Boyne Mountain Resort

Boyne Mountain Resort
Location Boyne Valley Township, Charlevoix County
Nearest city Boyne City, Michigan
Vertical 500 ft
Top elevation 1120 ft
Base elevation 620 ft
Skiable area 850 acres
Runs 60
Lift capacity 22,650
Terrain parks 4
Snowmaking 90%
Night skiing Yes
Website Boyne.com

Boyne Mountain Resort is a ski resort with a collection of accommodations in Northern Michigan located near Boyne City operated by Boyne Resorts. The center piece is an upscale resort called The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa.[1] Boyne Mountain has continued use of the first chairlift built, originally constructed in Idaho in 1936 for use at a resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is also the location of Avalanche Bay, the largest indoor water park in Michigan.[2] Boyne Mountain is the sister resort of Boyne Highlands.[3]

History

The Boyne Mountain Resort was originally co-developed by Everett Kircher, Jim Christianson and John Norton. The group purchased the site for $1 in 1947 from Michigan Senator William Pierson and opened it as a ski resort in 1948.[4] Kircher acquired the first chairlift ever built (from Sun Valley, Idaho) and moved it to Boyne Mountain where parts are still in use today.[5]

Between 1947 and 1992, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands innovated in chairlifts, creating the world's first triple chairlift (1963), world's first quad chairlift (1965) and the US's first six-passenger chairlift (1992).[6]

Skiing and Snowboarding

Alpine Skiing and Snowboarding

Boyne Mountain has ten chairlifts and a carpet lift, which lead to 60 runs including all of the standard difficulty ratings, from green to double black.[7] Lift tickets are not required to ride the carpet lift or "Boyneland" chairlift, but those lifts only access green areas.

Skiers at Boyne Mountain in 1978.

29% of the skiing area is beginner terrain, 41% is intermediate terrain, and 30% is expert terrain. The slopes are groomed, and the expert run "South McLouth" is occasionally used by a Slalom skiing group.

Freestyle Skiing and Snowboarding

Boyne Mountain has four Terrain parks, a superpipe, a minipipe, and a ski/board cross course. The biggest park is called "Meadows Terrain Park," and others include "Ramshead Park" and "Fritz Progression Park.[8]" Terrain parks at Boyne Mountain are most commonly snowboarded, but skiers can be seen riding them too.

Other Activities

Golf

Boyne Mountain has two nearby golf courses: The Alpine and The Monument.[9]

The Alpine

The Alpine course at Boyne Mountain weaves down the mountain towards Deer Lake. There are several water hazards and sand bunkers placed by the owners, making for, in their words, "A thrilling round.[10]"

The Monument

The Monument course has each hole dedicated to a golf legend, and uses golf course designs pioneered by several different architects. The owners refer to it as a "playable hall of fame.[11]"

The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa

The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa is very close to the mountain and contains a spa, lodging, an indoor waterpark, and is located next to the Ski Rental Shop.[1]

Zipline Adventure

The Adventure Center's Zipline Adventure has a 2.5 hour long zipline tour and an under an hour Twin Zip. The full tour features 10 lines (9 in the winter) and reach speeds up to 20-25 mph. The Twin Zip is 780 feet long and 25+ feet high and is the last zip of the full tour.[12]

Disc Golf

Starting at the top of Boyne Mountain at Hemlock and ends at the Ski Patrol building. Disc rentals are available at the Adventure Center.[13]

Swimming

Boyne Mountain has luxurious heated pools and hot tubs at the Clock Tower Lodge and the Mountain Grande Lodge and Spa. All guests staying at the resort have access to the Clock Tower Lodge pool and hot tub. During the summer months, the Dear Lake Beach is open for swimming and beach activities and games.[14]

References

  1. 1 2 "The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa - Boyne Mountain Resort, Michigan". mountaingrandlodge.com.
  2. ↑ "Indoor Water Parks in Michigan".
  3. ↑ Flesher, John (January 11, 2009). "Michigan slopes beckon skiers". Associated Press. Ohio.com. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
  4. ↑ Neff, Jim (June 2003). "Everett Kircher: Boyne Gets Going". Skiing Heritage Journal. 15 (#2:): 36. ISSN 1082-2895. Retrieved 28 April 2016. in 1947... State Senator Bill Pierson... sold it for ... $1 ... The doors opened in 1948
  5. ↑ "History of Boyne USA Resorts – FundingUniverse". fundinguniverse.com.
  6. ↑ Neff, Jim (June 2003). "Everett Kircher: Boyne Gets Going". Skiing Heritage Journal. 15 (#2:): 36. ISSN 1082-2895. Retrieved 28 April 2016. the world's first triple (1963) and quad (1965), and the first six-passenger chairlift in the US.
  7. ↑ "Current Conditions". Boyne Highlands Resort.
  8. ↑ "BOYNE". rideboyne.com.
  9. ↑
  10. ↑
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ http://www.boyne.com/boynemountain/activities/zipline
  13. ↑ http://www.boyne.com/boynemountain/activities/disc-golf
  14. ↑ http://www.boyne.com/boynemountain/activities/swimming
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Coordinates: 45°09′50″N 84°55′58″W / 45.16389°N 84.93278°W / 45.16389; -84.93278

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