Aug. 24, 2021

This paid piece is sponsored by GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness.

It all started with teens in need of a summer job – and a shaved ice business that was for sale.

“I said, well, should we give it a shot?” said Shiloh Oorlog, now the owner of Tropical Sno.

That was last summer. Her daughter Leah and fellow high schoolers took it from there.

“She’s taken real ownership of it, and I’m super proud of her and her boyfriend and his twin brother, who are just fantastic. They’ve been great,” Oorlog said.

Both mother and daughter had a connection that led to a regular location and now a new discount: GreatLIFE Golf & Fitness.

Leah worked at GreatLIFE Suburban Lane, and Shiloh instructs water aerobics weekly at GreatLIFE’s Woodlake Athletic Club.

“So that pushed us to buy the business because we could park in the Suburban Lanes parking lot, so that was super helpful,” Oorlog said. “And then because there are so many GreatLIFE member benefits, I said let’s be one of them.”

GreatLIFE members now will save 20 percent on their Tropical Sno shaved ice creations anywhere the trailer parks except for at Canaries games.

“The flavors are delicious,” Oorlog said. “When you shave ice, it’s a lot thinner, and the syrup goes into the ice. My favorite thing last year was how many people said they didn’t think they liked shaved ice and decided otherwise.”

Favorite flavors include blue raspberry, strawberry and cherry.

“Cotton candy has been really popular, and so was a coffee one we had. We have 27 different flavors, and you mix up to three at a time,” Oorlog said.

It has been a busy summer, but it’s not quite over yet. Tropical Sno will be at Suburban Lanes weekends through Labor Day from 1 to 6 p.m. and has some special events planned.

Businesses looking for a Tropical Sno stop for employees or other events can receive a quantity discount, Oorlog said.

And the tropical flavors don’t have to disappear with summer.

“Even during the winter, we can do a tabletop fundraiser. If it’s less than 100 people we bring a table, pare down the amount of flavors, and we do the same thing without the trailer, so it’s good for birthday parties or other events,” Oorlog said. “And if a GreatLIFE member called and wanted to work out a deal with me, I would do that as well.”

Follow Tropical Sno here for updates on locations and events.