What originated as construction on a quinzhee (a snow shelter made by hardened show and hollowed out) at Meissner Sno-Park and evolved into an annual tradition, artist Joshua Cook and a team of volunteers are once again inviting participants to experience the “Snow Dragon” art installation on one of the most magical nights on the Cascade Mountain plains.
In 2008, as Cook was mounding the warm, concrete-like snow with his pack shovel, it dawned on him that each shovelful of snow looked like a dragon scale, and the igloo-like entrance appeared as a large snout. After creating a small sitting and sleeping area inside of the dome, Cook was further inspired and made two windows in the quinzhee in the shape of dragon’s eyes.
On the night of Luminaria, families trekked up to the Meissner shelter and kids quickly approached the installation and began crawling around the inside and exploring the space. As night fell and candles were lit, the entirety of the structure really came to life, and the Snow Dragon’s eyes began to illuminate.
“My wife brought our kids up and they, too, thought it was pretty darn cool. The next year, my family and friends helped build a bigger Snow Dragon and since the kids wanted to climb on it, we began building slides, tunnels and other play features,” says Cook. The Snow Dragon’s size had stayed relatively small until the Meissner board of directors began supporting the project, lending the use of the snow cat for the project. Along with friends and several volunteers, Cook brings the Snow Dragon back to life, larger and more special every year.
The Process
From farming snow to final lighting features, the Snow Dragon takes several weeks to create and execute. The first week is primarily designing the installation. “I work with several artists to help get the design, and the amount of snowfall dictates the ultimate size of the installation. Once we build the foundation, it takes hundreds of volunteers to transform the massive lumps of snow into the art and play structure,” Cook says.
To begin the process of creating the snow foundation, professional groomers, like Bill Warburton and Chris Bowman, begin “farming snow” with the snow cat, a powerful machine that will pull and push snow from all around Meissner to create the rough form, from which the volunteer community can begin creating the two-sided installation. The Snow Dragon itself is on one side and the children’s play structure is on the other side with multiple slides, tunnels, caves, elevated walkways and groomed XC trails.
Depending on snow conditions, freeze/thaw cycles and the spontaneous creativity of volunteers helping out, the entire process is very fluid, and changes occur every day. Regardless of the circumstances, Nance, the Snow Dragon, emerges more beautiful and more unique every year.
2026 Snow Dragon
Depending on the snowfall and weather conditions, the plan is to make the 2026 Snow Dragon, the grandest of all time! The snow foundation build is planned for Feb. 7-13 and the community build is planned to begin on Feb. 14 and continue through the rest of the week. The lighting of the Dragon is tentatively scheduled for Feb. 20, weather permitting.
“The most amazing aspect of this annual project is the community engagement, comradery it promotes, and the infectious joyfulness of group play in nature’s winter. Seeing kids & adults having fun digging, rolling and sliding in the snow. The Snow Dragon makes people spontaneously re-learn how to have fun again. Families, couples, locals and tourists all bond, forming an ephemeral tiny little mountain community,” says Cook.
Volunteers Needed!
Volunteers with all skill sets are always needed for this massive project. Volunteers can help build slides, stairs, tunnels, elevated walkways, walls, or make dragon scales, wings, legs and claws. Creating free form snow structures around the dragon are also highly encouraged. There will be an ongoing bonfire at the Meissner shelter and free food, hot beverages and treats for volunteers during community build days. A small supply of shovels and snow tools are available; however, more shovels and tools are always needed to help sculpt the Dragon. All volunteers should bring multiple layers of warm clothes, extra gloves and snow boots. Updates on the project will be available on the Meissner Website. Those interested in volunteering can contact Josh Cook, especially those who have specific artistic or building skills or would like to bring in a large group of volunteers. Be ready to work hard and have fun!
Last winter, snow sculptures included dogs, cats, wolves, snowmen and snowwomen. “The thing is, once you help build it, you own it; it becomes a part of you. What could possibly be more meaningful than giving people the opportunity to have fun, be joyful, be spontaneous, creative and feel they are a part of winter’s nature and the outdoors?” says Cook.
“A huge thanks to the grass roots, Meissner Nordic organization and their volunteer board of directors, they are an inspiration for the community and for winter. The Snow Dragon’s name is ‘Nance,’ named after my mother. She’s been gone for many years now, but she camped with me one night in a snow cave I built many years ago, and I know her essence returns each winter we build the dragon, smiling broadly and laughing deeply,” he adds.
About Joshua Cook:
Cook fell in love with the land around Meissner in the winter. He loves all forms of skiing, with skate skiing being his favorite. Cook is retired from a career of Critical Access Emergency medicine and is a former board member for Meissner Nordic. He currently works as one of the regional directors of Clinical Education for our Osteopathic Medical school in Lebanon, Oregon.
Snow Dragon
https://meissnernordic.org/
info@meissnernordic.org
This article appears in the Source December 11, 2025.
MAKE LOCAL JOURNALISM HAPPEN
Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.
