After 45 Years of Family Ownership, Michigan Ski Resort Is Up for Sale
THOMPSONVILLE, Mich. — After more than four decades of family ownership and expansion, Michigan’s Crystal Mountain Resort is exploring a potential sale as its owners look for someone who can continue developing the popular four-season destination.
The MacInnes family, which has overseen the resort’s transformation from a modest ski area into a 1,500-acre destination, is considering either selling the property or bringing in an investment partner. Resort Chairman Jim MacInnes confirmed the plans in a November 13 interview with 9&10 News, explaining that the family is under no pressure to complete a transaction.
“We’ve been exploring the possibility of bringing in a partner or selling the business, but we don’t have to really sell.” -Jim MacInnes
The family is particularly interested in finding a buyer or partner with the financial resources to support future expansion while preserving the resort’s commitment to its employees, surrounding community and environment. No asking price or timetable for a potential sale has been announced.
From a Small Ski Hill to a Four-Season Resort
Crystal Mountain is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026. The property originally opened in 1956 as Buck Hills Ski Club, a small community ski area developed by local residents who cleared three slopes, built a warming hut and installed two rope tows.
According to Crystal Mountain’s official history, George and Althea Petritz acquired the struggling property with business partners in 1966. The couple eventually purchased the remaining ownership interests in 1981, establishing Crystal Mountain as a wholly family-owned resort.
Their daughter Chris and her husband Jim MacInnes joined the business in 1985 and began developing a long-term strategy to transform the seasonal ski operation into a year-round destination. Since the creation of a master development plan in 1989, more than $200 million has been invested in the resort’s amenities, facilities, infrastructure and real estate.
Today, Crystal Mountain features 59 downhill ski runs, eight lifts, 104 acres of skiable terrain and 375 feet of vertical drop. The resort also includes two golf courses, extensive lodging, restaurants, a spa, swimming facilities and other recreational amenities.
The expansion has made Crystal Mountain one of northern Michigan’s major tourism destinations and Benzie County’s largest employer, supporting hundreds of jobs throughout the year.
Significant Expansion Potential Remains
Despite decades of investment, the family believes Crystal Mountain still has substantial room for growth. MacInnes said approximately 400 acres of the property are suitable for future development, with opportunities to increase the number of ski slopes and lifts, construct additional lodging and potentially add another golf course.
The resort is already pursuing its North Village development, which includes plans for new accommodations, guest facilities and ski-related amenities near the base of the Loki Quad chairlift. A new $3.5 million mountain operations center also opened in 2026.
Any potential transaction would be intended to support those longer-term improvements rather than simply transfer ownership of the existing business.
MacInnes acknowledged that larger resort operators could be among the interested buyers, but expressed reservations about whether Crystal Mountain would receive the same attention under a major corporate ownership structure. The family remains open to different types of buyers and investment partners, provided their goals align with the resort’s established direction.
For now, Crystal Mountain will continue operating under its existing management while the family evaluates its options. With no announced deadline or immediate financial pressure to sell, the MacInnes family has indicated it is willing to take its time finding the right partner for the resort’s next chapter.
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