Crystal Mountain (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Mountain |
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| Location | Thompsonville, Weldon Township, Michigan |
| Vertical | 314 ft (96 m). |
| Top elevation | 1,132 ft (345 m). |
| Base elevation | 757 ft (231 m). |
| Skiable area | 103 acres (420,000 m2) |
| Runs | 58 |
| Longest run | One half mile |
| Lift system | 8 total: 1 detachable high-speed quad chair, 3 fixed-grip quad chairs, 2 triple chairs, and 2 "carpet style" surface lifts |
| Lift capacity | 12,400 skiers per hour |
| Terrain parks | 3 |
| Snowfall | 132" average per year |
| Snowmaking | 98% |
| Night skiing | 27 slopes lighted for night skiing |
Crystal Mountain Resort is a fun place to visit in Benzie County, Michigan. It's located close to the small village of Thompsonville. This resort is a special area known as a census-designated place.
Crystal Mountain offers many exciting activities all year round. In winter, you can enjoy downhill and cross country skiing. During other seasons, there's golf, water fun, and even an alpine slide. The resort first opened its doors in 1956. In 2015, Crystal Mountain completed a big project to add new ski runs, lifts, and places to stay.
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Skiing and Snowboarding Adventures
The skiing and snowboarding season at Crystal Mountain usually starts around Thanksgiving weekend. It continues until early April, depending on how much snow there is. The resort gets about 11 feet (132 inches) of natural snow each year. If there isn't enough natural snow, they can make their own!
Crystal Mountain has 58 downhill slopes for you to explore. There are 6 chairlifts and 2 surface lifts to take you up the mountain. For extra fun, 27 of the slopes are lit up for night skiing during the busiest part of winter.
Golfing Fun for Everyone
Crystal Mountain has two amazing 18-hole championship golf courses. The Betsie Valley course is the resort's first golf course. It measures about 6,567 yards from the blue tees.
The Mountain Ridge course is another great option. This course hosts the Michigan Women's Open golf tournament every summer. It plays at about 7,077 yards from the blue tees. The resort also has a golf school where players of all ages can learn or improve their game.
Exciting Recreational Activities
Crystal Mountain is home to Michigan's only Alpine slide. This is a thrilling ride where you slide down a track on a small sled. It's a lot of fun!
During the summer, the resort also has many biking trails. These trails are perfect for exploring the beautiful outdoors on two wheels.
Places to Stay at Crystal Mountain
If you want to stay overnight, Crystal Mountain has over 250 different lodging options. You can choose from hotel rooms, suites, condominiums, townhouses, and even vacation homes. All these places are located conveniently close to the skiing and golf areas.
Awards and Special Recognition
Crystal Mountain has received many awards for being a great place. Its golf courses are certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program. This means they take good care of the environment.
Golf Magazine named Crystal Mountain's golf school one of the Top 25 golf schools. In 2017, Conde Nast Traveler magazine listed Crystal Mountain as one of the Ten Best Family Ski Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The resort was also ranked the #1 place in the United States for Family Reunions in 2015.
