Boyne Mountain Resort

Ski area in Michigan, United States

Boyne Mountain Resort

Boyne Mountain Resort

Location within Michigan

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Boyne Mountain Resort

Boyne Mountain Resort (the United States)

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Location| Boyne Valley Township, Charlevoix County
Nearest major city| Boyne Falls, Michigan
Coordinates| 45°09′50″N 84°55′58″W﻿ / ﻿45.16389°N 84.93278°W﻿ / 45.16389; -84.93278
Status| Operating
Owner| Boyne Resorts
Vertical|  433 ft (132 m)[1]
Top elevation| 1,152 ft (351 m)
Base elevation|  719 ft (219 m)
Skiable area| 175 acres (0.71 km2)
Trails| 60
Lift capacity| 22,650
Terrain parks| Yes, 4
Snowmaking| Yes, 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.[2]

Boyne Mountain has continued use of the first chairlift built, constructed by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1936 for use at its new resort in Sun Valley, Idaho. It is also the location of Avalanche Bay, the largest indoor water park in Michigan.[3] Boyne Mountain is the sister resort of Boyne Highlands.[4]

## History

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The Boyne Mountain Resort was originally co-developed by Everett Kircher, Jim Christianson and John Norton. The group purchased the site for $1 in 1948 from Michigan Senator William Pierson and opened it as a ski resort in 1949.[5] The founders acquired the first chairlift ever built (from Sun Valley, Idaho) and moved it to Boyne Mountain where parts are still in use today.[6]

Between 1948 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).[7]

## Skiing and snowboarding

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### Alpine skiing and snowboarding

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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.

### Freestyle skiing and snowboarding

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Boyne Mountain has four terrain parks and a ski cross course. The biggest park is called "Meadows Terrain Park," and others include "Ramshead Park" and "Fritz Progression Park".[8]

## Other activities

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### Golf

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

#### The Alpine

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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

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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

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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. It opened in the winter of 2005[2]

### Zipline Adventure

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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 (nine 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

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There is a disc golf course 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]

### SkyBridge Michigan

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On October 15, 2022, the resort opened SkyBridge Michigan, which it claims is the "world's longest timber-towered suspension bridge".[14][15]

### Swimming

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Boyne Mountain has luxurious heated pools and hot tubs at the Clock Tower Lodge and the Mountain Grand 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.[16]

## References

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1. ^ Boyne Mountain - OpenSkiMap.org https://openskimap.org/?obj=086def7bbddd6cbafb09985c44977d3ba7f04b73#12.5/45.17571/-84.94257
2. ^ a b "The Mountain Grand Lodge and Spa - Boyne Mountain Resort, Michigan". mountaingrandlodge.com.
3. ^ "Indoor Water Parks in Michigan". Archived from the original on January 25, 2013.
4. ^ Flesher, John (January 11, 2009). "Michigan slopes beckon skiers". Ohio.com. Associated Press. Retrieved February 5, 2009.
5. ^ Neff, Jim (June 2003). "Everett Kircher: Boyne Gets Going". Skiing Heritage Journal. 15 (#2): 36. ISSN 1082-2895. Retrieved April 28, 2016. "in 1947... State Senator Bill Pierson... sold it for ... $1 ... The doors opened in 1948"
6. ^ "History of Boyne USA Resorts – FundingUniverse". fundinguniverse.com.
7. ^ Neff, Jim (June 2003). "Everett Kircher: Boyne Gets Going". Skiing Heritage Journal. 15 (#2): 36. ISSN 1082-2895. Retrieved April 28, 2016. "the world's first triple (1963) and quad (1965), and the first six-passenger chairlift in the US."
8. ^ "BOYNE". rideboyne.com.
9. ^ "Northern Michigan Golf Courses | Golf Course Resorts in Michigan | BOYNE". Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
10. ^ "Michigan Golf Courses & Lessons| Boyne Mountain Resort Packages | BOYNE". Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
11. ^ "Michigan Golf Courses & Lessons| Boyne Mountain Resort Packages | BOYNE". Archived from the original on June 2, 2011. Retrieved June 14, 2011.
12. ^ "Zipline Adventure | Boyne Mountain Resort | Boyne Falls, Michigan". Archived from the original on March 1, 2016. Retrieved March 1, 2016.
13. ^ "Disc Golf | Boyne Mountain Resort | Boyne Falls, MI". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014.
14. ^ "SkyBridge Michigan". Boyne Mountain Resort. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
15. ^ Staff (October 14, 2022). "SkyBridge Michigan opens at Boyne Mountain". The Detroit News. John L. Russell, photography. Retrieved June 21, 2025.
16. ^ "Swimming options at Boyne Mountain Resort | Boyne Falls, Michigan". Archived from the original on March 14, 2014.

* Boyne Mountain Carnival Weekend (aka Krazy Daze). (n.d.). Retrieved October 20, 2010, from http://www.meetup.com/The-Michigan-Skiing-Meetup-Group/calendar/12071361/

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boyne Mountain.

* Boyne Resorts website
* Boyne Mountain website
* Boyne Mountain Ski Area Information on SnowGuide.org

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Mountains of Michigan

Huron Mountains|

* Mount Arvon
* Mount Curwood

Others|

* Bald Mountain
* Big Powderhorn Mountain
* Black Mountain
* Boyne Mountain
* Briar Hill
* Crystal Mountain
* Marquette Mountain
* Mont Ripley
* Mount Desor
* Nub's Nob
* Pine Knob
* Pine Mountain
* Porcupine Mountains
* Waterford Hill

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