Boyne Highlands Open Today for 2011/12 Winter Season - Boyne Mountain Opens Friday

12/07/11

Boyne Mountain Opens Friday

Harbor Springs, Mich. (December 7, 2011) – Boyne Highlands Resort of Harbor Springs opened today, Wednesday, December 7, at noon for the 2011/12 winter season.  The resort was the first ski area in Lower Michigan to open terrain to skiers and snowboarders last Saturday and Sunday before shutting down for two days to take advantage of cooler temperatures and additional snowmaking.  Sister resort, Boyne Mountain, is opening for the season at 9 a.m. this Friday, December 9.

After three weeks of fluctuating temperatures, this week’s consistent overnight conditions has allowed Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain to fire up their snow guns for 48 continuous hours building base and piling up snow.
Today through Friday, Boyne Highlands’ Heather slope and high-speed Heather Express quad chairlift are open.  For the weekend, the resort is expanding terrain to have a minimum of five trails, approximately 100 skiable acres, and three lifts open.  Boyne Highlands also plans to have terrain park features on the slopes by Friday.

“We’re excited to now be open daily for the season, “said Brad Keen, president and general manager of Boyne Highlands Resort.  “We had a great crowd here last weekend and look forward to keeping the momentum going and expanding terrain to be fully open for the holidays.”

Boyne Mountain in Boyne Falls will kick off the 2011/12 winter season on Friday, December 9 opening two trails, Victor and Pierson, with lift service on the Victor and Hemlock chairs.  Terrain is expanding on Saturday and Sunday to include at least four runs and three chairlifts, as well as terrain park features.  

Ed Grice, president and general manager of Boyne Mountain Resort said, “This week has offered us ideal snowmaking conditions and we’ve been taking full advantage making snow around the clock since Monday afternoon.  Opening conditions will be great and we’re eager to have skiers and snowboarders out and enjoying the slopes.”

Boyne Mountain also plans to continue snowmaking and expand terrain to have all slopes open for the holidays.

Lift ticket prices Wednesday and Thursday at Boyne Highlands, and Friday at Boyne Highlands and Boyne Mountain are $25 for all ages.  Beginning Saturday, December 10 through Thursday, December 15, lift tickets range from $28 to $40.  Regular season prices will go in effect on Friday, December 16, also the resorts’ famed 6-for-1 Day in which guests receive six lift tickets for the price of one.  Children ages eight and under and seniors, seventy and above, ski and snowboard free every day, all season long.  Current lift hours are 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily.

The resorts have invested in numerous improvements for the 2011/12 winter season adding two new PistenBully groomers as well as 20 new Boyne Low-E snow guns at Boyne Mountain and on-board air compressors to six snow guns at Boyne Highlands.   Boyne Mountain’s half million dollar Clock Tower Lodge renovation of the rooms and suites featuring new lighting, décor and fixtures, fresh paint, and redesigned and upgraded bathrooms, is expected to be complete by Friday, December 16.   New, cutting edge skis are available from rental equipment at Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands with 400 new sets at each resort.  An in-room recycling program is also being introduced this season.  

For updates and reports on snow conditions, a look at live web cams, event information, as well as packages, please visit BOYNE.com or for more information, call 800.GO.BOYNE (462-6963). 

BOYNE is a collection of mountain and golf resorts, retail stores and real estate opportunities based in Michigan.  Each of the collection is a member of the Boyne Resorts family of resorts and attractions and includes Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls; Boyne Highlands Resort in Harbor Springs and The Inn at Bay Harbor - A Renaissance Golf Resort in Bay Harbor as well as Bay Harbor Golf Club, Crooked Tree Golf Club, Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark, Boyne Country Sports and Boyne Realty.  The attractions feature lodging and meeting facilities, premiere snowsports terrain, nine championship golf courses, two spas, distinctive dining, spectacular events and Michigan's largest indoor waterpark.  For more information on BOYNE, visit BOYNE.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Erin Ernst
231-549-6832
eernst@boyne.com