KEWAUNEE COUNTY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – It hasn’t been a great season so far when it comes to outdoor recreation in parts of Northeast Wisconsin
“Mother Nature obviously has been not good to us for snow making, or anything for that matter. But, now, this week, we’ve got some cold, so we’ve been making snow since the weekend,” said Dave Myers, Kewaunee County Promotions and Recreation Director.
With recent cold weather, workers at Winter Park in Kewaunee County are taking advantage of the situation.
“This is a very challenging part of the state to make snow in. We’re really close to Lake Michigan. We’re in a valley. So, we’re warmer than normal, and we don’t get quite as cool nights as up north. And then the rain and the warm weather turns everything to ice,” said Michael Rosinsky, Kewaunee County Parks Caretaker.
Rosinsky tells FOX 11 snow making on the ski hill at Winter Park is about three weeks behind schedule. He says the week’s deep freeze is a game-changer.
“We got this weather, and we’re going to get it going. Better late than never,” he said.
It’s been a somewhat difficult year for the ski hill here. Myers says issues with volunteer group called the Winter Park Association have been worked out, and skiing is expected here.
“We’ve had a good working relationship for years, and they’re back working with us. And we’re hoping to get this ski hill ready. We’re making snow right now, so we still have to groom all the snow out, get all the lifts ready. We’ll update by the end of this week where we’re at. I’m hoping that if we couldn’t get it open this weekend, by next weekend, we should be ready to go.”
Myers says Winter Park’s Tube Hill is running business as usual and is very popular.
“I think we’re close to 6,000 roughly on the tube hill so far this year. So, it’s kind of on pace for a really good year.”
As long as it stays cold.
“It was perfect conditions last night. The sky was open. Not too much wind to contend with. Low relative humidity. That’s really important. Temperature is important, but you want a dry atmosphere that makes that snow, that water turns into snow really fast,” said Rosinsky.
Winter Park is open on the weekends.
Depending on the weather, the season may last into March.
