Fundraiser Kickoff: Ice Plant
The Eagle River Recreation Association (ERRA) is launching their next big fundraiser for an Ice Plant which will be an urgent effort to replace this portion of their aging refrigeration system that keeps the community’s two ice sheets operating. The project carries an estimated $1.2 million price tag and is essential to preserving the nearly 100-year-old, member-owned facility.
For generations, the rink and the Dome have been part of the rhythm of life in Eagle River. Families have grown up here, tournaments have filled local hotels and restaurants, and winters have been shaped by a facility that has stood since the 1930s. But the ice plant that supports the entire operation is now beyond its intended lifespan. As a community-owned historic facility, ERRA will always need to fundraise to maintain and preserve its aging infrastructure. That reality isn’t something the Board shies away from, and the organization remains grateful for the community’s continued understanding and support.
The ice plant, which includes the cooling tower, compressors, condensers, and other core components, has been stretched far past its service life. Since 2022, ERRA has spent more than $100,000 on emergency repairs and temporary fixes to keep the ice in. These were not enhancements, they were stopgap measures to keep the building operational. Replacement parts are outdated, difficult to source, or must be custom fabricated. Major components, including the original cooling tower, are deteriorating after decades of use. “We’ve stretched this plant as far as it can go,” said ERRA leadership. “We’re one failure away from pulling the ice. There’s no backup plan because without an ice plant, there’s no ice.”
The loss of ice would impact far more than ERRA’s internal programming. Each winter, hundreds of families travel to Eagle River for tournaments, camps, and events. This steady stream of visitors brings tens of thousands of dollars each weekend to local businesses, even during unpredictable snow seasons. “The rink is one of the most reliable economic drivers we have,” said ERRA Board Member Nicole Ray. “Lodging, dining, gas stations, shops…everything benefits. Losing the ice would have a ripple effect far beyond our own programs.” Beyond the economic impact, the rink is a place where young people build lifelong friendships, learn responsibility, and grow under the guidance of coaches, volunteers, and mentors. It remains one of the few places where kids gather consistently throughout the winter months.
Many community members have asked what happened to the funds raised during the original Save the Dome campaign. Between 2018 and 2019, ERRA launched the “Save the Dome” campaign with the goal of replacing the ice piping, a critical component of the facility’s overall refrigeration system. Approximately $500,000 was raised, and with the rink facing active brine leaks that could have forced an immediate shutdown, those funds (along with a loan) were used to replace the underground piping and rink boards. That work bought the community valuable time, but it did not address the ice plant itself, which everyone knew would eventually fail. In the years that followed, board terms rotated, momentum to look ahead to fundraise for the next part of the failing refrigeration system continued to decline. Since then, ERRA has had no choice but to spend over $100,000 on emergency repairs just to keep the ice plant operating, including a $9,000 repair approved in just one month this past year.
Today, the effort to replace the ice plant is rooted in a commitment to transparency and long term stewardship. Over the past three years, the Board has implemented strengthened financial procedures, including clearer internal controls, dedicated bookkeeping, and improved oversight. All donations are tracked against their intended purpose, and the Ice Plant Fund is held in a separate designated account, which currently totals $220,561.69 thanks to support from Bourbon & Beer donors, families, alumni, and local businesses. Most recently, the Schulz Family of Eagle River Treehouses contributed $35,000 toward the project!
Leadership gifts are helping build momentum for this next phase. The Eckes Family Foundation stepped forward with a $100,000 matching commitment, inspiring others to join in advancing the project. “Our foundation focuses on investing in the communities that shaped our family in the Northwoods of WI, including community needs, revitalization, and support of our youth especially through education and sport programs,” said Chad Eckes. “ERRA and hockey play an important role for families throughout the region. Additionally, ERRA is critical to our local economy regularly bringing visitors to our community for tournaments and camps year-round. We see the importance of kicking off the fundraising campaign to help sustain a volunteer run facility and its aging infrastructure.” *All donations made between December 15, 2025, and March 31, 2026, will be matched by the Eckes Family Foundation.
To support the next steps, ERRA has formed the Ice Plant Committee, which will help guide communication, host events, support donor outreach, and advance the project through their effort of the campaign. To support the next steps, ERRA has formed the Ice Plant Committee, which will help guide communication, host events, support donor outreach, and advance the project through. Current committee members include Nicole Ray, Abbey Gatlin, Kim Adamovich, and Jenni Renkes, four individuals who have already demonstrated their ability to deliver. Together, they led the Girls High School Locker Room project, managing donor communication, honoring every commitment, and completing the work on time and within budget. Their track record reflects exactly the kind of effort, transparency, and follow through this fundraising effort requires. You’re invited to join them!
The giving season is here, and the ERRA is offering a meaningful way to make an impact: as a registered 501(c)(3), all contributions are tax deductible and a donation in someone’s name makes a thoughtful gift for those “hard to buy for” people on your list. It’s a chance to give a present that makes a lasting difference for local families and the ERRA’s future.
If you would like to make a donation via check, please send to ERRA Attn: Ice Plant Committee, PO Box 1495, Eagle River, WI 54521, Memo link: Ice Plant. Or you can make a donation via credit card by using this link: CLICK HERE