The Frozen Dead Guy – Grandpa Bredo
Nestled in the foothills of the majestic Rocky Mountains, approximately 45 miles northwest of Denver, Colorado, lies the picturesque town of Nederland. This charming locale boasts not only breathtaking beauty and the rugged allure of its mountainous surroundings, but also a unique and somewhat bizarre claim to fame: it’s the adopted home of Grandpa Bredo Morstoel, more famously known as "The Frozen Dead Guy." The tale of The Frozen Dead Guy is one that intertwines family devotion, a fascination with cryogenics, and a small town’s unexpected brush with international fame.
The story begins with Bredo Morstoel, who passed away on November 6, 1989, while residing at his family’s mountain retreat in Norway. Driven by a desire to grant his grandfather the potential for future revival, Bredo’s grandson, Trygve Bauge, took extraordinary measures. Immediately after his death, Bredo’s body was packed in ice, initiating a race against the clock to preserve him. This was the first step in a journey that would ultimately lead to his unconventional residency in the Colorado Rockies.
The icy journey continued to Los Angeles, California, where Bredo underwent cryogenic preparation and freezing. Trygve’s unwavering belief in the possibilities of cryogenics fueled his commitment to preserving his grandfather’s body, hoping that future medical advancements might one day restore him to life. The specifics of the cryogenic process aren’t detailed, but the intention was clear: to halt the natural processes of decay and preserve Bredo in a state of suspended animation.
Following his preparation, Bredo remained at the cryogenics institute while Trygve embarked on a search for a suitable long-term storage solution. This quest ended in 1993, when Bredo’s body, encased in dry ice, was transported to Nederland, Colorado. His final resting place, at least for the time being, was a humble garden shed. This marked the beginning of the legend of The Frozen Dead Guy in Nederland, a story that would soon capture the world’s attention.
Cryogenic suspension is a complex and scientifically debated process. Ideally, the body is frozen immediately after death to minimize cellular damage and decay. The frozen state is then maintained, typically using liquid nitrogen, at extremely low temperatures until such time as medical science might be able to reverse the freezing process and potentially restore the individual to life. However, in Grandpa Bredo’s case, financial constraints dictated a less conventional approach. Rather than liquid nitrogen, he was preserved using dry ice, a more affordable, albeit less stable, method.
Born in Isfjorden, Romstel, in western Norway, on February 28, 1900, Bredo Morstoel led a full and active life. In the late 1920s, he married his wife, Anna, and together they raised two children. Bredo dedicated his career to public service, working as the head of parks and recreation until his retirement in 1967. He enjoyed painting, fishing, hiking, and skiing, embracing the natural beauty of his Norwegian homeland. These details paint a picture of a man who lived a simple yet fulfilling life, unaware that his post-mortem existence would become a source of international intrigue.
Trygve Bauge, Bredo’s grandson, was a character in his own right. He arrived in the United States in 1980, seeking refuge from the perceived threat of nuclear war. Described as unorthodox and unconventional, Trygve sported long hair and a beard and possessed a rebellious streak. He was known in the Boulder area for his eccentric habits, including his belief in the life-extending properties of ice water immersion. He even founded the Boulder Polar Bear Club, a testament to his fascination with extreme cold. His unconventional actions sometimes landed him in trouble, including arrests for joking about hijacking a plane and trespassing on the Colorado University President’s property. It was this eccentric grandson who set in motion the events that would make The Frozen Dead Guy a legend.
In 1993, Trygve was joined in Colorado by his mother, Aud. Together, they embarked on the construction of a disaster-proof house in Nederland. This grey, castle-like structure was designed to withstand bombs, earthquakes, fires, and floods, a testament to Trygve’s preparedness for any eventuality. Adjacent to this fortress-like home stood the small garden shed that would become the temporary mausoleum for Grandpa Bredo. Soon after, another frozen body, belonging to a man named Al Campbell from Chicago, joined Bredo in the shed. Trygve harbored ambitions of establishing a proper cryogenics storage facility, and his mother, Aud, even sold her father’s house in Norway to support his business venture. However, these plans never fully materialized. While bodies in cryogenic suspension are typically maintained at around minus-320 degrees Fahrenheit, Bredo and Campbell were kept at a relatively warmer minus -109 degrees Fahrenheit.
For approximately six months, mother and son lived a relatively quiet life in Nederland. This changed when Trygve decided to attempt to break the world record for ice bathing. In February 1994, he invited local newspapers to witness his feat, immersing himself in a 1500-gallon tank of ice water. He remained submerged for one hour and four minutes, successfully breaking the existing world record. This event, while seemingly unrelated, inadvertently drew attention to the unusual circumstances surrounding their residence in Nederland.
Unfortunately for Trygve, his visa had expired, and the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) issued a deportation warrant. Declaring himself a fugitive, he evaded authorities for a short time before being apprehended in the spring of 1994 and deported back to Norway. This left his mother, Aud, behind to oversee the completion of the house and, more importantly, to care for the frozen bodies.
Aud’s situation became increasingly precarious. She eventually received an eviction notice for living in a building without electricity or plumbing. Fearing that the frozen bodies would thaw, she reached out to the local newspaper, pleading her case to the Town Hall. When the reporter informed the Town Clerk about Aud’s unusual predicament, the news spread like wildfire. The Mayor, police, and press descended upon the property, lights flashing, to investigate. The shed was opened, and the frozen bodies on ice were discovered, catapulting Nederland into the international spotlight and forever cementing the legend of The Frozen Dead Guy.
Within 24 hours, the story had become an international sensation, with reporters from all over the world flocking to Nederland. The discovery sparked an emergency town meeting, resulting in the passage of an ordinance that made it illegal to keep "the whole or any part of the person, body, or carcass of a human being or animal or other biological species which is not alive" on one’s property.
Aud was brought before the court for a jury trial and found guilty of living in a building that had not undergone final inspection, changing the building’s use without a permit, and violating the town’s zoning code. She was subsequently deported. The second frozen body, Al Campbell, was reclaimed by his family, returned to Chicago, and cremated. The town of Nederland initially wanted to bury Bredo as well, eager to rid themselves of this bizarre situation.
However, Trygve Bauge, despite being an ocean away, refused to give up the fight. He used the internet to publicize the issue on cryogenics websites and email lists, rallying support for his grandfather’s continued preservation. Eventually, the concept of cryogenics was explained to the Nederland town officials, and a "Grandfather Clause" was invoked, allowing Bredo Morstoel to remain in the shed. The story of The Frozen Dead Guy had taken another unexpected turn.
Over time, the town embraced its unusual claim to fame and decided to celebrate Grandpa Bredo. The original shed, which was falling apart, was replaced by a new structure donated by Tuff Shed and the Denver Fox radio station. Bredo now rests in an ice-encased aluminum casket, enclosed in a large wooden crate, stored within the shed. An environmental consultant known as Bo "The Iceman" Shaffer became Bredo’s custodian, maintaining the frozen state by regularly replenishing the dry ice. Currently, Brad Wickham, a Nederland resident, is entrusted with Grandpa Bledsoe.
For many years, the town of Nederland hosted the Frozen Dead Guy Days Festival in late winter, a far cry from their initial attempts to remove the body. The festival featured events such as a Grandpa Look-Alike contest, the Polar Plunge, Coffin Races, and live music performances. A portion of the proceeds was dedicated to Bredo’s maintenance. However, in November 2022, festival organizers announced that the event would be moving to Estes Park, though it would still be held in March.
Nederland is located in western Boulder County, approximately 20 minutes west of Boulder and an hour and a half from Denver. Situated at the crossroads of State Highways 119 and 72, the small town lies near the center of the Peak-to-Peak Scenic Historic Byway. The area offers a variety of recreational activities, including skiing at Eldora Ski Area, dude ranches, fishing, camping, biking, hiking, and horseback riding. The historic mining towns of Central City and Black Hawk are also just a short drive away. While the festival celebrating The Frozen Dead Guy may have moved, the legend of Grandpa Bredo continues to live on in Nederland.