diff --git a/rbackup/struct/snapshot.py b/rbackup/struct/snapshot.py
index 1e5da0e..5127d79 100644
--- a/rbackup/struct/snapshot.py
+++ b/rbackup/struct/snapshot.py
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 .. module:: rbackup.struct.snapshot
     :synopsis: Class for creating the backup snapshot hierarchy.
 """
+import datetime
 import logging
 
 from rbackup.struct.hierarchy import Hierarchy
@@ -26,12 +27,30 @@ class Snapshot(Hierarchy):
         """Default constructor for the Snapshot class."""
         super().__init__(path)
 
+        self._gen_metadata()
+
         self._pkg_dir = self.path / "pkg"
 
     def __repr__(self):
         """Return a string representation of this Snapshot."""
         return f"{self.__class__.__name__}('{self.name}')"
 
+    def _gen_metadata(self):
+        """Generate this Snapshot's metadata."""
+        if self.metadata_path.exists():
+            self._ctime = self.read_metadata()
+        else:
+            self._ctime = datetime.datetime.utcnow().isoformat()
+            self.write_metadata(self._ctime)
+
+    @property
+    def ctime(self):
+        """
+        :returns: this Snapshot's creation time
+        :rtype: str
+        """
+        return self._ctime
+
     @property
     def pkg_dir(self):
         """
@@ -39,6 +58,3 @@ class Snapshot(Hierarchy):
         :rtype: path-like object
         """
         return self._pkg_dir
-
-    def gen_metadata(self):
-        pass
diff --git a/tests/test_snapshot.py b/tests/test_snapshot.py
index 32bac2b..d2c86e6 100644
--- a/tests/test_snapshot.py
+++ b/tests/test_snapshot.py
@@ -4,8 +4,35 @@
 Unit tests for the rbackup.struct.snapshot module.
 """
 
+import unittest
+from pathlib import Path
+from unittest.mock import DEFAULT, patch
+
+from rbackup.struct.snapshot import Snapshot
+
 # ========== Constants ==========
 TESTING_PACKAGE = "rbackup.struct"
 TESTING_MODULE = f"{TESTING_PACKAGE}.snapshot"
 
-# ========== Unit Tests ==========
+
+# ========== Tests ==========
+class TestSnapshotProperties(unittest.TestCase):
+    def setUp(self):
+        self.patched_path = patch.multiple(
+            Path, exists=DEFAULT, mkdir=DEFAULT, symlink_to=DEFAULT, touch=DEFAULT
+        )
+        self.patched_metadata = patch.multiple(
+            Snapshot, read_metadata=DEFAULT, write_metadata=DEFAULT
+        )
+
+        self.mocked_path = self.patched_path.start()
+        self.mocked_metadata = self.patched_metadata.start()
+
+        self.mocked_path["exists"].return_value = False
+
+    def test_ctime_returns_str(self):
+        self.assertIsInstance(Snapshot("/tmp/backup/snapshot").ctime, str)
+
+    def tearDown(self):
+        self.patched_path.stop()
+        self.patched_metadata.stop()