Entrepreneurs to open $10M holiday light display in Pasco this year

The team behind Snowcat Ridge, Florida’s only alpine snow park, is expanding its holiday offerings this fall with a new $10 million attraction designed to draw visitors to Pasco County during the Christmas season.

Wunder Glow is a walk-through holiday light experience set on 50 acres in Dade City scheduled to open in November. The attraction, according to a statement, takes visitors down a mile-long trail through an oak forest illuminated by more than a dozen large-scale light displays, some synchronized to their own musical soundtracks.

The project is being developed by the operators of Snowcat Ridge — a seasonal outdoor park at the same location that offers guests the opportunity to go tubing down a massive snow-covered hill, play in a real-snow play dome and go ice skating in an outdoor rink in the heart of Florida. The company, Point Summit, is owned by local entrepreneur Benjamin Nagengast and his family and also operates regional outdoor attractions including TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park and the Halloween haunted house park Scream-A-Geddon. 

Wunder Glow represents Point Summit’s largest investment in a seasonal attraction to date, according to the release.

The experience will include interactive displays, a Christmas Village, themed photo opportunities and appearances by Mr. and Mrs. Claus.

Wunder Glow will operate separately from Snowcat Ridge, with its own entrance and guest facilities. Snowcat Ridge will continue to operate its annual winter season independently.

"Our guests have been asking us for years to do the holidays right, not just hang lights," Nagengast says in the release. "Wunder Glow is the largest experience we've ever built, with a mile of light and music running right through the oak forest."

The attraction is at 27839 Saint Joe Road in Dade City, about 35 minutes north of downtown Tampa.

The company says operating dates, hours and ticket prices will be announced in September. It has also launched a membership program, called the Wunder Club, offering early access to tickets and promotional offers.

Wunder Glow is expected to open in November.