Pumping out the Snow for Holiday Fun - Louisville Water Company

From Big Surf (wave pool) to Blizzard Bluff, Kentucky Kingdom transformed into a winter wonderland. On November 22, Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom returned for a second year.

“We were really looking for a way to extend the season. We have never gone after October before; some of our sister properties do Christmas events and they’re really successful and their guests enjoy them. We wanted to bring that here to Kentucky Kingdom,” said Carly Uglow, the director of sales and marketing for the amusement park.

Christian Fegett’s family had a blast during last year’s inaugural season.

“My 8-year-old and I enjoyed racing down the giant snow tube hill. My 2-year-old tried the smaller ‘bunny hill’ and loved playing in the snow. We can’t wait to go again soon!” she shared.

Just like we wondered, you’re probably curious where all the snow comes from. So, we asked.

“We absolutely use water!” Uglow said, “We have our own snowmaking machines here on property. They produce up to 100 tons of snow every 24 hours.”

Those machines are where the snow-packed action begins.

“Water is misted onto a stainless-steel drum that is frozen by a chiller machine. As the water freezes, the drum is scraped by a blade to drop onto a conveyor belt to keep the snow moving along. It is then blown through 500-foot-long hoses onto the snow hill,” Uglow explained.

As we know around here, December can bring a mixed bag of weather conditions.

Uglow said, “Depending on temperatures, the base layer will last us quite a while. Of course, when it’s warmer out or if it rains, that could diminish. Our attractions team works really closely with our maintenance team to make sure they’re in constant communication of what levels the snow is supposed to be.”

When you look at the 75-foot-tall Blizzard Bluff, Mount Flurry kiddie hill, and Little Flurries Snowland, that’s a whole lotta snow which means a whole lotta Louisville Pure Tap®!

“During the entire Christmas at Kentucky Kingdom event, we use about 700,000 gallons of water to make and keep up with the snow!” Uglow exclaimed.

And of course, the team making the magic happen behind the scenes must test the slopes to make sure guests have a smooth ride downhill.

If snowtubing isn’t your thing, not to worry. You’re bound to find something to get you in the spirit as you wander through Classic Christmas, Holly Jolly Junction, Snow Zone, and Santa’s Village.

Many rides remain open plus you can enjoy new holiday treat offerings and don’t forget to pack your empty, reusable bottle to fill up with Pure Tap magic along the way!