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BELLAIRE, MI — Shanty Creek Resorts, the leading snow sports destination in Michigan’s popular Traverse City region, has made major changes to its winter infrastructure in preparation for the 2014-2015 ski season.
The new facilities will include a new restaurant and “day lodge,” new rental and instruction centers and a groomed multi-use trail for non-skiers. In addition, many amenities and features have been shifted from one area of the sprawling 4,500-acre resort to another.
The resort is composed of three distinct “villages”—Summit, Schuss, and Cedar River. Its recent transformation was made possible by the acquisition of previously unavailable space at Cedar River Village, on the north face of Schuss Mountain. It will affect a wide range of amenities including ski rentals and instruction facilities, fat-tire biking, dining, alpine snow-tubing and even dining.
“We’ve listened to our guests,” said Steve Kershner, the resort’s director of ski and snow sports, “These changes are going to make a lot of people very happy, and that’s what it’s all about.”
Located in the scenic Chain of Lakes region, about 30 miles northeast of Traverse City, Shanty Creek has 53 downhill slopes and six terrain parks. (Ski Magazine rated it the Midwest’s number-one destination in value, dining, lodging, weather and après ski activities.)
The resort has moved its main ski operation from Schuss Village to a dedicated area at Cedar River. Its ski rental and ski school facilities are now located inside The Lodge at Cedar River, which provides ski-in/-out access to the Schuss Mountain slopes, where a new beginner ski area has been established. A new 400-foot “magic carpet” – like the moving walkway at an airport – will allow beginners to either stay in the beginner area or access the rest of the Mountain when they’re ready.
Shanty’s popular Alpine Tubing Park, which had occupied the site of the new beginner slope, has been moved to Summit Village, where its new perch on Summit Mountain will provide users with access to the restaurants and meeting areas of the Lakeview Hotel and majestic views of Lake Bellaire. The tubing park’s handle tows have been replaced with a 275-foot magic carpet that allows tubers to ride gently back to the top.
Meanwhile, the former home of the ski school and rental facilities at Schuss Village has been transformed into the Yellow Lift Day Lodge – a dedicated space for day skiers who don’t intend to use the resort’s lodging or restaurant facilities – furnished with seasonal lockers, banquet seating and vending machines.
But Shanty’s food service operation hasn’t been neglected during the recent makeover. The resort has opened a new restaurant and bar, The River Bistro, in The Lodge at Cedar River, featuring sandwiches, flatbread pizzas, over 45 regional and international beers and fresh-squeezed fruit cocktails in a chic setting with classic pub inspired games like pool, foosball, and darts.
Ivan’s Mountainside Grill at Schuss Village, the resort’s traditional après-ski eatery, has been renamed Ivan’s Café and converting from a table service restaurant to a self-serve cafeteria with expanded offerings such as homemade soups, fresh salads, wraps and “kids” items like chicken fingers and fries. (Ivan’s will continue to be the after-dark party spot at Shanty, with live entertainment and a full-service bar.)
The resort has also created a new 5K groomed multi-purpose trail to accommodate recreational activities that don’t involve cross-country skiing: snowshoeing, dog walking, and fat-tire biking. Its trailhead will be located near the Lodge at Cedar River. Shanty Creek already has 30 kilometers of groomed track-set ski trails, but decided that other users needed a trail of their own.
“We want there to be outdoor recreation for everyone—Nordic skiers, fat bikers, snowshoers, and more,” said resort Vice President Chris Hale.
A new attraction has also been installed at the Mt. Holiday Ski & Recreation Area, one of Traverse City’s two day ski areas. The resort now has a zipline system that lets visitors soar through the air above its ski slopes. Its “Green Zipper” is a two-station zipline (the first leg is 288 feet and then second is 306 feet) and its new 10-station zipline has a total of over 4,000 feet of cable. Advance reservations ae required for both lines, which are available for groups of at least four people.
Mt. Holiday offers skiing and snowboarding on 16 runs from beginner to advanced, as well as a snow tubing park. The city-owned Hickory Hills ski area offers eight downhill runs served by five rope tows. Slopes are beginner to advanced, with a 240-foot vertical drop. Both offer private and group lessons taught by certified staff.
To learn about other outdoor winter adventures and activities in the Traverse City area this year, contact Traverse City Tourism at 1-800-TRAVERSE or on line at www.traversecity.com
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This is a press-ready travel feature from Traverse City Tourism. Please feel free to use it in any way you like. You may run it in part or in its entirety — with or without byline — or use it as a source for stories of your own. And if I can be of any additional help (photos, for instance) please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Mike Norton, Media Relations Manager
Traverse City Tourism
E: mike@traversecity.com
P: (231) 995-3909
F: (231) 947-2621 |
