Grab some coffee and join us for Ski Resort Sundays (SRS), where each week, we take a brief look at a ski resort from around the Midwest. SRS episodes are uploaded every Sunday at 8:00 AM (CST) so make sure you check in each week to see which ski resort we are covering. Today, we will be examining Treetops Resort.
Treetops Resort is located in Gaylord, Michigan, about three and half hours from Detroit, and its history dates back to the 1950s. Before it was Treetops, the ski resort was called Sylvan Knob and opened in December of 1954. The hill boasted two tow ropes and six trails when it opened, and over the next several decades would continue to grow and develop.
In 1983 Sylvan Know was sold to Harry Melling, a local automatic part mogul who changed the name to Sylvan Resort and constructed hotel rooms and the resort’s first golf course. One day Harry was touring his newly built course with the course’s designer on what is now the sixth tee of the Masterpiece Course and mentioned how they couldn’t see anything but Treetops, and the name stuck.
Today Tree Tops offers 23 trails serviced by three triple chairlifts, a rope tow, and a carpet. Treetops has a great variety of terrain for all abilities. Skiing near lift number one, you will find several great beginner runs, and as you make your way to lifts two and three will find progressively harder pitches. Treetops even offers some small gladed areas along the ridgelines. And their setup is excellent for families, especially those with children. The three chairlifts unload very close to each other at the top of the ski hill near their main lodge. This makes it an excellent place for families as it is easy to spot children from the lodge regardless of skiing.
Another thing you will quickly discover about this resort is that it is a true year-round destination. You pass sprawling golf courses, hotels, and a conference center as you drive down the winding road to the ski hill. And that is something great about this resort; they have something to do for everyone: tubing, cross country skiing, a spa, and even dog sledding.
Treetop may not be the biggest ski resort in the area, but it offers an exceptional value and gives even those non-skiers or riders in your family something to look forward to during those winter months.
If you want to learn more about Treetops, head on over to their website at www.treetops.com, and we hope to see you out there this season.
Comments