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 An entry on virtually every coaster enthusiast’s bucket list has to be racing through the air on a twisting, hurtling train while falling snow pelts his or her face. It’s a rare experience and one that aficionados treasure because, generally, when the snow starts … the coasters stop.
“There are parameters set by the ride manufacturers for safe operating conditions,” says Kathy Burrows, public relations manager for Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania. “Running roller coasters in snow is usually a no-no.”
“We have certain criteria we follow depending on temperature, snow conditions, etc.,” adds Dave Yakstis, director of rides and equipment at the park. “You always have to remember that it’s best to take rides down than to leave guests stranded on them due to safety systems shutting down rides due to weather-related factors.”
For parks that open during the winter holidays, ride management can be tricky. Most facilities tend to leave open the kiddie rides or those that are indoors. But a cold, unexpected storm can ruin even those days and turn a festive holiday opening into a whiteout.
“You do the best you can with what the weather gives you,” says Burrows. “We’ve had years with beautiful, snow-free holiday periods and some where the parking lot is covered by Thanksgiving, so we never know and we just have to prepare for everything.”
Snow? No Problem
Even for parks that are normally closed in December, snow can be a dicey proposition in the shoulder seasons of early spring and late fall. “This is Minnesota; snow happens, especially when you least expect it,” says Tom Memmen, promotions and communications manager for Valleyfair, a Cedar Fair facility in Shakopee. “We’ve had snow during our Halloween events and in May after we open for the season, so we’re ready for it nearly year round.”
“It’s all about the cold when it comes to roller coasters,” says John Collins, director of marketing for Indiana Beach Amusement Resort in Monticello. “During those shoulder periods there might be mornings where you have to delay opening some coasters, but you get them going as soon as you possibly can.”
An unexpected snow flurry on a cold May or October night can happen and give coaster riders a thrill, but the operations management at Valleyfair stays on top of the weather conditions. “As soon as we get below freezing there’s a set protocol,” says Memmen. “Fountains are turned off, we reduce the number of food carts outside, and the fast outdoor rides are closed. Although there may be some guests who like the idea of riding a roller coaster when it’s 30 degrees, they’re definitely in the minority. We don’t get very many complaints about shutting down the coasters in those conditions; everyone wants to get indoors to warm up.”
On those days when the weather is iffy, the daily management team meets to go over when and what to close if it’s too cold or the snow and sleet start to stick. “It’s really one of those things where we do everything we can within the bounds of safety to keep rides open,” says Memmen. “Some people love riding a roller coaster in the cold, and in October, we’ll get some temps below 40 so they get their chance. Guests here tend to dress for anything, so if it’s going to drizzle or if we get a good wind chill they’re ready for it.”
 Give Guests Other Options
On cold days and nights at Valleyfair there are often bigger crowds in the shops and restaurants than in the ride lines. “These areas are considered great pit stops to get out of the elements,” says Memmen. “We try to make them inviting so guests can have a hot chocolate and get their bearings before going outside again.”
On rare temperate December days during holiday openings, the thought of starting up the coasters has to be tempting. “It would really be something to have the coasters operating on those days close to Christmas when it’s sunny and 50 degrees,” says Burrows. “But it just can’t happen. Immediately after Halloween, the trains and tracks are completely overhauled, and to open one of them in December would throw the maintenance calendar off schedule.”
Those with a passion for a December coaster ride would be better off traveling to warmer climes, if some of those could be described as “warmer.” “When we do our ‘Holiday in the Park’ everything is open—coasters, kids’ rides, everything,” says Nancy Chan, spokesperson for Six Flags Discover Kingdom in Vallejo, California. “It’s a big feature of the park. Lots of our annual pass holders want to get their last rides in for the year.”
However, Vallejo isn’t exactly balmy Orlando. Located on the chilly San Francisco Bay, the average temperature in December is 45 degrees—not cold enough for snow and ice but low enough to redden your face as you fly down a track at 55 miles per hour. “We don’t specifically market to the thrill-seeker guest during this time, but everyone knows we’re open,” says Chan. “For us, the big issue is rain and wind. We’ll get those during December so our management team is always monitoring what’s happening in the sky. When a big storm rolls in we close the outdoor rides, but when that happens it doesn’t matter too much since people are generally aware of when there will be bad weather, and our crowd is pretty small.”
 Lodging and Staffing
Bad weather is a headache to park guests who live nearby, but it can be crushing for guests who have planned a vacation around attending a park. “We have two hotels here, and there are a number of other hotels and lodges nearby, which is why the weather has to be really bad for us to close in December,” says Burrows of Hersheypark. “Guests come from long distances to spend a weekend and go to our holiday events so we’re obligated to open at least a small area of the park unless we’re in a blizzard.”
Of course, bad weather also affects staffing. “That’s usually not much of a problem, since if we’re facing bad weather, we’re not going to have as many guests arrive that day so we can get by on a smaller staff,” says Collins.
Overall, cold weather operations are based on the word of the weatherman. “We’re very attuned to what the National Weather Service says and how it affects our attractions,” says Memmen. “Maybe one day there will be an all-weather coaster invented, but until then we’ll have to get by on the thrill rides we have.”
John Morell is a freelance business writer based in Los Angeles whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times and The New York Times. He can be reached at john@jcmorell.com.
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