Only In Indiana: The Ice Tree
INDIANAPOLIS — We all have a family tree, but most of us will never put ours up for display. But that is exactly what the Veal family has been doing for three generations — and it caught Kevin Rader and photographer John Duong’s attention.
The Veals call it the “ice tree,” but Kevin calls it “the family tree.”
“Even when I am tired and worn out, it energizes me. Since 1961… fifty-four years,” Janet Veal-Drummond remarked as she sprayed the ice tree with food coloring.
That is when it all started, 54 years ago. The old Star magazine featured it on its cover back in 1967, showing little Jeff Veal. Now, Jeff’s son Chad, a high school senior, is a member of the third generation to scale the tree’s heights.
“I tell people I like this season, and they look at me like I am nuts,” Wynter Veal-Drummond added. “People come through and they are like, These pictures on the internet do not do it justice’,” Wynter observed as she continued to spray the tree from quite a bit higher up.
It is hard to tell watching the Veals what they enjoy more: creating the ice tree using scrap lumber and tree limbs, or watching others take it all in.
The Veals estimate it stands around 50 feet this year. More than 5,000 people came to see the tree last year when it was 80 feet.
Six water hoses fed by the neighboring pond are the lifeline for the tree.
“We have that big giant thing at the top and there are two hoses in that, and then there are some along the way up,” Chad Veal, a high school senior, explained to a group of curious onlookers.
But it’s the coloring that really tops it off.
“I try to color like my dad did. So I try to mimic his coloring,” Janet Veal-Drummond noted as she continued to spray the bottom portion of the ice tree.
“I love it so much because it reminds me of my grandpa and how he was so creative and hard-working, and it makes me want to be more like him,” Wynter noted as she continued to spray from the middle portion up.
It may look like a Hollywood movie set or at the very least a winter wonderland, and the Veals call it The Ice Tree. But the more time you spend around the man-made wonder, you realize it is really much more than that – it’s the Veals family tree.
You can see the Veal Ice Tree at 11333 Southeastern Avenue. They have put out brochures for everyone, and don’t be afraid to drive by at night because there are lights.
Can’t make it out in person? The Veal Ice Tree has its own Facebook page and Instagram account.
Source: WTHR