It was in the mid-80s and the sun was shining in Pasco County, but there was snow covering the ground at Florida’s first snow park, Snowcat Ridge.
The new attraction opens today in Dade City and features a 60-foot tall, 400-foot long snow tubing hill with single, tandem and family-style snow tubing. A Magic Carpet lift will carry visitors back to the top.
The slopes do contain real snow, a feature that took about five years and $1 million in research to develop, said Snowcat Ridge CEO Benjamin Nagengast.
“There’s only one ingredient, that’s water. Two parts magic, one part water,” he said. “There’s been nothing of this scale and size in Florida, an alpine snow park … A lot of folks didn’t think this was possible.”
Nagengast didn’t divulge his trade secrets but said that Snowcat Ridge will be a seasonal attraction and operations become trickier when temperatures reach the upper 80s.
It’s easy to gain speed on the snowy slopes, especially for individual and tandem tubers flying down the icy lanes. On the count of three, you’re given a shove and immediately accelerate, spinning down to the bottom. Make sure to hold onto the handles — it’s a crazy ride.
After a splash through a puddle of melted snow, rubber mats stop tubers in their tracks. After a laugh and sigh of relief, it’s time to go back up the magic carpet and do it all again.
At the bottom of the giant snow hill, guests can spend time in the Arctic Igloo to make snowmen and play with real snow. The on-site Alpine Village will give Floridians a chance to warm up with hot cocoa and a bite while relaxing near a bonfire. This is where guests can also find a seasonal holiday market with local artisans.
“We really weren’t anticipating to add snow tubing and snowball fights to our destination’s repertoire of activities and we are so excited to have that here in our own backyard in Pasco County,” said Adam Thomas, tourism director for Pasco County.
Nagengast, who also operates nearby TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park and the seasonal Scream-A-Geddon, said the primary audience for his attraction is locals.
“We serve the local population, then tourists come and find us as well,” he said. “This is something we haven’t seen the amusement parks offer. We cap the attendance. When you’re out here on a Saturday, you won’t see thousands of people.”
Tickets are now available, starting at $24.95 (depending upon date) online — tickets are $5 more at the box office. General admission tickets include a two-hour tubing session and all-day access to the Arctic Igloo and Alpine Village. An unlimited snow tubing upgrade (starting at $59.95) gives guests the same perks, plus a full day of fun on the snow hill. A parking pass costs $14.02 online.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, visitors will be required to wear a face-covering “where social distancing is not possible,” including while on the snowy slopes and inside the Arctic Igloo. Guests will also be required to pass a temperature check when entering.
If you go: Snowcat Ridge is open on select dates at 27839 Saint Joe Road in Dade City. Hours vary by date. For more information and tickets, visit snowcatridge.com.
Find me on Twitter @PConnPie, Instagram @PConnPie or send me an email: pconnolly@orlandosentinel.com.
![National Weather Service experts warned Wednesday that the rise of a potent, global climate bully has set the stage for violent weather and killer tornadoes in Central Florida from now until spring. With one occurring every few to seven years at varying strengths, an El Niño climate phase is taking shape as among the stronger on record and is forecast to have a high probability of ushering powerful storm systems across the Gulf of Mexico into the Orlando region and other parts of Florida through March. National Weather Service officials said conditions in place put Central Florida at a comparable […]](https://www.orlandosentinel.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/FLORIDA-TORNADOES.jpg?w=534 "National Weather Service experts warned Wednesday that the rise of a potent, global climate bully has set the stage for violent weather and killer tornadoes in Central Florida from now until spring. With one occurring every few to seven years at varying strengths, an El Niño climate phase is taking shape as among the stronger on record and is forecast to have a high probability of ushering powerful storm systems across the Gulf of Mexico into the Orlando region and other parts of Florida through March. National Weather Service officials said conditions in place put Central Florida at a comparable […]")
