Crystal Mountain (Michigan) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Crystal Mountain |
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| Location | Thompsonville, Weldon Township, Michigan |
| Vertical | 375 ft. |
| 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 | 9 total: 1 detachable high-speed quad chair, 3 fixed-grip quad chairs, 2 triple chairs, 1 double chair, and 2 "carpet style" surface lifts |
| Lift capacity | 12,400 skiers per hour |
| Terrain parks | 4 |
| Snowfall | 132" average per year |
| Snowmaking | 98% |
| Night skiing | 27 slopes lighted for night skiing, five nights a week (early and late season varies) |
Crystal Mountain Resort is a fun place in Michigan! It's a big resort and conference center located in Weldon Township, which is in Benzie County. This area is just west of Thompsonville. The resort's location is even called Crystal Mountain.
This resort offers many exciting activities all year round. In the winter, you can enjoy downhill and cross-country skiing. When the weather gets warmer, you can play golf, try water activities, or ride an exciting alpine slide. Crystal Mountain first opened its doors in 1956. In 2015, the resort announced big plans. They wanted to spend $9 million to add new ski runs, lifts, places to stay, and other cool things.
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Skiing and Snowboarding Fun
Get ready for winter fun at Crystal Mountain! The skiing and snowboarding season usually starts around Thanksgiving weekend. It lasts until early April, but this depends on how much snow there is. The resort gets about 11 feet of natural snowfall each year. If there isn't enough natural snow, they can make artificial snow to keep the slopes ready!
Crystal Mountain has 58 downhill slopes for you to explore. There are 6 chairlifts and 2 surface lifts to take you up the mountain. During the busiest part of the ski season, 27 slopes are lit up. This means you can even go night skiing!
Golf Courses
Crystal Mountain is also a great place for golf lovers. It has two 18-hole championship golf courses. The Betsie Valley course is the resort's original golf course. It measures about 6,567 yards from the blue tees.
The Mountain Ridge course is another fantastic option. This course is so good that it hosts the Michigan Women's Open golf tournament every summer. It plays at about 7,077 yards from the blue tees. If you want to learn or improve your golf skills, the resort also has a golf school. It offers lessons for players of all ages and skill levels.
Other Fun Activities
Crystal Mountain has more than just skiing and golf! It's home to Michigan's only Alpine slide. This is a fun ride where you slide down a track on the mountain. During the summer, you can also explore the mountain biking trails. These trails are perfect for an exciting ride through nature.
Places to Stay
If you want to stay overnight, Crystal Mountain has many options. There are over 250 different places to choose from. You can find hotel rooms, suites, condominiums, townhouses, and even vacation homes. All these lodging options are located close to the skiing and golf areas throughout the resort.
Awards and Special Recognition
Crystal Mountain has received some cool awards! It's one of only 60 golf courses in Michigan to be certified by the Michigan Turfgrass Environmental Stewardship Program. This means they take good care of the environment.
Golf Magazine also named its golf school one of the Top 25 golf schools. In 2017, Conde Nast Traveler said Crystal Mountain was one of the Ten Best Family Ski Resorts in the U.S. and Canada. The resort was also ranked #1 in the United States for Family Reunions in 2015. This shows it's a great place for families to visit!
