Sam G.
Yelp
Uh, a terrain park 10 minutes from my house? Yes please!
A relaxed environment where I can safely fall on my arse a dozen times before finally executing a proper backside boardslide? Indeed.
The rail yard has been around more or less since 2007'ish and is created by Winter Park. They blow a whole bunch of man-made snow once a year, around mid-january, and then when that melts, it's over. It's currently the beginning of February and there's still plenty of cover.
Helmets are suggested but not required.
Park hours are morning to 11pm (their site says 9pm but the park sign says 11pm) - the bright lights are on until close which makes this perfect for after-work fun times.
IT'S FREE.
There are occasionally some Ruby Hill volunteers or staff there helping maintain the roll-ins and landings. They also have a tool box with them should your bindings need some adjusting.
They do make mild modifications to the features from season to season. For the most part, it's a beginners level park (that doesn't mean you won't see some skilled riders here buttering, jibbing, and making you envious/swoon).
The features are low to the ground and the hill isn't very steep. Almost everything is a box, ranging from about 2.5 feet wide to 1 foot wide. This season there is a medium pipe/cylinder that leads onto a rail. There's also a small c-rail/box thing, and sometimes people build tiny little kickers at the bottom of the hill for a third thing to hit.
Since the hill is mild, hiking up it is no big deal. Doesn't tire you out near as much as I thought it would.
There are snowboarders, skiers, snowskaters, tubers, and sledders here. Everyone shares space well. Unfortunately the percentage of attendees is still about 98 percent dudes (I have been the only woman riding here on more than one occasion). So if you're a femme and reading this, go! It's really mellow. And a sh*t ton of fun.