Snow Bunny facts for kids
Snow Bunny is a small, fun place to play in the snow. It's located on the side of Mount Hood in Oregon, United States. This spot is about 65 miles (105 km) east of Portland.
It's a popular place for families and young children. People enjoy inner tubing, tobogganing, and other snow sports on a special snow hill. Snow Bunny first opened in 1952. It was the very first snow play area for kids on Mount Hood!
Contents
History of Snow Bunny
How Snow Bunny Started
The road that goes through Snow Bunny, called East Leg Timberline Road, was once the main way to get to Timberline Lodge. This was back when the lodge was built in 1936. Later, in 1949, a new road called Timberline Highway opened. This new road made the old East Leg Road less used, especially in winter.
In 1952, a man named George W. Jackson had a great idea. He led about 150 volunteers from the East Side Commercial Club. They worked together to turn an old garage at the end of the East Leg Road into a snow lodge. Their goal was to create a safe place for children to play, away from the busy and sometimes dangerous ski areas.
The Snow Bunny Lodge
The new lodge opened on February 1, 1953. It offered warm rooms, meals, and even a playroom for kids on winter weekends. A non-profit group called Snow Bunny Lodge Incorporated ran the lodge from 1977 to 1992. During the week, youth groups could use the lodge. It could host up to 66 people overnight and 300 during the day.
Why the Lodge Was Removed
In the early 1990s, there were plans to fix up the lodge. However, the building had problems like dry rot. Its fire safety system was also not good enough. Plus, the building contained asbestos, which is a harmful material.
The U.S. Forest Service received money to remodel the lodge. But the cost to fix everything was much higher than expected. So, in October 1992, the Forest Service had to tear down the lodge because of these safety worries.
The non-profit group that ran the tubing area stopped operating when the lodge was gone. But later in 1992, a company called Northwest Nordic took over. They got permission from the Forest Service to run Snow Bunny. At that time, about 25,000 people visited Snow Bunny every year!
What You Can Do at Snow Bunny
Activities and Trails
Snow Bunny is located at 3,816 feet (1,163 m) high. This makes it a great starting point for many winter activities. People who enjoy cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, and snowmobiles often start their adventures here. You can even access trails that lead to beautiful places like Trillium Lake and the Yellowjacket Trail.
Location and Season
The company that runs Snow Bunny also operates the Summit Ski Area. This other ski area is just 2 miles (3.2 km) west on U.S. Route 26. Snow Bunny is found along the Mount Hood Scenic Byway. It's about 2 miles (3.2 km) east of Government Camp on U.S. Route 26. It's also near the road to Trillium Lake and East Leg Road. These forest roads are not plowed in winter, making them perfect for winter sports.
You can usually go inner tubing and sliding from Thanksgiving until spring break. The concession stand is open on winter weekends and most school holidays. When it's open, you can't use your own sliding equipment. The fee you pay covers unlimited fun for the day.
Parking and Facilities
You will need a Sno-Park permit to park your car at Snow Bunny. The area also has a single rope tow. This helps you get back up the hill easily for more sliding!
