winter media kit - Shanty Creek Resorts

winter media kit
winter wonderland
Each year Shanty Creek Resorts transforms into a winter
wonderland. With two distinct mountains and a 450’
vertical drop, multiple terrain parks, over 30km of Nordic
trails, a multi-lane alpine tubing park and over 180” of
snowfall annually, snow-lovers love Shanty Creek.
Rated the “Midwest’s Best Downhill Terrain” by OnTheSnow.
com, Shanty Creek suits every skill level and thrill-seeker.
Beginners use the magic carpet to build confidence on Elf
Buster, while veterans find challenges by taking the moguls
on Blue Skidoo.
The jumps, rails, boxes and tabletops at Shanty Creek’s five
terrain parks are highly regarded, including The Monster
Park, Big Air and The Natty.
Our PSIA-certified Ski School instructors introduce skiing
and boarding to hundreds of kids annually and improve
racers’ times in NASTAR clinics.
Find more family fun at Summit Mountain’s alpine tubing
park where quality time happens with the wind in your hair
and a smile on everyone’s face.
If you’d prefer to stay on flat ground, swing by The Nordic
Center at Schuss Mountain to strap-on a pair of snowshoes
or cross-country skis to enjoy over 30km of pristine Nordic
trails that traverse the 4,500 acres of Shanty Creek’s winter
wonderland.
what’s new
NEW WARMING CENTER & RESTROOMS AT THE
BEGINNER SKI AREA
The Beginner Ski Area on the north slopes of
Schuss Mountain features the largest terrainbased beginner training area including 400’
magic carpet lift. This year the resort is adding a
warming area and restrooms.
NEW SHUTTLE TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
FOR THE BEGINNER SKI AREA
Another improvement to the beginner skier’s
experience is new transportation services
from the Lodge at Cedar River where ski-school
registration and ski/snowboarding equipment
rentals are. The new open air vehicle provides
more seating and easier on/off access, and its
design makes coming aboard fun for kids.
NEW AND IMPROVED NORDIC TRAILS
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of the
point-to-point White Pine Stampede Nordic
races, Shanty Creek is putting additional
capital and resources into Nordic Skiing. This
season cross country skiers will find improved
conditions throughout the resort’s 30km trail
system thanks to a shiny new Tidd Tech groomer,
the finest snow grooming equipment for cross
country skiing.
HIGH-PERFORMANCE SKI/SNOWBOARD
RENTALS FROM SUMMIT SPORTS
In partnership with Summit Sports, Shanty
Creek is adding a full line of high performance
rental equipment from Volkl, Nordica, and K2.
PRESET RENTAL EQUIPMENT AND ADVANCE
PURCHASE FOR ALPINE TUBING TICKETS
Always looking to improve the guest experience,
guests will now be able to go online at
shantycreek.com to input their ski/snowboard
rental information. This will allow staff to preset
the equipment, making it a breeze for skiers and
boarders quickly pickup their equipment and get
on the slopes quicker.
Another improvement will be the ability to prepurchase Alpine Tubing tickets. Because of the
popularity and limited quantity per hour, tubing
often sells out. With advance tickets, guests will
be able to make the most of their winter escape.
IMPROVED SNOWMAKING INFRASTRUCTURE
Almost an annual part of the resort’s winter
season planning is improving the snowmaking
system infrastructure. Approximately $250M
is being invested including mainline pipe
and plumbing resulting in over 50% greater
efficiency. Other improvements include
pumps, hoses and other hardware that will
increase snowmaking capacity during marginal
conditions.
fact sheet
VILLAGES
3: Summit, Cedar River and Schuss Village
HOTELS 3: The Lakeview Hotel & Conference Center,
The Lodge at Cedar River and Schuss Mountain Lodge
NUMBER OF ROOMS
450+
NUMBER OF RESTAURANTS
3: The Lakeview Restaurant, The River Bistro, Ivan’s Café
MEETING SPACE
22 rooms, 36,000 sq. ft. of function space
SKI & SNOWBOARDING
2 mountains, Schuss and Summit Mountains with 52 runs
SKI SCHOOL
Yes, Located at Cedar River Village
TERRAIN PARKS
5
ALPINE TUBING
6 lanes, Located at Summit Village
NORDIC TRAILS
30km
DOG SLEDDING
Yes
SPA
Yes
FITNESS CENTER
Yes
DAY CARE
Yes
winter story ideas
TEST RIDE
Shanty Creek has made significant
improvements to their Ski and Snowsports
operations across all three villages and wants
everyone to experience the difference it
makes! This season the resort is inviting
skiers and riders who have season passes at
any other ski area in Michigan to “test ride”
Schuss Mountain by offering one free lift
ticket to everyone with a current/valid season
pass from any other Michigan-based ski area.
FREE SEASON PASS WITH
SKI/SNOWBOARD LESSON
To commemorate Learn to Ski & Snowboard
month, with every ski lesson given in January,
Shanty Creek is offering a free season pass
to all kids 8 and under. Register online or call
the Snowsports Academy at 800.678.4111,
x3383.
MICHIGAN’S MOST
AFFORDABLE LIFT TICKET
Shanty Creek Resorts will be providing
Michigan’s most affordable lift ticket - with
tickets starting at $10 on Summit Mountain.
And rentals starting at only $20. So whether
you’re a beginner, family, or an experienced
skier, these affordable lift ticket and rental
options are available every weekend.
THE SARDINE SPECIAL
A Shanty Creek Original. Pack your car, truck
or van with your family, friends, neighbors
or any one else you can find! One car pays
one price ($59) for an entire carload of lift
tickets on the 18th of every month December
through March.
SKI FREE WITH SANTA
Our gift to you. Join Santa on the slopes of
Schuss Mountain on December 25 and ski
for free from 9a-4:30p. Pay it forward with
donations of non-perishable food items,
gently-used winter clothing and/or household
items to benefit local community members in
need.
40TH ANNUAL WHITE PINE STAMPEDE
Hundreds will compete in Michigan’s longest
and oldest point-to-point cross country ski
race on February 6, stretching over the hills
and through the woods of Antrim County while
raising funds for the Children’s Hospital of
Michigan. Races are 10K, 20K and 50K.
For additional story ideas,
please contact us at 231.533.7088.
winter events
NOVEMBER/DECEMBER
Nov 28 Antrim Ski Academy Ski Swap
Brew-Ski Bash at Short’s Brewing Co.
Dec 12
Tannenbaum Blitzen
Dec 18 Sardine Special
Dec 25 Ski Free with Santa
Dec 30 Demo Day at Schuss Mountain
Dec 31 New Year’s Eve &
Fireworks over Summit Mountain
JANUARY
Jan 1-31
Discover Michigan Skiing/
Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month
Jan 16-18 MLK Weekend
Jan 18
Sardine Special
Jan 22-24
SCR Instructional Weekend
Jan 24-30
Ski for Light
FEBRUARY
Feb 2-5
Special Olympics
Feb 6 White Pine Stampede
Feb 13-15 Presidents’ Weekend
Feb 18
Sardine Special
Feb 29
Brad Day
MARCH
Mar 5 Slush Cup
Mar 12 Cardboard Classic
Mar 18
Sardine Special
APRIL
Apr 2-3
Schuss Mountain Snow Challenge
winter packages
SUMMIT VILLAGE SKI PACKAGE
As low as $90 per person.
Includes overnight lodging in a
Lakeview Hotel guest room, breakfast,
Superticket lift ticket, complimentary
skiing the evening of arrival and group
ski lesson.
CEDAR RIVER VILLAGE SKI PACKAGE
As low as $110 per person.
Includes overnight lodging in a
Cedar River One-bedroom suite,
breakfast, Superticket lift ticket,
complimentary skiing the evening
of arrival and group ski lesson.
dining
Within Shanty Creek Resorts’ three villages, choose
from a variety of cuisines and environments. Guests
can experience a casual quick bite or romantic
wining and dining overlooking Lake Bellaire.
LAKEVIEW RESTAURANT
Located in Summit Village, The Lakeview Restaurant
features innovative regional fare with majestic views
of Lake Bellaire. Voted best steak and best dessert in
Northern Michigan by Northern Express readers, The
Lakeview serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.
IVAN’S CAFÉ
A premier skier’s cafeteria with fresh salads, gourmet
sandwiches, soups, chili, wraps, and more. Plus all the
traditional kid-friendly options like french fries, pizza,
chicken fingers, and chips.
THE RIVER BISTRO
Featuring fine spirits and up to 40 international and
regional beers, plus big screen TVs, tavern games
such as pool, shuffleboard and more. Overlooking
Cedar River Golf Course’s 18th hole, The River Bistro
is sure to please any appetite.
lodging
SUMMIT VILLAGE
CEDAR RIVER VILLAGE
SCHUSS VILLAGE
The Lakeview Hotel & Conference
Center at Summit Village offers
million-dollar views of Lake Bellaire,
miles of pristine hardwood forests
and out-the-door access to Summit
Mountain’s ski slopes and The Legend
and Summit Golf Courses.
Featuring 72 suites and studios
plus 14 condominiums, this elegant
village showcases well-appointed
accommodations in one- and twobedroom suites and three- and fourbedroom condos with views of the
north face of Schuss Mountain and
Cedar River Golf Course.
Located at the foot of Schuss
Mountain, Schuss Village exudes
European charm. Featuring a variety
of accommodations from villas and
condos to guest suites with views of
the Schuss Mountain ski slopes, are
all within walking distance to Ivan’s for
Aprés-ski entertainment and fun.
history
Roy Deskin, the son of a coal miner, worked his
way through Detroit’s steel factories to become a
magnate in the industry. He retired Up North in 1944
and purchased a home on Torch Lake. Deskin loved
entertaining friends, family and colleagues but grew
weary from driving all over northern Michigan in search
of restaurants to entertain his guests. He decided
he would build a private club of his one, but realized
greater potential for a resort in the area.
Breaking ground in 1961, and eager to open his fourseason resort, Deskin opened Summit Mountain for
skiing in December 1962. Construction of the Lodge
would be completed the following spring. The 91-room
hotel, whose name was based on an old trapper’s
shanty located near the [current day] 7th and 8th
holes of The Legend, opened on May 30, 1963, as The
Lodge at Shanty Creek.
With skiing and lodging in place, Deskin begin working
on the final piece of his four-season resort—a golf
course. Contracting course architect William Diddel,
the pair orchestrated designs for the appropriatelynamed 18-hole “Deskin Course”, opening in 1968.
Today it’s known as “Summit Golf Course.”
Meanwhile… Daniel Iannotti chose to leave a lucrative
career as a stockbroker in Chicago and began tailoring
his dream of opening a ski resort resembling a quaint,
Bavarian ski hamlet. After looking at sites throughout
Michigan, Wisconsin and Colorado, Iannotti settled on
a patch of land just two miles east of Shanty Creek.
Iannotti’s “never-never land” made its skiing debut
in December of 1967. It was called “The Kingdom of
Schuss” and declared itself a new nation with its own
border-control station, its own currency (the Squaller),
its own language (Schwiss), and its own time-zone
(CFT, Central Fun Time). Daniel was King and his wife,
Dorothy, was Queen. Their children were dubbed Prince
Daniel and Princess Madelyn.
After opening Schuss Mountain, Iannotti expanded the
resort to include the Schuss Mountain Golf Course,
designed by Warner Bowen. Its’ front nine holes opened
in 1972. The back nine was added in 1977.
Both resorts operated as individual properties for nearly
20 years. In 1985, Club Corporation of America saw
value in both Shanty Creek and Schuss Mountain and
purchased both in order to merge them. This move was
bolstered by the opening of the Arnold Palmer–designed
championship golf course, The Legend.
In 1999, an all-suite hotel, The Lodge at Cedar River, was
built and the Tom Weiskopf-designed Cedar River Golf
Course opened. Cedar River Village would form the third
village alongside Summit and Schuss.
But despite all of the splendor and beauty of the area
and a devoted staff known for its guest service, Shanty
Creek would fall on hard times. The property’s original
Deskin hotel grew tired. Guests were choosing newer
properties in the region. Foreclosure followed.
In 2006, an investment group from St. Louis, Trinidad
Resort & Club LLC, would purchase the resort and
instill the capital needed to renovate the aged Lodge
at Shanty Creek. The result: The Lakeview Hotel &
Conference Center shines once again. And throngs of
guests and groups are once again choosing Shanty
Creek for their ski and golf getaways and their annual
meetings and conferences.
location
Shanty Creek’s Up North hospitality is legendary.
Your winter getaway Up North features the right mix
of amenities, service and value.
No other Michigan resort provides a better value
than Shanty Creek Resorts. From lodging and skiing
to dining and entertainment, it’s easy to find the
package that fits you best at shantycreek.com or at
800.678.4111.
Shanty Creek
Resorts
Traverse City
Cadillac
Manistee
Bay City
Muskegon
Grand Rapids
Flint
Lansing
Detroit
Chicago
media contacts
CHRIS HALE
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Office: 231.533.7088
Mobile: 231.676.3977
[email protected]
STEVE KERSHNER
Director of Snow Sports
Office: 800.678.4111 x 7158
Mobile: 231.676.2493
[email protected]
LINDSEY SOUTHWELL
Director of Marketing
Office: 231.533.8621 x 7884
Mobile: 231.384.1594
[email protected]
KIRSTEN BORGSTROM
PubHound Public Relations
Office/Mobile: 517.331.3433
[email protected]