Winona Ice Park Honored with 2025 Visit Winona Partnership Excellence Award

Visit Winona recognized the Winona Ice Park as the recipient of its 2025 Partnership Excellence Award during its annual hospitality and tourism celebration on December 9 at Winona Axe and Arcade.

The award celebrates outstanding collaboration within Winona’s tourism community, and this year’s honoree represents a truly collective effort. The Winona Ice Park is powered by a dedicated network of partners, including the City of Winona, Recreation Alliance of Winona, Big River Climbing Guides, Winona State University, and a committed group of local climbers and volunteers. Together, they create and maintain more than 100 ice climbing routes within Winona’s bluffs each winter, helping position the community as an international destination for cold-weather adventure.

“The Winona Ice Park isn’t a single organization or individual—it’s partnership at its very best,” said Kate Carlson, Executive Director of Visit Winona. “It’s a powerful example of how collaboration, passion, and volunteerism can create something that benefits both residents and visitors while strengthening our local economy.”

The impact of the Winona Ice Park extends well beyond the bluffs. Surveys of ice park participants show that more than half of visitors stay at least one night in a local hotel or short-term rental, and more than 75 percent travel over 100 miles to experience the park. During their visit, climbers and their companions support local restaurants, breweries, gas stations, and retailers throughout the Winona area.

Winona’s accessibility has also made the Ice Park especially welcoming to newcomers. More than half of visitors report they are in their first to third year of ice climbing—many learning the sport right here in Winona.

At the heart of the Ice Park’s success is its volunteer base. Dozens of community members dedicate countless hours each season to building and maintaining routes, welcoming climbers of all experience levels, and ensuring the park remains safe and accessible.

“The volunteers are the true backbone of the Winona Ice Park,” Carlson added. “Their dedication has transformed this project into not just a climbing destination, but a community asset that rolls out the red carpet for winter visitors.”

Jamie Schell, Board Chair of the Recreation Alliance of Winona and longtime ice park volunteer, accepted the award on behalf of the Winona Ice Park team.

During the event, Visit Winona also recognized its Board of Directors for their leadership and support during a year of organizational transition. Special recognition was given to retiring board members John Casper and Marcia Ratliff for their years of service and lasting contributions to Visit Winona’s mission.

The annual hospitality event brought together tourism partners from across the region to celebrate collaboration, innovation, and the people who help make Winona a year-round destination.