About Backyard Snowstorm

We officially founded Backyard Snowstorm in 2017, but our story began nearly a decade earlier, in 2008. At the time, Burk, our founder, had three young boys who loved skiing and spending time outdoors in the foothills of Salt Lake City, Utah. As the boys grew, he began looking for a way to bring some of that winter fun into the backyard. The idea was simple: make snow at home and use it to build a small ski jump, an igloo, and other fun winter projects. After hours of research and countless YouTube videos, he set out to build a DIY snow gun of his own.

What started as a backyard project quickly became a family adventure. Burk’s background in chemical engineering helped us work through the technical challenges of building our first home snowmaker, but there was plenty of trial and error along the way. We made countless trips to the plumbing store, tested different parts, and continually refined the design. After years of making snow—and quite a bit of ice—we learned the science and techniques behind successful backyard snowmaking. Just as importantly, we learned what not to do when making snow—haha!

Over time, we fell in love with the snowmaking process and, even more, the memories it created for our family. Before long, neighbors and friends started asking us to help them build their own home snowmakers. What began as a project for our family had become something we wanted to share with others. In 2017, we decided to launch Backyard Snowstorm.

Our goal, then and now, is to share what we’ve learned with others who want to make snow and create their own memories. We strive to build high-quality snowmakers and provide the most comprehensive information we can about home snowmaking. After years of building, testing, learning, and refining our designs, we’ve worked to take the guesswork out of the process so you can spend less time figuring it out and more time enjoying the fun part.

Today, we’re proud of the thousands of snow guns we’ve sent around the world, helping countless people make snow, create memories, and discover a new hobby along the way. What started with one dad, three boys, and a DIY snow gun has grown into a company dedicated to making backyard snowmaking easier and more accessible for everyone.