes pink over the mountains. And for a few weekends each year, one of Lake George’s most iconic addresses transforms a terrace into a full-scale winter spectacle built from ice.
In this episode of ADK Talks, we sit down with Tom Guay, General Manager of The Sagamore Resort in Bolton Landing, to pull back the curtain on what it takes to create the resort’s Glacier Ice Bar—a jaw-dropping pop-up lounge where (yes) nearly everything is made of ice.
The bar. The barstools. The tables. The sculpted sponsor logos. Even the glasses you can actually drink out of.
It’s easy to scroll past photos and think, “Wow, that’s gorgeous.” But listening to Tom describe the behind-the-scenes work reveals the real magic: a months-long creative process, a multi-property culinary crew, and a build that relies on equal parts artistry, physics, and sheer determination—often in the kind of weather that would send most of us straight back to the fireplace.
The Sagamore Resort, in context.
Before diving into the ice, Tom shares a crisp, fascinating mini-history of The Sagamore Resort—and clarifies a detail many travelers mix up: The Sagamore Resort is not Great Camp Sagamore. (Both are beloved Adirondack names, and both are worth knowing, but they’re very different experiences.)
The beauty of the Sagamore resort in winter.
The Sagamore Resort sits on Green Island, a 73-acre island on Lake George, connected to Bolton Landing, NY, by a bridge. It operates as a true, full-service resort destination.
Tom explains how the property evolved over generations—rebuilt more than once, reinvented again and again—yet always anchored by the same idea: Lake George as an escape, and hospitality as something deeply personal.
If you’ve ever seen the resort from the water—especially as a cruise boat glides by—you know why it sticks. Tom hears it all the time: people spot The Sagamore from the lake and decide right then they want to stay there.
Meet Tom Guay: from the kitchen to the helm.
Tom’s career path reads like a hospitality masterclass: Glens Falls native, trained at the Culinary Institute of America, and seasoned at major resorts before returning to The Sagamore and rising through the ranks.
The Sagamore’s Ice Bar with a commanidng view of Lake George.
In the episode, he shares what drew him to the property in the first place—and why, even decades later, it still feels like more than a job.
That culinary background matters here. Tom views every detail through the lens of the guest experience—what people feel, see, taste, and remember.
It’s a perspective that shows up in everything from the resort’s year-round approach to amenities to the way The Sagamore builds winter weekends that feel lively, comfortable, and surprisingly easy to enjoy (even for guests who don’t ski, snowmobile, or “do winter sports”).
The Glacier Ice Bar: how the idea took off.
So how did a resort known for lake views and classic elegance become home to one of the Adirondacks’ most talked-about winter experiences?
Tom takes listeners back to 2014, when the team looked at the winter calendar and spotted an opportunity: a quieter stretch between New Year’s and the next big holiday weekends. The goal was simple—create something fun that gave people a reason to visit, gather, and get out of the house.
Then came a spark of inspiration: someone on the team had seen an ice bar “up north” and thought, we could do that. They tried it—and the response was immediate.
Igloo’s at the Sagamore.
The first year was so popular that it surprised everyone. (At one point, traffic got so intense that the Warren County Sheriff called. When people say “build it and they will come,” this is what they mean.)
Over time, the event evolved—refined for guest flow and experience—without losing the central draw: a winter lounge atmosphere that feels celebratory, social, and one-of-a-kind.
What it’s made of (and how it’s built).
If you’ve ever wondered how an ice bar actually comes together, this episode delivers the satisfying details—without turning into a lecture. Tom describes the materials, tools, and teamwork in a way that makes you appreciate the craftsmanship behind every photo.
A typical build begins with 60 to 100 ice blocks, each weighing about 300 pounds each. Go ahead, do the math. That’s pretty impressive.
From there, the sculpting team gets to work using a surprisingly varied toolkit:
Chainsaws for rough shaping
Chisels, dremels, and precision tools for detail work
Blow torches and heated aluminum plates to create flat surfaces and fuse ice pieces together
And plenty of old-fashioned problem-solving (because ice has opinions)
One of the most memorable behind-the-scenes moments Tom shares: the process is literally a fire-and-ice operation. Heated metal plates help melt and smooth surfaces, allowing blocks to be joined cleanly—creating the crisp lines and large-scale forms people expect from The Sagamore.
The creative process (and this season’s theme).
Hand-crafted ice art at the Sagamore.
The exhibits at the Glacier Ice Bar change every year, and Tom explains why: the themes give the carving team creative freedom to build something fresh and Instagram-worthy, while still keeping the “main event” front and center—a bar designed to handle a crowd, with bartenders moving fast and guests circulating through a lively winter scene.
For 2026, the theme is “The Frozen Age Reawakens”—a playful nod to prehistoric landscapes and glacial-era imagery that sets the stage for oversized carvings and photo moments. (If you remember past years’ showpieces—like a life-size ice VW bus—you already know the scale they’re willing to attempt.)
More than a bar: it’s an Adirondack winter night out.
One reason this event resonates, Tom says, is that it’s not a heavy lift. You don’t need a lift ticket or specialized gear. You just need warm layers and a willingness to lean into the fun.
The vibe matters, too: music, heat lamps, bonfires, and the option to warm up inside—moving between the ice bar energy outdoors and the comfort of the resort’s lounges and restaurants. It’s an experience designed to feel festive, not punishing.
Hidden gem: another Lake George moment Tom keeps returning to.
We end the episode with our ADK Talks “hidden gem” question, and Tom’s answer is pure Lake George: he points listeners toward the quieter corners of the water—places where the lake turns glassy, and wildlife sightings feel effortless. It’s a reminder that the biggest Adirondack experiences aren’t always the loudest ones.
Listen now.
If you love winter weekends that feel like a story you’ll tell later—this episode is for you. Tune in to hear how The Sagamore creates one of the Adirondacks’ coolest traditions, straight from the person helping lead the team behind it.
Listen to “Cold Hard Magic” on ADKTaste.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Mentioned in this podcast.
The Sagamore Resort – Lodging, events, Glacier Ice Bar details
Bolton Landing – Dining, winter events, and village happenings
Lake George – The lake that shapes it all
Lake George Association – Protecting water quality
Lake George Land Conservancy – Protecting the land that protects the Lake
Places to shop, eat, and experience near Bolton Landing.
Shop for unique Adirondack apparel, gifts and merchandise.
ADK Talks Podcast
Love the Adirondacks? You’ll love our podcast. We take listeners beyond the guidebooks and into the heart of the Adirondacks. We share stories from the people behind the best places to eat, shop, stay and explore in the ADK. Find us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.
