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Georgia is not a snow state, and it has not had an operating ski resort in over 20 years. What it does have is two real, reliable winter attractions: a man-made snow tubing hill at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands and a seasonal outdoor ice rink in Atlanta. Here is what is actually available, so you know what to expect before you plan a trip around snow in Georgia. |
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Snow Island at Margaritaville at Lanier IslandsSeason: Select dates, mid-November into February Where: 7650 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford Each winter, Margaritaville at Lanier Islands turns part of its summer water park into License to Chill Snow Island, with Blizzard Mountain, a 575-foot-long, eight-story snow tubing slide made from machine-made snow. A day ticket also covers Frosty’s Ice Rink, a snow play area and carnival rides; daily admission is $59.99, and a winter season pass is $89.99. The 2026-27 season opens November 20, 2026. Riders must be at least 42 inches tall to tube, the park is cashless, and it is open on select dates only, so check the Snow Island schedule before you go. The resort’s Magical Nights of Lights drive-through runs next door in the same season. What about Stone Mountain? Stone Mountain Park’s old Snow Mountain tubing hill has not run since the 2020 pandemic, and the park now focuses on its Stone Mountain Christmas event instead. |
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The Rink at Park Tavern (Atlanta Ice Skating)Season: Early December through mid-February Location: Piedmont Park, Midtown Atlanta The Rink at Park Tavern sets up a real outdoor ice skating rink in Piedmont Park every winter, with a heated garden tent so it runs rain or shine. It typically opens in early December and stays open into mid-February. Tickets, which include skate rental, are usually priced a little higher on weekend evenings than on weekday afternoons. Check Park Tavern's website for this season's exact hours and pricing. |
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What About Skiing in Georgia? |
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Georgia does not have a ski resort today. Sky Valley, tucked in the far northeast corner of the state near the North Carolina line, was Georgia's only commercial ski resort, opening for skiing in 1970 and closing in 2004. The chairlift and snowmaking equipment were removed, and the land is now the Sky Valley Country Club, a golf community. If you specifically want to ski or snowboard, the closest real options are a drive across the state line: Highlands Outpost (formerly the Scaly Mountain Outdoor Center) in Scaly Mountain, North Carolina, which offers snow tubing but no skiing, and Ober Gatlinburg in Gatlinburg, Tennessee, which has both skiing and snow tubing. Both are a couple of hours from North Georgia, depending on where you start. |
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For more cold-weather ideas that do not depend on snow, see our Best Things to Do in Georgia in Winter guide or our Best Places to See Christmas Lights in Georgia guide. |
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Common Questions
Does Georgia have a ski resort?
No. Sky Valley, in the far northeast corner of Georgia, was the state’s only commercial ski resort, opening for skiing in 1970 and closing in 2004. The land is now the Sky Valley Country Club golf community, and Georgia has no operating ski area today.
Where can I go snow tubing in Georgia?
License to Chill Snow Island at Margaritaville at Lanier Islands in Buford builds a 575-foot snow tubing slide each winter, open on select dates from mid-November into February. Stone Mountain Park’s former Snow Mountain has not operated since 2020.
Is there outdoor ice skating in Atlanta?
Yes. The Rink at Park Tavern sets up a seasonal outdoor ice rink in Piedmont Park in Midtown Atlanta, typically from early December into mid-February, with a heated tent for rain-or-shine skating.