Caretaker Bo Shaffer packs dry ice around the steel casket of the world famous 'Frozen Dead Guy' in Nederland, Colorado. (Richard M. Hackett/Longmont Times-Call / November 4, 2009)
NEDERLAND, Colo. - It's been 20 years that the world famous Frozen Dead Guy in Nederland has been dead... and frozen. Bredo Morstoel's caretaker made the trek to the Tuff Shed just this week to repack dry ice around the steel coffin... and mark the special milestone.
Bo Shaffer told the Longmont Times-Call Wednesday the coffin is at about 90 degrees below zero. He says he brings a new supply of ice to the shed once about every five weeks during the cold weather months.
Morstoel died of heart failure on November 6, 1989 while at his family's mountain retreat in his home country of Norway. His grandson, former Nederland resident Trygve Bauge, decided to preserve his grandfather's body cryogenically. He was immediately packed in ice and shipped to the United States.
The man's body was cryogenically prepped and frozen at a facility in Los Angeles, California. It was kept in California until 1993 when it was transferred to Nederland in the mountains about 45 miles northwest of Denver in Boulder County. Shaffer told the Longmont Times-Call he's been taking care of the casket for about 15 years.
The unusual situation brought worldwide attention to the small community. It resulted in the creation of a new town festival that draws somewhere around 15,000 people these days. Frozen Dead Guy Days happens in early March each year and features popular events such as coffin races and people diving into ice cold water.
The next Frozen Dead Guy Days happens March 5-7, 2010. The festival attracts people from around the world, according the Frozen Dead Guy Days website, which is maintained by the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Trygve Bauge moved back to Norway, but he still sends about $800 a month to cover the cost of hauling 1,500 pounds of dry ice to the Tuff Shed once every four or five weeks, according to Shaffer.
People who have lived in the area for a while will remember that the grandfather's casket was originally stored in a garden shed, which was damaged by wind not too long after it arrived. A radio station in Denver along with Tuff Shed donated the structure where Morstoel's body is stored in ice today.
Cryogenic "suspendees" are frozen immediately after death to stop physical decay, then they are maintained in a frozen condition until such time when medical science might advance to the point where the body can be restored to life. Liquid nitrogen is typically used to maintain the frozen state, but due to high cost, Bredo Morstoel was kept on dry ice instead.
Shaffer told the Times-Call he's working on a book about his experiences related to caring for the Frozen Dead Guy. He celebrated the 20-year milestone during his trip to the Tuff Shed Wednesday with... what else... a bit of chilled champagne and a toast to Bredo Morstoel.
Bo Shaffer told the Longmont Times-Call Wednesday the coffin is at about 90 degrees below zero. He says he brings a new supply of ice to the shed once about every five weeks during the cold weather months.
Morstoel died of heart failure on November 6, 1989 while at his family's mountain retreat in his home country of Norway. His grandson, former Nederland resident Trygve Bauge, decided to preserve his grandfather's body cryogenically. He was immediately packed in ice and shipped to the United States.
The man's body was cryogenically prepped and frozen at a facility in Los Angeles, California. It was kept in California until 1993 when it was transferred to Nederland in the mountains about 45 miles northwest of Denver in Boulder County. Shaffer told the Longmont Times-Call he's been taking care of the casket for about 15 years.
The unusual situation brought worldwide attention to the small community. It resulted in the creation of a new town festival that draws somewhere around 15,000 people these days. Frozen Dead Guy Days happens in early March each year and features popular events such as coffin races and people diving into ice cold water.
The next Frozen Dead Guy Days happens March 5-7, 2010. The festival attracts people from around the world, according the Frozen Dead Guy Days website, which is maintained by the Nederland Area Chamber of Commerce.
Trygve Bauge moved back to Norway, but he still sends about $800 a month to cover the cost of hauling 1,500 pounds of dry ice to the Tuff Shed once every four or five weeks, according to Shaffer.
People who have lived in the area for a while will remember that the grandfather's casket was originally stored in a garden shed, which was damaged by wind not too long after it arrived. A radio station in Denver along with Tuff Shed donated the structure where Morstoel's body is stored in ice today.
Cryogenic "suspendees" are frozen immediately after death to stop physical decay, then they are maintained in a frozen condition until such time when medical science might advance to the point where the body can be restored to life. Liquid nitrogen is typically used to maintain the frozen state, but due to high cost, Bredo Morstoel was kept on dry ice instead.
Shaffer told the Times-Call he's working on a book about his experiences related to caring for the Frozen Dead Guy. He celebrated the 20-year milestone during his trip to the Tuff Shed Wednesday with... what else... a bit of chilled champagne and a toast to Bredo Morstoel.
