Shanty Creek is located in the far northwestern corner of Michigan near Torch Lake and Grand Traverse Bay. The area is a four-season resort with outstanding mountain biking and golfing to go with its two ski mountains. Shanty Creek consists of two distinct ski mountains and villages, The Summit Slopes and Schuss Mountain, which are just three miles apart. The resort attracts vacationers from all over the Midwest and is one of the fastest-growing resort areas in the U.S.

Winter Activities

The Summit and Schuss Mountain cater to distinctly different ski groups. The Summit is a family-oriented resort with two ski lifts and mostly beginner and intermediate runs. Schuss Mountain has a bigger vertical drop and more demanding slopes, four lifts, and a big emphasis on racing programs and mogul fields. Both areas are snowboard friendly: the Summit features a half-pipe and Schuss Mountain boasts a snowboard park and a half-pipe, as well as the steeper slopes that snowboarders crave. Shanty Creek has thirty-one kilometers of cross-country ski trails that connect the two ski villages, and hotels at each village offer a variety of wintertime activities.

Summer Activities

Shanty Creek is even busier in summer than in winter. Three championship golf courses line the area, including The Legend, designed by Arnold Palmer. The area is also fast becoming the most popular mountain bike site in the country. Each of the last three years it's been home to the Jeep National Championship Mountain Bike Races, which last year drew 20,000 spectators and 1,200 competitors. The championship race course is available to anyone and can be accessed via lifts on Schuss Mountain. Nearby Torch Lake provides plenty of hiking, swimming, and boating and was recently voted the third most beautiful lake in the world.

Apr�s-ski

Both villages have live entertainment every night during the busy seasons, and the small towns nearby, especially Bellaire, provide taverns, restaurants, and recreation. Clam River and Alden, both on the shores of Torch Lake, offer good bars and gourmet food (The Dockside in Clam River is pretty popular with the younger crowd). Traverse City, about forty miles away, is a larger town which also has a lively nightlife.

Transportation

Traverse City, forty miles away, is served by commercial airlines. From Detroit, car travelers take I-75 north to Grayling and exit on U.S. 131 to State Route 88 which leads to Shanty Creek.

The trip takes about four hours.

Shanty Creek runs a continuous shuttle between Summit Village and Schuss Village, but employees rely on their own transportation for travel between Shanty Creek and surrounding towns.

Housing

Many ski area employees live in nearby Bellaire where a number of large houses have been converted to apartments.

Shanty Creek Ski Resort Employment

Shanty Creek is the largest employer in the area both winter and summer. Other employers include some small local factories, environmental firms, and a number of restaurants and bars.

Alpine Valley Resort >>>