Additional winter investment in the pipeline at Crystal Mountain
April 5, 2021
THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. (April 5, 2021) – April 4 may have been the last day of skiing and riding for this season, but the team at Crystal Mountain is already looking ahead to next winter and continued investment in the guest experience.
The resort will continue to upgrade its snowmaking technology for winter with the addition of about 3,600 feet of pipe and the newest snow gun equipment, both of which will help make more snow more efficiently.
“The ability to expand our snowmaking infrastructure at Crystal Mountain will help us continuously deliver excellent conditions for skiers and snowboarders, especially in years where snow conditions are less favorable than we’ve seen across Michigan this season,” Crystal Mountain Chief Executive Officer Jim MacInnes said. “We are always looking at ways to invest in top-of-the-line snowmaking equipment and technology upgrades, further positioning the resort as a premier winter destination.”
This season saw 108 days of skiing and riding since the resort opened for winter Dec. 18, 2020, with the snowmaking team making more than 21.5 million cubic feet of snow over the course of the season to cover its 58 trails and slopes.
Just how much snow is that?
By our count and assuming manmade snow weighs about 30 pounds per cubic foot, the team made more than 647 million pounds (323,500 tons) of snow this winter — that snow would outweigh more than four and a half times the amount of structural steel in the Mackinac Bridge (71,300 tons).
When increasing pipe and equipment to make snow, the resort augments when there isn’t natural snow. The official snowfall count for the 2020-2021 winter as measured at the Benzie County Road Commission has been a little more than 68 inches.
These investments are focused on getting Crystal Mountain open sooner and with more terrain in the early season.
But certain conditions are needed to make snow. Snow is made when temperatures are 28 degrees or less. Those cold temperatures, coupled low humidity, northerly winds and high barometric pressure are ideal snowmaking conditions. When those conditions roll around, the Crystal Mountain team is on call 24 hours a day to take advantage of the conditions.
The additional snow guns brings Crystal Mountain’s total number of snow-making machines to 167, up from 153. And bigger pipe that leads from the holding ponds to the snow guns means carrying more water more efficiently, all leading to better quality snow.
The resort added snowmaking pipe and snow guns, as well as RFID (radio frequency identification device) ticketing and gate systems for chairlift access, last season. That technology allowed skiers and snowboarders direct-to-lift access and reduced the amount of time spent waiting in ticket lines.
April 6, 2021 is the final day for the best savings on Premier Season Passes for 2021-2022. Premier passes guarantee access to slopes, even on days sold out due to capacity limits.
Additional ski pass options and Four Seasons Club memberships are also available.
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About Crystal Mountain:
Established in 1956, Crystal Mountain is a family-owned, four-season resort destination located 28 miles southwest of Traverse City and a short drive from Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore. The 1,500-acre resort features lodging, dining, downhill and cross-country skiing, two championship golf courses, shopping, award-winning Crystal Spa, Michigan’s only alpine slide, Peak Fitness, the Park at Water’s Edge, Michigan Legacy Art Park, weddings, a conference center and real estate options. Visit www.CrystalMountain.com for more resort details or information about Four Seasons Club memberships.
Crystal Mountain Media Contact:
Sammie Lukaskiewicz, Vice President of Marketing and Communications
SammieLukaskiewicz@CrystalMountain.com
o: (231) 378-2057
m: (517) 673-4177