Imagine your favorite ski resort suddenly swarmed by thousands of unexpected visitors. That’s exactly what happened in Roccaraso, Italy, last weekend. The quiet slopes of this popular ski destination turned into a scene of chaos, all thanks to a TikTok trend gone wild.

It all started when viral social media posts, fueled by a Naples-based influencer, highlighted the area’s heavy snowfall. Tour companies quickly jumped on the trend, offering cheap $20 day trips that included bus rides and a sandwich. Over 220 buses and countless cars descended on Roccaraso, carrying 10,000 eager day-trippers. The result? Gridlocked roads, overcrowded slopes, and frustrated locals.

Visitors were accused of ignoring basic ski rules, sliding down hills on improvised sleds—some made from saucepans—and even lighting barbecues in the snow. Complaints piled up about trash left behind and general mayhem. "It was hellish," said the town’s mayor, Francesco di Donato, who described the influx as an “assault” on the area.

To make matters worse, tour groups have already booked double the number of trips for this coming weekend. Local authorities are scrambling to introduce crowd control measures, including limiting bus access and calling in extra security to manage the chaos.

While some visitors defended their actions, claiming discrimination, the mayor stressed that the issue isn’t where they’re from, but how they’re behaving. “We welcome tourists, but they must respect the rules,” he said.

Roccaraso’s message is clear: come for the snow, but leave the saucepans and barbecues at home.