Temperatures may still be sweltering, but soon enough, we’ll be preparing for the most wonderful time of year. If you’re looking for close-to-home holiday fun, look no further than the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, which this season welcomes a brand-new attraction: ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
Already known for having one of the most spectacular holiday programs in the country, the AAA 4-Diamond resort is sure to slide into your heart with ICE!, a winter wonderland that will bring Who-ville to life through nearly 20,000 square feet of life-sized sculptures and scenery hand-carved from more than 2 million pounds of ice.
ICE! joins the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa this winter. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country photo
ICE!, which will be kept at a chilly 9 degrees Fahrenheit, will be at the resort Nov. 23 to Jan. 5, 2025, and will be open to both resort guests and the general public. Tickets are special room packages are one sale now at www.JWHillCountryChristmas.com. To stay warm, guests will be provided with signature blue parkas to wear while enjoying the attraction.
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A team of 40 master artisans who will travel nearly 7,000 miles from Harbin, China, to San Antonio will dedicate 30 days to crafting the ICE! experience from 6,700 massive blocks of ice using skills passed down through generations.
ICE! joins the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa this winter. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country photo
In addition to ICE!, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa will also be transforming the Exhibit Ballroom into “Reindeer Ridge” that will include 40,000 square feet of beloved Hill Country Christmas activities, including:
- Snow Flow Mountain, a multi-lane tubing hill made of real snow and providing hours of alpine fun for all ages.
- Snowball Build & Blast, an interactive game where guests can make and throw snowballs to score points, boosting the power of the snow-making machine.
- Claus’ Christmas Traditions, which is hosted by Mrs. Claus and includes a retelling of “‘Twas the Night Before Christmas” and a sing-along of holiday carols, complete with Santa’s favorite cookies and milk.
- Gingerbread Decorating Corner, where guests can decorate gingerbread houses with sweets and treats and even meet Nutmeg the gingerbread man.
Guests will also have the opportunity to create a holiday-themed Build-A-Bear and participate in a new holiday scavenger hunt, “The Grinch’s Wonderful Awful Idea Scavenger Hunt,” which will send families searching for hidden clues of the Grinch’s mischievous plan to ruin the holiday.
A tubing hill is among the winter attractions at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country photo
Other traditional favorites at Hill Country Christmas include the Shine Light Show, a nightly display of thousands of dancing lights synchronized to holiday music. The Polar Plunge will be available in several pools for those wanting a chilly challenge, along with visits from Santa’s live reindeer. Guests can indulge in holiday treats at the festive s’mores station and write letters to Santa to share Christmas wishes. Personal visits with Santa along with a keepsake photo will also be available. Guests can visit JWHillCountryChristmas.com to learn more and make reservations for a memorable holiday stay.
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Exclusive ICE! Stay & Play Packages are available for advance online reservations. These packages offer overnight accommodation and two tickets to ICE! for each night’s stay, using booking code 1GC at JWHillCountryChristmas.com. Guests can add a round of golf to the ICE! Stay & Play Package using booking code ZJ4. Overnight guests will be able to access resort-only benefits including the Extra Cool Hour and Chill Pass, which allow overnight visitors early admission into ICE! and the Christmas Village, as well as front-of-the-line access to the attraction. Visit JWHillCountryChristmas.com to learn more and make reservations.
Create gingerbread houses, and memories, at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa this winter. JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country photo
To experience everything the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has to offer this holiday season, guests are encouraged to book an overnight stay and receive exclusive access to luxury amenities such as the 9-acre River Bluff Water Experience with temperature-controlled pools and hot tubs; eight dining outlets; two PGA TOUR 18-hole championship golf courses at TPC San Antonio; world-class Lantana Spa; award-winning culinary experiences; Topgolf Swing Suite; sports courts to play tennis, basketball and pickleball; walking trails with stunning hill country views; and famous Texas starry night skies.
If You Go
Getting there:
The JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa is located about 80 minutes from downtown Austin.
Stay:
Exclusive ICE! Stay & Play Packages are available for advance online reservations. These packages offer overnight accommodation and two tickets to ICE! for each night’s stay, using booking code 1GC at JWHillCountryChristmas.com.
Do:
The resort’s Hill Country Christmas celebrations, which run from Nov. 23 to Jan. 5, 2025, include a host of activities including the brand-new attraction ICE! featuring Dr. Seuss’ “How the Grinch Stole Christmas!”
