Crystal Mountain Opens Early, Boosting Winter Recreation and Economy

Crystal Mountain opened slopes Friday morning, December 5, after more than 65 hours of snowmaking and over a foot of natural snowfall. Lifts began operating at 9 a.m., and the resort staged a first chair celebration at the Loki Quad to mark the season kickoff. The opening included downhill skiing and riding, groomed cross country trails, and fat tire biking, with night skiing scheduled to begin later in December.

Operations relied on more than 179 snow guns to build the early base, and some areas reported a base up to 32 inches. At launch the resort ran three lifts including the Loki Quad, and offered at least seven open runs. Management outlined a schedule for continued snowmaking and planned temporary closures from December 8 through December 11 to allow crews to expand coverage, with additional terrain to open as conditions allow.

For Grand Traverse County residents the opening matters on several levels. The resort is in neighboring Benzie County, but the regional draw of an earlier season creates spillover demand for Traverse City area hotels, short term rentals, restaurants, gear shops, and transportation providers. Weekend programming including a Winter Sounds community event and a Ski and Ride fundraiser further concentrate visitor activity in the region. Local businesses that serve winter tourists are likely to see increased bookings and foot traffic as visitors travel from the county and beyond.

Employment and service availability also shift with the season start. Early openings typically mean more hours for seasonal staff in operations, rental shops, and hospitality, and higher demand for rental equipment and tuning services. Visitors were reminded to purchase lift tickets and rentals online, and to consult the resort s live webcams and snow report for current conditions before traveling.

Practical implications for residents include planning travel times for weekend visits, arranging early reservations for lodging and rentals, and monitoring the resort s snow report for changes in terrain availability during the scheduled snowmaking work. The early opening signals a robust start to the winter tourism season that will influence regional economic activity through the holidays and into January.