A MOUNTAIN BUILT BY COMMUNITY
What is now recognized among North America’s premier family destinations by the likes of Conde Nast Traveler and Fodor’s Travel began with a dedicated group of neighbors from Benzie County simply looking for a place to ski. It is that spirit of community that has sustained Crystal Mountain for almost 70 years and will inspire it for decades to come. This is the story of a mountain built by the community for the community.
THE BEGINNING OF BUCK HILLS
It began as a school project. Ward Creech, a geography teacher and principal of Benzonia High School, gave his students an assignment: find the best place in Benzie County to start a ski area. After much research and deliberation, the class determined the Buck Hills Range offered the best combination of terrain and snowfall.
In 1956, Buck Hills Ski Club opened. The first rope tow was powered by an old pick-up truck engine. A warming hut was built from donated lumber procured in large part thanks to the tenacity of Althea Petritz. Grooming the three downhill trails was everyone’s job, sidestepping uphill to create what passed for “corduroy” in those days.
MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF BUCK HILLS
In 1960, Buck Hills became a commercial venture and was renamed Crystal Mountain Resort. Ed Abbey, a Toledo businessman, led a group of 96 investors, many of whom had summer residences around Crystal Lake. This transformation to a resort included a new lodge with dining, a liquor license, 21 guest rooms, a heated slopeside pool and year-round operations. The resort’s first chairlift – a Brandel, manufactured in Switzerland, was installed on Main Street.
FORAY INTO FOUR SEASONS
By 1966, ownership was consolidated into a small group, and their goal was to make this winter playground a sustainable year-round business. Golf wouldn’t come along until the seventies, but summer activities included a weekly Ox Roast with a round of beef, corn-on-the-cob, coleslaw, baked beans and strawberry shortcake – $2.95 for adults and $1.95 for children. Crystal also hosted marching band and basketball camps including an NBA Hall-of-Famer (who would later become mayor of Detroit), Dave Bing. The Crystalettes, musicians from Ball State University, served up nightly entertainment with a dinner theater.
THE FLIP OF A COIN
In 1981 sole ownership of Crystal Mountain came down to a coin flip between George Petritz and Robert Meyer. The winner would make the first offer, leaving it to the other to accept or counter. Mr. Petritz won the toss, made an offer which Mr. Meyer accepted.
Since then, Crystal Mountain has been owned by the Petritz family for whom playing outdoors is in their DNA – downhill and cross-country skiing, kayaking, biking, swimming and golf are just a few of the activities that George and Althea shared with their kids, and the MacInnes family has continued this passion and lifestyle.
THE FAMILY BUSINESS
Countless families have been etched into the resort’s story, but two couples have left an indelible mark. Althea and George Petritz and Chris and Jim MacInnes each have contributed distinct talents, work ethic, perspective and leadership as recognized by everyone from the United States Navy to the Governor of Michigan.
George (1917-2010) and Althea (1923-2022) continued to stay active – skiing, sailing, biking or practicing yoga, well into their final decades of life. Althea’s unbridled enthusiasm for winter sports helped nurture what are now 59 downhill ski trails and was the inspiration for the Crystal Community Ski Club. She was also dedicated to creating the many gardens around the resort which today provide a magical sense of place. George, a World War II veteran awarded the Navy Cross and an accomplished businessman, believed deeply that “a company is known by the people it keeps.” With Althea, he was careful to hire, and interview, candidates whether it was for a vice president of marketing or staff cleaning the rooms.
Jim and Chris moved from southern California in 1985 to help run the family business. Chris, who currently heads company development, is a hall-of-fame downhill skier from St. Lawrence University, and Jim, now Board Chairman, was a moto-cross racer and professional engineer. Both had successful careers prior to joining the business. In life and business, the couple has guided Crystal Mountain through four decades of dynamic growth and development.
Today Crystal is well served by the Next Generation of talented leadership who are continuing the legacy of careful development and operating excellence. Crystal’s former banker, John Melcher, is now its CEO, and Karyn Thorr, who joined Crystal in 1993 after training and alpine racing there in high school and college, is now its COO. Both not only have a passion for this business, but also for nurturing it as a place of welcome and the stage for making healthy connections. 
VISION TO VILLAGE
In 1989, Crystal Mountain embarked on a master plan called Emergent Directions which continues to guide resort development – more than $200 million in the last quarter century. Iteratively and carefully the resort has evolved into a community with a pedestrian-friendly village that not only welcomes guests but is also a place many families call home.
Crystal Mountain is many things to many people. It is 59 downhill trails and 36 championship holes of golf. A place where some exchange wedding vows and others share innovative ideas… but at its core, it is a place to connect with self, others, nature and ideas.