KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The snow was flying along the Lakeshore Monday, but it wasn’t all coming from the sky.
Mechanical snowmaking machines are working to lay the foundation for the upcoming season at Winter Park near Kewaunee.
“We have three guns running on our ski hill behind me here, and the other side on our tubing hill, we have two guns going right now,” said Dave Myers, Kewaunee County Parks Director.
Myers tells FOX 11 crews started making snow last week.
“It’s just basically pressurizing water, and spraying it into the air. So, by the time it falls, it turns to snow. So, it’s as easy as that. We like to be in the teens, or at least low 20s, to make decent snow. Once it starts getting in the high 20s, it’s starting to get a little wet,” said Myers.
Winter Park officials say it typically takes about a foot and a half base, to form the frozen foundation for the five snowboarding and skiing runs.
And there’s a popular multi-lane snow tubing run, complete with an uphill mechanized conveyor called the Magic Carpet.
“Last year, that really set us up for a record-breaking season, welcoming over 11,000 visitors from 23 states here,” said Jennifer Gonzalez, Kewaunee County Tourism Coordinator.
And there are other improvements, including a refurbished tow rope for the beginner hill, and a new storage barn for the park’s trail groomer.
“Winter Park, is it’s a whole lot of fun packed into one little park,” said Gonzalez.
Myers says the park is expected to open the weekend before Christmas if the weather cooperates.
“We’ve been running all through the weekend here, and now we’re just going to take a break with the warm weather and probably go back at it at night when it cools off a bit more.”
Winter Park will open on the weekends, for tubing, skiing, snowboarding and even snowshoeing.
