Ariens Nordic Center near Brillion prepares for grand opening with fresh snow

CALUMET COUNTY (WLUK) -- The Ariens Nordic Center, southeast of Brillion, is busy making snow.

Workers at the park are preparing for cross-country skiing season and their grand opening next month.

Atop a small hill at the 200-acre site, one of 14 snow making machines is working overtime.

"Mother Nature hasn't been real kind to us. The conditions have not been good. A lot of rain. We need temperatures in the mid-20s and lower, and humidity low in order for us to really make decent snow," said Sean Becker, Ariens Nordic Center General Manager.

Becker says that favorable forecast arrived Friday.

"It's awfully white out here. Right now, we're full-bore into our snow-making operation. We're about probably a little over half-way through at this point," he said.

Becker says the snow is needed to coat the five-kilometer cross country ski trails and shooting range at the state-of-the-art U.S. Olympic Biathlon training center near Brillion. Ariens Corporate Communications officials say the grand opening is scheduled for the weekend of Jan. 6 through 9.

"We actually have free skiing for everybody. So, people can come out, see what it's like, learn how to do it and understand if they want to get a pass out here," said Tara Perry, Ariens Corporate Communications Director.

In the meantime, white-out conditions continue.

"We're hoping to get all this snow made here in the next four or five days and then start grooming the trails out," said Becker.

People are able to buy passes on a daily, seasonal or annual basis.