The Green Acres tubing hill in Lake Elmo opened on Black Friday with manufactured snow, but March-like weather put an end to that.

Then came last weekend's snowfall.

Crowds came back to the family-run attraction for a few days until bitter cold hit.

"My whole life is dependent on the weather," said owner Rich Springborn, whose father and grandfather started Green Acres in 1972.

On a good day, with plenty of snow and temperatures in the 20s, as many as 500 people come to the family tubing hill for one of the many two-hour sessions.

The hill has a vertical drop of 160 feet and continues for 600 feet. Tubers then grab onto a rope tow for a ride back up.

On a good day, as many as 500 people come to the family tubing hill for one of the many two-hour sessions.

Another Green Acres hill, Big Hill, opens in mid-January to tubers who are 13 and older.

Details are available at www.greenacresrec.com.

Kevin Giles