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Caberfae Peaks Ski & Golf Resort facts for kids
| Caberfae Peaks Ski Resort | |
|---|---|
Aerial view of Caberfae facing south, early December 2017
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| Location | Michigan, United States |
| Nearest city | Cadillac, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 44°14′59″N 85°43′30″W / 44.24972°N 85.72500°W |
| Vertical | 485 feet (148 m) |
| Top elevation | 1,545 ft (471 m) |
| Base elevation | 1,060 ft (320 m) |
| Skiable area | 225 acres (0.91 km2) |
| Runs | 34 |
| Longest run | 3,960 feet (1,210 m) |
| Lift system | 4 chair lifts, 1 surface lifts |
| Lift capacity | 9,207 skiers/hr |
| Terrain parks | Yes - 1 |
| Snowfall | 125 inches (320 cm) annual |
| Snowmaking | Yes |
| Night skiing | YES |
| Website | http://caberfaepeaks.com |
Caberfae Peaks is a super cool place to ski and snowboard in Michigan! It's located in the Lower Peninsula, not far from a town called Cadillac, Michigan. Its name comes from an old Scottish word that means "stag's head" – like a deer's head with antlers!
Contents
History of Caberfae Peaks
Caberfae Peaks first opened way back in January 1938. This makes it one of the oldest ski resorts in the entire United States! When it first opened, it had a main building (called a lodge) built by a group called the Civilian Conservation Corps. It also had just one ski trail, which they called "Number One."
Early Days and Growth
Imagine this: the very first ski lift at Caberfae was a rope tow powered by a Ford Model A car engine! Over the next five years, they cleared about a dozen more trails. They also added several more rope tows to help skiers get up the hill.
The resort closed for a short time after the 1942-43 winter season. It didn't open again until after World War II ended.
Becoming Michigan's Biggest Ski Spot
By the mid-1950s, Caberfae had become Michigan's largest winter sports area. It was even bigger than Boyne Mountain Resort at that time! Special "snow trains" would bring thousands of skiers to the resort. Sometimes, more than 4,000 people would visit in a single day!
To make sure there was always enough snow, Caberfae installed a snowmaking system in 1957. This was a big deal for ski resorts back then!
Changes and Expansion
Caberfae Peaks kept growing through the 1960s. They added more trails and lifts, eventually having 35 trails and 20 lifts. However, there wasn't much snow during the holidays in 1965 and 1966. This caused some money problems for the resort. Because of this, it was sold to a private company in 1967. Before that, it had been run as a non-profit organization.
The resort faced some challenges in the 1970s. But in 1980, new owners took over and started making big improvements! They even brought in dirt to make the top of the North Peak higher. They also opened a whole new area called the South Peak.
The South Peak opened in 1983. The North Peak expansion was finished in 1992. These changes made the vertical drop (the height difference from top to bottom) a full 485 feet! While these new areas were opening, many of the older trails from the 50s and 60s were no longer used. Most of the old rope tows were also removed.
For the 2013-2014 winter season, Caberfae opened 25 acres of "gladed terrain" off the North Peak. This means they cleared out some trees so skiers could ski through the woods!
Fun Things to Do at Caberfae Peaks
Caberfae Peaks offers lots of exciting activities, no matter the season!
Winter Fun
When it's cold and snowy, you can enjoy both cross-country skiing and alpine skiing (downhill skiing). If you want to explore the snowy woods, you can also go snowshoeing. Other fun winter activities like ice skating and snowmobiling are available very close by.
Summer Fun
When the snow melts and the weather gets warm, Caberfae Peaks turns into a great place for golf! They have a 9-hole golf course that opened in 1995. It's a perfect way to enjoy the beautiful Michigan outdoors in the sunshine.