Winter Park

January - February 2025

 Winter Park is hosted by

See what everyone is saying:

“Fresh air family fun! The kids LOVED the tubing. Us adults loved the warm tent to sit.”

“Love the tubing, loved the ambiance and the staff was AMAZING”

“How it celebrates winter and makes it feel magical for the kids.”

“Nice atmosphere for multi generational groups”

“It was a good time, well-organized, safe, and a nice break from the technology of the world..”

“ALL of the staff from start to finish were absolutely wonderful! They were so friendly and helpful with anything we asked them. It’s also very nice that snow isn’t needed in order to have a good time.”

“Sledding, lights and music, the event's organization was impressive.”

PLEASE NOTE:

Tube regardless of snow! Mother Nature controls the weather and we will tube in any kind of weather . . . sun, snow, rain, etc. Dress accordingly to enjoy the outdoors but don’t expect fluffy snow flakes every day!

Tubers must walk up the hill to get to the top. We do not have any automation for getting up the hill other than your legs (unless a parent is so generous to haul the younger ones).

Winter Park is hosted in rain, snow, or shine. If you are unable to attend for any reason, give your tickets to another person . . they will love the opportunity when we are sold out.

Detailed info available in November 2024

General

All visitors are welcome to come and meet our animals, warm up at one of our cozy bonfires, indulge in a variety of comfort foods from the Farm Kitchen, shop the Farm Store for local products and more. New this year is a climbing play area. No charge.

Tubing

No snow, no problem! We have a new mSnow surface to allows tubing no matter the temperature. Enjoy 50 minutes of tubing. Slide down one of the coolest sledding hills in Metro Detroit. Watch our hill come alive with lights during evening hours.

Groups and Rentals

Offered for sale only during November for early bookings, groups and semi and private rentals are available. Small Group Packages are perfect for birthday parties!

Farm Kitchen & Store

Grilled cheese is back! Our Farm Kitchen will be cooking up grilled cheese to order for your winter outing, along with hot cocoa, donuts and other concessions. Our store also features farm products, apparel, and much more!

Become a sponsor today!

Contact us at info@friendsofbowersfarm.org for more information.

 

FAQ

  • We do not charge an admission fee. But if you’d like to tube, you must purchase a ticket. Join us for a fun outdoor day or evening, while enjoying some warm food or beverages around our warming fires! Special activities periodically occur.

  • Yes! We use a product that allows tubing on the lighted pathway that you can tube whether there is no snow or lots of snow! Come join us for some outdoor fun and see for yourself!

  • YES! You must pre-purchase any tubing ticket to avoid a sell-out. Tubing tickets, when available, can be purchased online. Usually we are sold out so it is unlikely that there will be any available at the hill.

  • For safety reasons, no personal sledding or boarding equipment is allowed or permitted on our hill. We provide specialty snow tubes. in a controlled environment.

    We do not rent out helmets for either activity so we encourage you to bring your own.

  • We recommend children be at least 5 years old and 46” tall. All tubers must be able to pull a tube up the hill (unless accompanied by a tubing ticketed parent), ride down the hill by themselves AND get in and out of the tube by themselves. Parents can not assist their children in the tubing area for safety reasons. It is ultimately up to the parent/guardian to determine if the child can safely tube alone.

  • No. For safety reasons, we only allow one person per tube.

  • You’ll have to walk up the designated path to the top of the hill, pulling your tube with you. The tube will have a pull strap for your convenience. It will be a workout, but this is a winter sport.

  • Yes, we have a full service kitchen with grilled cheese, hot chocolate, donuts, s’more packs, etc. No outside food is allowed.

  • No outside food or drinks can be brought onsite. Absolutely no alcohol is allowed - special licenses are required.

  • Snow tubing is a safe activity and almost anyone can do it. But like any high-speed winter sport, accidents can happen. Safety is paramount which is why we have our requirements listed in our FAQ and on our waiver.

  • No. We are a working farm and companion animals pose a threat to our livestock. However, service dogs are welcome.

  • No, we will not be offering ice skating this year.

  • All visitors choosing to enter the property are inherently agreeing to the posted liability and media waiver. Tubers are required to sign the waiver which may be signed at the ticket booth or online in advance or when purchasing tickets. All minors must have a parent or guardian sign for them. If you are part of a large group, your host should email you a link.

  • No. Minors must be accompanied by their parent or guardian, or another responsible adult. A legal parent or guardian must sign the waivers on the kids’ behalf.

  • Personal sleds or tubes or boards are NOT permitted. For more information about the Winter Park, our public funding, or the history of Winter Park, visit Winter Park; Reviving a Community Gem.

  • Dress accordingly for the weather. We recommend tubers wear snow pants, gloves, and goggles. A helmet is highly recommended for safety.

    Dress in warm layers. This is a sport and activity may require you to shed layers or add layers.

    Waterproof or water-resistant clothing is recommended.

  • Wearing a helmet for both tubing and skating is recommended.

  • Yes, we have a tent that is lightly warmed. Our Farm Activity Building is located at the base of the hill with the Farm Kitchen & Store, and indoor restrooms. Visitors can enter the space to use the restrooms and browse the shop, but capacity is limited. Enjoy the warming fires too.

  • We have limited combined tent rentals and tubing tickets available. Please read the section under Groups for details.

  • No, we do not have any. We do have limited restrooms if necessary.

  • Professional or portrait photographers must purchase a Photography Pass and make arrangements HERE. Personal, non-professional photos can be taken by guests. No drones allowed. Basically, it’s a safety hazard and infringes on individuals’ rights to privacy.

  • We are here to help. Check out our website, and if you still have questions, please email bowersfarm@bloomfield.org.

  • Yes, there is no discount for residents due to the recreational nature of the event needing to be self-funding. School funds are used for educational programs. For more information about the Winter Park, our public funding, or the history of Winter Park, visit Winter Park; Reviving a Community Gem.

SPONSORSHIPS

Join us in presenting a winter wonderland for the community as an Event Sponsor!

 

Please reach out to us at info@friendsofbowersfarm.org for more information and to secure a sponsorship.

Waivers and Releases - Consent by Purchasing Winter Park Tickets

Crowd Release - Media Release:

By entering an event or program at Bowers School Farm and Winter Park, visitors are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Your entry constitutes your consent to such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media in perpetuity, of your appearance, voice and name for any purpose in connection with Bowers School Farm, Friends of Bowers School Farm and Winter Park. Visitors understand that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent given by you by entering this area.

By entering the event premises, you waive and release any claims you may have related to the use of recorded media of you at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording of you, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media.

If you do not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter Winter Park.

 

General Waiver

WINTER PARK
WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY

(one form per Participant)

By purchasing tickets and signing this Waiver and Release of Liability Form, the below named Participant, and if a minor the below named Participant’s parent or guardian on the minor’s behalf, is representing that they have voluntarily agreed to participate in the Winter Park event (the “Event”) held at Bowers Farm located at 1219 Square Lake Road, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304, owned by Bloomfield Hills Schools (the “School District”),  which Event is exclusively operated and managed by the Friends of Bowers Farm Corporation (the “FOBF), and acknowledges that the Participant is in good health and good physical condition and hereby assumes any and all risks and dangers associated with the Event, including, but not limited to serious bodily injury, including death.  Participants are expected to follow all the rules identified in registration for the Event and those posted on-site at the Event or on the website for the Event, including but not limited to: listening and following safety instructions, respecting Event staff in charge and other participants and accepting all rental equipment in its “As-IS condition.

 In consideration of being allowed to participate in the Event, Participant acknowledges, understands, and agrees: 

  1. Participant assumes all of the risks inherent in and associated with participation in the Event, including but not limited to the risk of damage to property, injury, permanent disability and death, which might result from the actions, inactions, or negligence of Participant or others, and other risks not known or not reasonably foreseeable at this time, and assumes full responsibility for their participation in the Event.  Once tickets are purchased to the Event there will be NO REFUNDS.

  2. Participant, for themselves, their spouse, and on behalf of their heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin, hereby releases, waives, discharges and covenants not to sue the FOBF, its officers, directors, employees, contractors,  volunteers, agents and licensees, the School District, its Board of Education, its Board Members, in their official and individual capacities, its administrators, employees, contractors,  volunteers, agents and licensees (collectively “Releasees”), for any and all injury, loss or damage to person or property incident to or arising from their participation in the Event, including medical treatment and related costa whether arising in whole or in part from their negligence, the Releasees or otherwise, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

  3. Participant, for themselves, their spouse, and on behalf of their heirs, assigns, personal representative and next of kin, hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless all the above Releasees for any and all liabilities they incur incident to or arising from their participation in the Event, even if arising in whole or in part from the negligence of the Releasees, to the fullest extent permitted by law.

  4. Participant agrees to comply with the stated and customary terms, conditions and rules for participation in the Event.  If Participant has any concerns about their readiness for participation and/or the Event, Participant agrees to remove themselves from participation and to bring any concerns to the attention of officials of the FOBF as soon as practicable. 

  5. Participant certifies that to the best of  their knowledge, they are able to safely participate in the Event.

  6. By entering the Event, Participant acknowledges that they are entering an area where photography, audio and video recording may occur. Entry to the Event constitutes Participant’s consent to any such photography, filming and/or recording and to any use, in any and all media in perpetuity, including Participant’s appearance, voice and name for any purpose in connection with the Event. Participants further acknowledge that all photography, filming and/or recording will be done in reliance on this consent given by Participant upon entering the Event. By entering the Event, Participant waives and releases any claims related to the use of recorded media of Participant at the event, including, without limitation, any right to inspect or approve the photo, video or audio recording, any claims for invasion of privacy, violation of the right of publicity, defamation, and copyright infringement or for any fees for use of such record media. If Participant does not agree to the foregoing, please do not enter the Event.

Participant has read and understands this entire Waiver and Release of Liability Form. Participant has signed it freely and voluntarily and without any inducement. Participant realizes this is a legally binding agreement that may not be modified or rescinded.

If Participant is eighteen (18) years of age or older, Participant may sign on their own behalf. If Participant is a minor under eighteen (18) years of age, this Waiver and Release of Liability Form must be signed by the Participant’s Parent or Guardian (Minimum of 1 signature required) and shall bind both the Parent/Guardian and the minor Participant.