Visitors return to Snow City for one last snowfall ahead of its closure on Sept 30

SINGAPORE - Ms Emeline Tan has spent 23 years as a ski operator at Snow City, coaching kids, families and athletes for winter sports and ski holidays. But with the attraction set to close in four months, she is now preparing to leave a place that has been a constant for nearly half her life.

Snow City has been more than just a workplace for the 49-year-old. Her own children, now aged 14 and 12, started learning to ski at Snow City under her coaching at the age of two. Today, they take part in regional alpine skiing competitions.

They still return to Snow City often to help her clean and prepare equipment for classes, said Ms Tan, who also spoke fondly of bonds forged with former students.

“I still keep in touch with the kids I taught,” she added. “Every part of the experience has been very close to my heart.”

After Snow City closes for good on Sept 30, Ms Tan said she will continue “exploring collaborations” within the winter sports industry.

The closing of the indoor snow centre in Jurong East marks the end of a venue that holds nostalgic childhood memories for many Singaporeans.

First opened 26 years ago in June 2000, Snow City was then a novel attraction that gave Singaporeans the rare opportunity to experience snowfall and sub-zero temperatures, as well as enjoy snow-tubing on a three-storey-high, 60m-long slope, or ride in an ice bumper car.

A major revamp in 2015 repositioned it as a place to have fun while learning about the impact of climate change. The upgrade introduced new snow machines, igloos, Inuit clothes, a snow playground and a treehouse adventure playground.

However, over the years, visitor interests have shifted and newer attractions have come up.

When The Straits Times visited Snow City on May 20 between 2pm and 5pm, around ten families – a mix of locals and tourists – were enjoying the attraction.

One of these was Singaporean actor Yang Yan, who was visiting Snow City with friends for the last time.

The 25-year-old said: “Ever since I was in primary school, I would come once every five years. It’s a good place to rekindle lovely memories from my childhood.”

Among his memories are going down large slides on a tyre when he was eight years old, he said, adding that he enjoyed the experience as it felt like he was in a different part of the world.

With him was actor and radio DJ Dasmond Koh, who had brought his grandnephews, aged four and seven, to celebrate one of their birthdays.

Mr Koh, 54, said in Mandarin: “I think it’s an iconic place that we Singaporeans grew up with, and we wanted to catch the last train, so to speak, and let the younger ones experience it.”

He added that the first time he visited was more than 20 years ago with his friends, not long after it first opened.

Other visitors included tourists who were unaware that Snow City was closing down, including Mr Kendrick Lim, 37, who was visiting from the Philippines with his family on a trip they planned a year in advance.

Mr Lim said it was his seven-year-old daughter’s first time seeing snow, which she described as “perfect”.

“It’s a good thing we were able to come here,” the accountant said.

Snow City will hold a public farewell campaign, One Last Snowfall, from June to September 2026.

The campaign will offer a Snow Play package priced at $19 for adults and $16 for children, 30 per cent off the usual price. The package includes one hour of snow play and a bumper car ride.

Junior college student Kate Ong, 16, said she plans to return to Snow City – where she had her first experience of snow – at least once before it closes.

She recounted making friends with other children and teaming up with them to have snowball fights against one another.

“When I was small, the place seemed very big, and that made it fun. Now that I’m older, the fun comes more from the nostalgia,” said Kate, who last visited when she was 10. “I’m sad to see it go.”