The annual “Iceport Fly-In Brunch” on Lake Mille Lacs in northcentral Minnesota was held Saturday, March 1, 2025, along the eastern shoreline at Da Boathouse in Da Bay, Mac’s Twin Bay in Isle, Minnesota.
GPS coordinates are 46.17N/93.48W.
A go/no-go decision was reached this year the Thursday prior, based on the weather, temperature, wind and the thickness of the ice. One hundred thirty-nine (139) aircraft, including aircraft on wheels and skis, taildraggers and tricycles, factory-built singles and twins, and homebuilts, flew in between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. to master landing on ice without using braking action to slow their aircraft on the 1-mile-long runway, visit with fellow pilots, and enjoy brunch! Pilots monitored 122.9 MHz.
The organizer, Mark Priglmeier of Brainerd, Minn., grew up near the Mississippi River north of Sartell, Minnesota, and remembers seeing his father’s Piper Cherokee 140 parked on the frozen Mississippi River in front of their home.
It wasn’t until Mark won $1,000.00 in a contest at the local radio station that he started taking flying lessons, but it would be 10 years later until he got his private pilot certificate and bought his first airplane. His interest in flying led to him leaving his IT position to become a full-time flight instructor and charter pilot.
Mark’s love for landing on frozen lakes continued. When his parents moved to Lingroth Lake, north of Lake Mille Lacs, he would land in front of their house on the north side of the lake. He decided to share his interest in landing on ice by starting “Icekosh” in 2013 on the west side of Lake Mille Lacs at Twin Pines Fishing Resort in Garrison, Minnesota. The fly-in was renamed “Iceport” in 2014, and in 2019, it was moved to “Da Boathouse in Da Bay” in Isle, Minnesota.
Mark said that pilots landing on a frozen lake need to keep their ailerons turned into the wind, avoid drifting, tell the airplane where to go, and use aerodynamic braking as much as possible. He encourages pilots to be proficient and to fly their airplane until it is parked.
“I would never host a fly-in without the utmost safety in mind,” said Mark. “That includes safe ice.”
So far Iceport has only had to cancel twice – once in 2016 due to the condition of the ice (but 40 planes showed up anyway), and again in 2024 due to open water/thin ice.
To keep pilots informed on ice conditions, Mark posts updates on Facebook right up to the week before the fly-in (see Facebook.com/CreateLift).
Donations are welcomed to offset the cost of plowing the ice runway by Mac’s Twin Bay. And thanks to Tanis Aircraft Products/Hartzell Propeller Company, there were plenty of nice door prizes!
Like any fly-in, Iceport needs plenty of volunteers to show up before the first plane arrives. People interested in volunteering for Iceport 2026 should email Mark Priglmeier at CreateLift@gmail.com.
Fly-In Photos by Brad Thornberg
