Winter adventures set the stage for unforgettable experiences in Crystal Mountain – 9&10 News

Karyn Thorr remembers accompanying one of her older brothers on trips to Crystal Mountain when she was just 10 years old. It is the place where she learned to ski – and even today, decades later, it is still a place where she and her brother can deepen their contacts.

“All these years later, we’re still hitting the slopes whenever we can,” said Thorr, who grew up working at Crystal Mountain and will become COO in 2022 after 29 years of service. “He first introduced me to Crystal Mountain. Even today it is still a popular meeting place for us and now also for our families.”

For many families, winter at Crystal Mountain in Thompsonville, Michigan, about 29 miles southwest of Traverse City, isn’t just about the award-winning ski slopes with 59 runs or the legendary snow sports activities with three terrain parks, six chairlifts, two magic carpets and more. It’s a chance to create memories with family and friends in a space designed to have something for everyone locally.

With its town-village atmosphere, Crystal Mountain offers everything guests need for a home-from-home winter experience, from dining, grocery and shopping options to live entertainment, the luxurious Crystal Spa, swimming and of course snow sports. from skiing to snowshoeing and snowboarding. A shuttle takes guests from one end to the other of Crystal’s property, providing added convenience so they can easily enjoy all the resort has to offer.

Add to that nearby attractions like the Michigan Legacy Art Park with more than 50 sculptures that look different every season, a stroll along Frankfort Public Beach to see the ice-covered shoreline, a wine tour or a visit to one of the area’s distilleries , including Iron Fish Distillery, Michigan’s first farm distillery and a culinary paradise for families, and it’s a recipe for a unique winter getaway that appeals to all interests, from relaxation to adventure and Fun.

For Thorr, part of Crystal Mountain’s big appeal in the winter is the ability to watch skiers navigate the slopes, including while eating, from dozens of locations on the resort campus.

“The chairlift in particular gives you a front-row seat to watch the different styles of skiing,” she says.

One of her favorite downhill runs is Thor, “which people often ask if it’s named after me, but it’s not,” Thorr said. “It’s a steep descent and one of the first climbs you see when you drive up to Crystal Mountain. I used to race on this hill a lot when I was growing up and it was a lot of fun. But it’s really important for those learning to ski to know: this is not the first slope you should try. There are numerous slopes for beginners and advanced skiers on the back of the mountain.”

The memories made at Crystal Mountain – often in the winter – are a big reason families keep coming back.

Ben Brandstatter, who grew up in Niles, Michigan, remembers spending long weekends in Crystal Mountain every February when he and his siblings had days off from school. “We got together with five or six families, rented a few cabins and had a great weekend,” said Brandstatter, who now lives in Traverse City. “That’s how I was introduced to Crystal as a kid.”

Today, Brandstatter and his siblings and parents own a condo at the resort – and they come back year-round. It’s the place where his own children learned to ski, where bachelor parties were held and where Father’s Day was spent golfing with his father, brother and uncles on the resort’s two golf courses.

“When I was in high school, we didn’t go to Crystal Mountain as much because it was such a busy time for us as teenagers. But we took a trip back to my senior year of college with my girlfriend, who is now my wife, and my sister and her boyfriend, who is now her husband, and we had such a great time that we thought, “Wow, why “Don’t we come back here more often?” said Brandstatter. “From then on, Crystal Mountain became a place we return to often. It’s a place that just offers the opportunity for memories.”

Thorr, who has two daughters in college, has seen the impact the resort has had on her own family over time. It is one of her favorite parts of working for Crystal Mountain for more than three decades and taking a leadership role at the resort.

“My kids grew up with it and I think the older they get, the more they appreciate Crystal differently,” she said. “They see how well their friends are embracing the resort and how much other families are enjoying it, and they realize what a big deal it is to be here at Crystal. They started to understand, “This was a very special place that was in my backyard all these years.” I look forward to another winter of turning on the snow guns and watching the experiences unfold.”

Learn more at CrystalMountain.com.