Snowstar Winter Park

What Snowstar Winter Park does

Snowstar Winter Park is a privately held, family-owned winter sports resort founded in 1981 and operated by the Harper Family in Andalusia, Illinois, serving the Quad Cities metro area (western Illinois and eastern Iowa). The core experience is built around 15 alpine trails, a 28-acre professionally designed terrain park with 20+ freestyle features, and a 6-lane snow tubing hill served by a magic carpet lift, with a 790-foot summit elevation and approximately 40 inches of average natural snowfall supplemented by extensive 24/7 snowmaking capacity. The facility also operates the Inside Edge Tune Shop (outfitted with Wintersteiger machines), equipment rentals, PSIA/AASI-certified ski and snowboard lessons, and youth programming through Bunny Camp and Kids Camp.

The business monetizes through a diversified, multi-stream revenue model: per-day lift tickets ($41-$59 depending on day type, time of day, and age), annual season passes ($185-$349 per pass with steep group discounts at 5+ buyers), equipment rentals ($36 full package), snow tubing sessions ($26 for 2 hours / $42 for 4 hours), group and private lessons ($30-$70), on-site F&B across four venues (The Lodge, Peak's Tavern, Fireside Lounge, Snack Shack), tune shop services, gift shop merchandise, and year-round Lodge facility rentals for weddings, corporate events, and birthday parties. Pricing uses time-of-day, day-of-week, and age-based tiering, with additional dynamic holiday pricing during peak periods.

Go-to-market is direct-to-consumer through the Snowstar website (powered by the Singenuity booking platform), on-site ticket office walk-up sales, and group sales handled via phone/email. The resort extends its reach through the Indy Pass network (230+ independent ski destinations globally) and operates the Snowstar Ski Team and National Ski Patrol integration as community- and loyalty-building programs. Distribution remains regional, with no disclosed international visitation or e-commerce shipping beyond gift cards. The company carries no external investment, no parent company, and no subsidiaries.

Name

Snowstar Winter Park

Legal name

Snowstar

Website

https://skisnowstar.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1981

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Snowstar Winter Park is a family-owned, single-location winter sports resort in Andalusia, Illinois, serving Quad Cities families and recreational skiers with 15 trails, a 28-acre terrain park, tubing, lessons, rentals, dining, and year-round event venue rentals.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Winter Sports Resort

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (71392), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900), Services-Miscellaneous Amusement & Recreation (7990)

akta.pro primary industry

Ski Areas & Lift Operations (Independent Mountains) (THAAAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Winter Equipment Rental, Demo & Repair (Skis/Boards/Boots, Tuning) (THAAAJAH), Snow Tubing, Sledding & Winter Fun Parks (THAAAJAG)

Keywords

• Winter sports resort
• Ski resort services
• Snow tubing lanes
• Ski equipment rentals
• Ski instruction programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Andalusia

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Lift Ticket Sales: Revenue from downhill skiing and snowboarding lift tickets sold at various price points based on time of day, day of week, and age category (adult/youth). Tickets available for weekdays and weekends/holidays.
2. Season Passes: Annual season passes providing unlimited skiing and snowboarding access for the winter season. Offered at individual and group discounted rates.
3. Equipment Rentals: Rental packages including skis/boards, boots, poles, helmets, coats and snowpants. Season pass holders can add equipment rental packages.
4. Snow Tubing: Snow tubing sessions sold in 2-hour and 4-hour increments with access to 6 tubing lanes and magic carpet lift.
5. Ski and Snowboard Lessons: Group and private lessons for skiing and snowboarding, including beginner packages that bundle equipment rental with lesson and beginner hill pass.
6. Facility and Event Rentals: The Lodge at Snowstar serves as a premier event venue for weddings, corporate functions, birthday parties, and other gatherings. Revenue from venue rental, catering services, and additional equipment like fire pits and grills.
7. Tune Shop Services: Inside Edge Tune Shop provides equipment maintenance including deluxe tuning, stone grinding, waxing, P-Tex repairs, and binding mounting/adjustment services.
8. Food and Beverage: Four dining options: The Lodge (full menu with pizza, burgers, appetizers), Peak's Tavern (bar with full menu access), Fireside Lounge (21+ cocktail lounge), and Snack Shack (quick snacks and hot chocolate).
9. Retail Merchandise: Gift shop selling Snowstar merchandise including sweatshirts, hats, tumblers, and gift cards in any denomination.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Snowstar Winter Park operates a family-owned winter sports resort offering downhill skiing and snowboarding across 15 trails, a 28-acre professionally designed terrain park with 20+ freestyle features, and 6-lane snow tubing with magic carpet lift access. The core experience is supported by on-site equipment rentals, PSIA/AASI-certified ski and snowboard lessons, multi-week youth ski camps (Bunny Camp and Kids Camp), an Inside Edge Tune Shop using Wintersteiger machines, four dining venues, and year-round event venue rentals at The Lodge.

Product overview

Snowstar Winter Park is a family-friendly ski resort offering a comprehensive winter sports experience. The core offering centers on 15 skiing and snowboarding trails across 28+ acres, complemented by a 28-acre terrain park with 20+ features and a 6-lane tube hill. These core activities are supported by add-on services including professional ski/board lessons, Bunny & Kids camps, equipment rentals, and the Inside Edge Tune Shop. On-site amenities include four dining venues (The Lodge, Peak's Tavern, Fireside Lounge, and Snack Shack), plus facility rentals for events. Season passes provide unlimited access with group discounts and partner resort reciprocity through the Indy Pass program. The resort has been operating since 1981 and is open year-round for both winter sports and facility event rentals.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Skiing

Quantifiable outcome

• Averaging around 40 inches of snowfall each year
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Indy PasscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSnowstar participates in the Indy Pass network, offering skiers and snowboarders access to 230+ independent ski destinations across the United States, Canada, Europe, and Japan. Season pass holders can save roughly 30% on an Indy AddOn Pass by submitting proof of their unlimited Snowstar season pass. This partnership positions Snowstar within a network of authentic, uncrowded ski areas while providing cross-promotional benefits.
• National Ski PatrolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSnowstar is adding patrollers for the 2025/26 season as part of the National Ski Patrol, one of the largest outdoor safety organizations in the world with over 30,000 members at nearly 500 ski resorts. Benefits for patrollers include free skiing, family passes, locker access, discounted meals, gift shop discounts, and national brand discounts through the National Ski Patrol program.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Chestnut Mountain Resort: Independently owned ski resort in Galena, Illinois along the Mississippi River. Direct Midwest independent peer with comparable trail count, beginner-friendly programming, tubing, and event venue offerings; listed as a Snowstar season-pass reciprocity partner.
• Sundown Mountain Ski Resort: Independently owned ski area near Dubuque, Iowa with comparable trail count, terrain park, tubing, and lessons. Direct Midwest independent peer in the Quad Cities / Eastern Iowa catchment and a listed Snowstar reciprocity partner.
• Seven Oaks Recreation: Family-owned Midwest ski area near Boone, Iowa with similar independent scale, terrain park, lessons, and tubing. Listed Snowstar reciprocity partner and a near-clone in operational model.
• Cascade Mountain: Independently owned ski area in Portage, Wisconsin offering comparable terrain park, tubing, lessons, and event hosting. Closest scaled Midwest independent competitor to Snowstar's customer base.
• Granite Peak Ski Area: Independent ski hill on Rib Mountain in Wausau, Wisconsin with significantly more vertical but a directly comparable independent Midwest business model including terrain park, lessons, tubing, and lodge events.
• Wilmot Mountain: Midwest ski area near the Wisconsin / Illinois border offering terrain park, lessons, tubing, and rentals at a similar scale. Now operated by Vail Resorts but functionally comparable in offerings to Snowstar.

Regional players

• Hidden Valley Ski Resort: Small independent ski area in Wildwood, Missouri serving the St. Louis market with comparable trail count, terrain park, tubing, and lessons. Comparable operating model but geographically distant from Snowstar's Quad Cities catchment.
• Paoli Peaks: Small Midwest ski area in southern Indiana with comparable trail count, terrain park, lessons, and tubing. Comparable independent Midwest operating model serving a different regional market.

Broad incumbents

• Boyne Mountain Resort: Major Midwest destination resort in Michigan operated by Boyne Resorts, with substantially larger terrain, lodging, and waterpark amenities. Comparable product mix but at a different scale and with lodging integration Snowstar lacks.

Others

• Indy Pass: Multi-resort pass network connecting 230+ independent ski areas globally, of which Snowstar is a member. Functions as both a distribution channel and a network of comparable independent peers for cross-promotion and customer acquisition.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmTtcXOT2RsZSGSAkQsTZ_w
• Facebookfacebook.com/SnowstarPark
• Instagraminstagram.com/skisnowstar/?hl=en
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/snowstar

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Snowstar Winter Park