The Largest Indoor Ski Slope In America

Just minutes from one of the biggest cities in the country is an indoor ski resort that no one was expecting. Ten miles northwest of New York City stands the 180,000 total square foot, 16-story-high facility of Big SNOW American Dream.

This behemoth is the largest and only operational year-round indoor ski and snowboard resort in North America. The resort is located inside the popular American Dream shopping center and entertainment complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey. While the scale sounds incredible, hitting the slopes on the inside is even more impressive.

A Winter Wonderland in the Urban Jungle

The story of how Big SNOW American Dream came to be begins with the American Dream shopping complex construction process. This East Rutherford, New Jersey mega mall was first proposed in 1994, with the first indoor alpine ski resort planned with it.

However, the construction was halted in 2009 due to a lack of funding after the 2008 financial crisis. In 2011, the Triple Five Group took over the ownership and named the mall "American Dream."

In 2015, the ski slope was named Big Snow, and in 2019, Big SNOW American Dream opened its doors to hopeful ski and snowboarders. Its big debut featured a star-studded list of attendees, including Olympic gold medalist freestyle skier Donna Weinbrecht and Olympic gold medalist skier Lindsey Vonn.

Only Real-Snow Allowed

Unlike other indoor ski slopes, Big SNOW is the first and only real-snow, year-round ski resort. No, there aren't clouds built into the ceiling, but there are snowmakers working overtime to recreate a real snow experience.

They make snow by spraying a fine mist of cooled water over the slopes. Then chilly air from special units hanging from the domed ceiling freezes that water, thus simulating real snow. To go a step further, they even have a radiant cooling system built into the floor. The indoor facility stays pretty chilly, keeping it a steady 28 °F year-round to maintain their cold climate.

To keep the conditions fresh for every visitor, they produce roughly one to two inches of new snow every evening and maintain a base depth of roughly two feet across its 180,000 square foot terrain, meaning the resort can hold an estimated 5,500 tons of snow.

Ski Adventures Without the Mountains

Big SNOW American Dream offers big adventures within its walls. It's owned by the same people who run the Mountain Creek Resort, an outdoor ski resort in the northwestern part of New Jersey. But if you live closer to New York City, you can experience the thrills of skiing in real snow without the drive to the outdoor resort.

Big SNOW American Dream has 150,000 sq. ft. of ski slopes to choose from. The Little Dipper is considered a beginner (green) run with a gentler, more relaxed slope, while the Perfect Slope also serves as a straightforward beginner-friendly run.

For a more advanced experience, the main continuous slope in the building is the Switchback. This intermediate (blue) run features some nice curves in the upper part and smooths out towards the bottom. Then there's Northern Lights, the resort's most advanced option, with a similar winding beginning as the Switchback, but it also includes some fun places to do tricks. You can get lost in the boxes, jump on rails, or attempt a jump; all of these are possible at Northern Lights.

The Largest Indoor Ski Resort Is Here

While there are other indoor ski resorts in the country, like Liberty Mountain Snowflex Centre in Virginia, Stoke Mountain in Washington, and SkiDek Training Centers in Los Angeles and Miami, only Big SNOW American Dream offers a full-scale indoor ski resort with real snow.

The 1,000-foot main incline, terrain park, and temperature-controlled climate year-round make it stand out in the crowd of indoor ski resorts. You have to bring your own ski gear, but entry is pretty straightforward with a two hour all-access ticket sitting at $47.99 for ages seven and up, while youngsters can get in for $11.99.

Getting a chance to ski this resort might be a game-changer for your ski ambitions if you live in the New York City area.