After making man made snow for 84 hours straight, Saturday was opening day for Snow Star Ski Slopes.
Last year the winter attraction opened in November. But because of the mild Midwest winter this area has seen, operations were delayed for the longest in the park's history.
"This has set us back a ways," says Snow Star general manager Dan McCanna.
McCanna says this delay made winter enthusiasts especially anxious to get out on the slopes. Everyone came streaming in to get their winter fix since just after 8 a.m. Saturday morning.
Snow Star workers were especially excited to open this season because of park updates, a remodeled welcome center, upstairs lodge, new food venues and an extended terrain park.
Snow Star isn't the only business hit hard with the winter setbacks.
"It's impacting everybody. Lodges all over aren't open up 100 percent. All of us are feeling the pain," says McCanna.
Even with all the extra hours put in and weeks lost from the season, Snow Star owner Tom Rexroth says it's all worth it.
"Everybody looks like they're having fun, a lot of excitement and a great crowd," says Rexroth.