Ski Snowstar facts for kids

Snowstar Winter Sports Park, often just called Snowstar, is a fun place for winter sports! It's located in Andalusia Township, Rock Island County, near Andalusia, Illinois. It's super close to the Quad Cities, only about 10 minutes away. Snowstar has a big area of 28 acres where you can ski, snowboard, and tube.

The Story of Snowstar

How Snowstar Began

Snowstar started in 1979 when a large piece of land was bought. The park first opened its doors in the winter of 1981-1982. Back then, it had 6 acres ready for skiing and snowboarding. It also had a chairlift for four people and a cable tow to pull skiers up the hill.

Early Days and Growth

When Snowstar first opened, it had three snow machines. These machines helped cover all the hills with snow. The main building, called the ski lodge, was a busy place. It had a cafeteria, a lounge to relax in, and an office to buy tickets. You could also find a ski school to learn new skills, a ski patrol for safety, and a place to rent equipment. There was even a gift shop! The very next summer, Snowstar grew even bigger. They added more land for skiing, almost doubling their size. They also added another four-person chairlift and a new hill for skiers who were getting better.

What You Can Do at Snowstar

Buildings and Snow Making

Snowstar has several buildings on its property. The main lodge is very large, about 6,000 square feet! Inside, you can find different places to eat. There's also a welcome center where you can get information, and a special area for the ski patrol.

Snowstar has 32 powerful snow guns. These machines can cover all 28 acres of the park with snow. They can even make enough snow for the season to last about 75 days! The area also gets some natural snow, usually about 38 to 40 inches each year.

Trails and Lifts

Snowstar has 14 different trails to explore. Half of these trails are for skiers and snowboarders who are at an intermediate level. The rest of the trails are split evenly between beginners and advanced riders. This means there's something for everyone!

To get up the hills, Snowstar has six different ski lifts. Two of these are tow ropes, which pull you up while you stand on your skis or snowboard.

Fun Features and Activities

Besides regular skiing and snowboarding, Snowstar has special features for tricks and jumps. These include quarter pipes, hip jumps, and spines. Snowstar also has a fun tubing hill where you can slide down on a tube.

In February 2019, Snowstar added another exciting activity: year-round zip-line tours! There are four different zip lines. The longest one is super long, stretching 1,300 feet!