Crystal Mountain

The resort itself is actually pretty cool. The restaurants are pretty good and the staff (with the exception of the front desk staff) were very courteous. We rented a house about halfway up the mountain. The only way to describe it was A DUMP!

I cannot say enough good things about this resort for families. Everyone on the staff has gone out of their way to be amazingly helpful. We rented a condo and everything is within walking distance of the lifts. Staying on property gave us access to the indoor pool which the kids loved. The ski school was great and the kids enjoyed it. My husband and I also took lessons as we aren't great skiers. Everything was professionally run and (for a ski vacation) affordable.

Crystal Mountain Resort is fantastic place to visit in the fall for color your but amazing any time of year. Skiing in winter, golf in the spring. The lodging is clean and updated. The beds are just right with several quality pillow choices. The various restaurants on site as well as the Mountain Market store keep you well fed with anything your craving. The chef at Thistle is on point in keeping the menu delicious. There’s also a top notch spa at the resort. It’s the best hidden gem in Michigan!

The units are strategically placed in the woods. It gives a sense of peace and restfulness. The unit was well stocked from kitchen essentials to bathroom soap, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion. Easy check in/out.

I understand this is a ski resort, but I went just to relax, enjoy the scenery do a few outdoor winter activities with my daughter etc not ski. We had a room at the inn at the mountain which was pretty decent. My biggest complaint is the food and food choices. There’s only 3 restaurants which are all in the same building. Out of the 3 restaurants some are only open on the weekend . There’s no room service for food unless you order from the pizza place. If you’re not skiing there’s really not much to do. I would’ve stayed the full time I booked the room for if I had good food and drink choices. I was bored and hungry. The food is very overpriced at the cafe and not good quality. I don’t think you get your money worth. Spending $1500 for a room and can’t even get good quality food is ridiculous. I left 2 days early and will never go back

Depending on your perspective – or favorite season – Crystal Mountain is either a ski resort with 59 well-groomed downhill runs or a golf resort with 36 holes of championship golf. Yet, regardless of the season, it’s one of Northern Michigan’s best resorts. Crystal Mountain has the most unique history of any resort I have ever written about. It began as a school project when a geography teacher at Benzonia High School tasked his students to find the best place in Benzie County, MI to start a ski area. After much research and debate the class determined the Buck Hills Range offered the best combination of terrain and snowfall. The Buck Hills Ski Area became a reality in 1956 with a rope tow powered by an old pick-up truck engine and a warming hut built with donated lumber. In 1960, Buck Hills became Crystal Mountain Resort when it was purchased by 96 shareholders, many of whom had homes nearby. The new owners made many substantial upgrades including a new lodge with dining and 21 rooms for overnight guests. By 1966, ownership had dwindled to a small handful of owners who realized that the best way for the resort to be profitable was to make it a year-round destination. Fast forward to 1981 and sole ownership of Crystal Mountain came down to the flip of a coin between George Petritz and Robert Meyer. Crystal Mountain has been owned by the Petritz family ever since. Golf entered the equation at Crystal Mountain in 1977 with the opening of the Betsie Valley golf course. Mountain Ridge followed in 1995. Both Betsie Valley and Mountain Ridge have received the prestigious 4-star rating from Golf Digest Magazine and are members of America’s Summer Golf Capital, a collection of resort properties that feature 26 golf courses across northern Michigan. Both courses play out of the same clubhouse, which features a well-stocked pro shop, The Thistle restaurant and bar, and an outdoor patio complete with a bar, grill, and oftentimes live music. Before your round, be sure to visit Crystal Mountain’s 10-acre learning center and practice facility. You’ll find a targeted grass range, along with a short game area featuring chipping and putting greens complete with sand bunkers for practicing. Everything you need for a quick tune-up before heading to the first tee! The Learning Center is also home to Crystal Mountain Golf School, which has been recognized as one of the best golf schools by Golf Digest. They feature a variety of single or multi-day lesson options including private, group, women-only, and juniors. Since opening in 1977, the Betsie Valley course has received many upgrades, most recently from the summer of 2021 to the spring of 2022. Renovations included widening the fairways, building new tee boxes, a forestry management project to clear out brush, redesigned cart paths, and more. Even with all of these changes, the course still retains its original character and is now more playable than ever before. Betsie Valley is spread across the rollin