(KPAX) Snowbowl was struggling to get enough snow to open its lifts back in December, but now the mountain finally has almost everything up and running, including its newest addition to the ski area.

"There's five runs across that are just so much fun," skier Judy Frey said. “It's so much fun.”

The long-awaited expansion to Snowbowl is open and the new area, called Snowpark, brings a whole different feel to Missoula’s closest ski area.

"It in itself, is a completely separate ski resort,” said skier Russ Read. “Completely different than anything else at Snowbowl."

The Snowpark runs are a little wider than the rest of the terrain at Snowbowl, opening the mountain to a whole new level of skier.

Snowbowl icon and season pass holder No. 32, Jon Jon Strutzel, told MTN News he's been waiting for the expansion for 15 years and it exceeded his expectations.

Snowbowl spokesman Josh Gimpleson said it has been a long time coming and the project took a little while to get going but they got through everything.

"It's making it so like families can come to Snowbowl instead of having to drive an hour-and-a-half in every direction,” said Gimpleson. “So, it's bringing our local hill more of a local feel to families who are just learning how to ski."

Snowpark might just be the beginning of Snowbowl's expansion.

"It’s kinda to be determined, but we've got another lift that's going to eventually come out here at the base. Another lift on the other side," Gimpelson said. "It’s going to be dependent on timing and other things that we need to work through. There’s going to be more terrain opening as we progress through this expansion."

Meanwhile, repair work is continuing on Snowbowl's Lavell Lift. They hope to have it open as soon as possible.

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