ANDALUSIA, Illinois – “We’re in crunch time.” That’s the word from Derek Workman, operations manager of Snowstar in rural Andalusia. That “crunch” is coming because Mr. Workman is busy doing the many jobs – large and small – to get the 28-acre terrain park ready for winter sports fans. Snowstar expects to open for the […]
ANDALUSIA, Illinois – “We’re in crunch time.”That’s the word from Derek Workman, operations manager of Snowstar in rural Andalusia. That “crunch” is coming because Mr. Workman is busy doing the many jobs – large and small – to get the 28-acre terrain park ready for winter sports fans. Snowstar expects to open for the winter season on Dec. 21, but that date is still a moving target that largely depends on the weather, he told the QCBJ on Thursday.Lift 2 at Snowstar, in Andalusia, Illinois, gets repair work done on Wednesday, Dec. 8. Snowstar officials hope the lift is operational this upcoming ski season. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONSnowstar now includes numerous all-season sporting features, including for the upcoming ski season.If the weather cooperates, Snowstar workers will begin making snow Monday night, Dec. 12. It will take them a “good week” of snow making before the facility is ready to open for the season, Mr. Workman said.“I’m really happy with how things are going here. I just wish the weather was colder,” he told the QCBJ.If the weather does turn colder – and Snowstar gets its needed snow – the outdoor attraction will be open just before Christmas and in time for the winter break for many area students. That’s important, because that is the busy time of the year for Snowstar, which will have about 150 to 200 employees helping out this season’s winter sports fans.Last year, Snowstar opened for the winter season fairly late – on New Year’s Eve – because of a relatively warm December.Mr. Workman and other Snowstar workers have been busy getting projects done for the winter season as well as some new features. They include:
Six new snow-making machines, or snow guns, arrived this week. Those machines cost about $28,000 each. Snowstar now has about 30 guns to make snow. Just a couple of years ago, it only had four guns, Mr. Workman said.
Snowstar’s Lift 2 might be ready for the new season. That lift, which was being worked on early this week, has not been in operation for about seven years. Inspectors are scheduled to look over the lift in the next few days.
About $16,000 in new boots, poles and other equipment just arrived. It replaces old equipment as well as boots that were stolen from last season. Mr. Workman said the company is also working on a tracking system for the equipment in hopes of cutting down on the theft of such items.
Snowstar has 15 trails spanning 28 acres for skiing and snowboarding.
Other improvements include an expanded gift shop, a new bar in the lodge building, a planned new bathroom downstairs in the lodge, and many other upgrades to Snowstar facilities.
This is the gift shop area at Snowstar. CREDIT DAVE THOMPSONMr. Workman said the Snowstar owners – area businessman Doug Harper and his wife Jennifer – have done a great job of updating the facility in the past two years, “I think they have put all the money they’ve made on this place back into it,” he added.Snowstar is located at 9500 126th St. W., Andalusia. It can be reached at (309) 798-2673 and now is accepting online reservations. For more information and to make a reservation, visit www.skisnowstar.com.
