development timeline
1956 - 2024
IN THE BEGINNING
Crystal Mountain has evolved from a community ski club founded in 1956 into a year-round playground where families and friends continue to connect and create enduring bonds. Though the facilities have changed from the original rope tows, humble warming hut and outdoor plumbing, the spirit of welcome, inclusion and community in a pristine natural environment remains.
THE MASTER PLAN
Since 1989 development of Crystal’s 1,500-acre campus has been guided by a master plan titled Emergent Directions. Every land use is carefully considered in the context of this dynamic plan and reference its Guiding Principles.
Renown landscape architects and planners, William Johnson (founder of Johnson, Johnson and Roy and former University of Michigan Dean of the School of Natural Resources), in partnership with his son Mark Johnson, (founder of Johnson Hill Land Ethics) have led the land use planning process at Crystal for over 35 years. Their approach has been one of collaboration and partnership, engaging stakeholders and subject matter experts to find the best solutions – ones that optimize development opportunities, are true to the Guiding Principles and exercise careful stewardship of this land and its community.
Partners in the planning process have included notable landscape architects Oehme and VanSweden, Clinton & Associates, and now, Reiss & Clinton who are responsible for garden design based on the theme described in the Oehmen and VanSweden’s book, Bold Romantic Gardens. Robert Holdeman, retired principal of AAI, Inc. in Traverse City, and his associates have been responsible for all the architectural design of all buildings since 1988. Today, members of the team also include leaders from Bull Stockwell Allen and Cornwell Architect.
Over the last 35 years, many elements on this plan are a reality, representing an investment of over 200 million dollars in amenities, facilities, utilities, circulation, infrastructure and residential real estate. The common elements that tie it all together are an uncompromising commitment to design excellence, environmental stewardship and community place-making.
The list of major investments is long. Highlights include the resort entry and primary interior connector roads, an additional 18-hole golf course (Mountain Ridge), 10-acre golf practice facility, 27 additional ski slopes, a snow sports learning center, six chair lifts including the Crystal Clipper high speed quad, two conveyor carpets, the Park at Water’s Edge and Barr Park.
But building this community has gone beyond physical investment such as roads, amenities and real estate development. It is also about building partnerships and collaboration. An example of such a partnership is Michigan Legacy Art Park founded in 1995. This 501c3 organization is dedicated to telling the story of Michigan’s natural resources, culture, and history through art and sculpture on 30 acres of hilly, forested land in the heart of Crystal’s campus. In April of 2024 Crystal transferred ownership of this land to the Park.
THE VILLAGE
By design, the center of community life is a vibrant, walkable village with lodging, restaurants, retail shops, and entertainment at the base of Crystal’s ski slopes and adjacent to golf amenities.
In 1991, a cornerstone of village was laid with the construction of the Peak Indoor Pool & Fitness Center. It was then expanded in 2009 with the addition of the award-winning Crystal Spa. As the first LEED-certified (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) spa in the Midwest, it represents Crystal’s commitment to sustainable practices and is a mecca for active, healthy lifestyle activities.
The construction of the Crystal Center was completed in 1995 to host meetings and conferences and provide snow sports services in winter. The Inn at the Mountain, completed in 1997, added 29 hotel suites, a lobby with gracious resort reception, and offices on the lower level.
Kinlochen opened in 2002, becoming the village’s southern anchor. This stunning, three-story, mixed-use building is home to the Golf Pro Shop, Plaza and The Thistle restaurant on the main level and 12 condominiums on the upper levels, each named and themed after a Scottish castle.
With the addition of the Cottages and Park at Water’s Edge in 2004-2006, with 22 iconic cottages recalling the 1900’s-era Northern Michigan summer cottages, situated among ponds and award-winning gardens, the village began to take shape.
At the center of the Cottages is a one-acre outdoor water playground and pool, climbing wall and zip line, and hot tub – a summer playground at the heart of village life!
Four years later, at the south end of the village and the base of the Buck lift and slope, the Bungalows at Crystal Glen were added, referencing Northern Michigan’s Arts and Crafts architectural character.
In 2017 the Inn at the Mountain South addition was completed with 25 luxury guest rooms themed to celebrate northern Michigan landscapes, as well as the Mountain Market offering specialty groceries, the Bru Bar offering craft beverages, coffee and pastries, and Level4 Lounge – a rooftop bar with 360-degree commanding views.
The centerpiece of the village is Barr Park, named after the founder of Michigan Legacy Art Park, artist and visionary, David Barr. Gardens and water features, grassy areas for lawn games and gathering, an ice-skating rink in winter, and a fire circle make it a special place to gather in all seasons.
CULTIVATING NEIGHBORHOODS
The master plan also includes clustered residential development designed in neighborhoods that preserve open space and natural areas. Since 1993 there have been 146 single and multi-family developments, many with golf course views. This includes the 44-lot MountainWoods neighborhood; 32 MountainSide townhomes, 28 ski-in, ski-out MountainTop townhomes, and 42-lot Trailside neighborhood with access to Crystal’s hiking and cross-country trail system.
THE NEXT CHAPTER
The next major development zone is at the north end of the village, called North Village. This project represents the original village vision from the 1989 Emergent Directions Plan.
Its anchor is First Tracks, a ski-in, ski-out, mixed-use development at the base of the Loki Quad and adjacent to Crystal Center. It will be the future headquarters for snow school, rentals, the ski shop and high-energy summer activities like the Crystal Coaster Alpine Slide. The First Tracks building will also include child-friendly facilities and amenities that support learning through play on its main level.
The upper two levels will have luxury residences with views of the slopes and village. Convenient guest and skier drop-off and pick-up, as well as pedestrian circulation, is incorporated in this plan. Amenities that will energize North Village include richly landscaped gardens, an outdoor pool and an event plaza.
More information about North Village is available at the Crystal Mountain Realty office.