Arrival Information & Guidebook

The Shanty Creek / Schuss Resort area is actually 3 distinct “villages”, as they are called.  The main village, Summit Village, is at the Lakeview Hotel and includes the Summit pool, skiing, tubing, dining, and several shops.  Schuss Village is active primarily in the winter, with access to Schuss Mountain and Nordic ski trails.  Also, access to the picturesque Schuss Mountain golf course in the spring, summer and fall.  In the fall, you can get chairlift rides up the mountain to see the fall colors.  A ride usually costs about $5 and is worth every penny!  Lastly, the beautiful Cedar River Village was recently completely renovated and is a short drive from both other villages.  It has access to the ski slopes, plenty of golf, and dining.  A map of the resort is included below.

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For pools at The Summit and Schuss, just take the pool card – hanging by the front door - and swipe it at the pool entrances for access. Please return it after each use.  If you have any questions regarding the pools, please call Shanty Creek Resort – 866.695.5010
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the outdoor and indoor pool / hot tub at Summit Village (Lakeview Hotel) are open, as is the indoor pool at Schuss.  (Pools are usually open from about 9am-9pm, but check, as times vary throughout the year).  In the off-season, the only open pools are the indoor pool and hot tub at The Summit Hotel, and the indoor pool at Schuss Village (although this one has more restricted hours.) 

NOTE:  The resort charges us $125 for a lost pool pass card and that charge is passed along to the guest if lost.   

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Schuss - The drive to the base of the ski hill is only about two minutes.  Every run on Schuss is carefully designed and a lot of fun.  We recommend trying “Kingdom Come” if you’re well-insured 😊.  Summit mountain (at the Lakeview hotel at Summit Village) has tubing – great for the kids and beginners.  Schuss and Summit mountains both offer ski and snowboard equipment rentals.  Cross country ski trails and snowshoeing trails are accessible right from the townhouse, coming past the back of the complex.  Cross country and snowshoe rentals are available at the Nordic Ski Center at the entrance to Schuss Mountain.  Boyne Mountain, in Boyne Falls, is only about a 35-minute drive north.

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For an additional charge, The Summit Hotel at Shanty Creek will sell day passes for their fitness center and spa.

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Link to Shanty Creek's Spa Page

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Take your pick.  The Treehouse is within a few minutes' drive of 6 absolutely beautiful championship courses in the area:

The Legend

Hawk's Eye

Cedar River

The Chief

The Summit

Schuss Mountain Course

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All provide a challenging game with excellent views, all within five miles!

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1. The closest grocery shopping is in Bellaire at the Family Fare supermarket.  It’s about a 10 minute drive. There is also a Family Fare in Mancelona, also about 10 minutes, but to the east.

2. Shorts Brewery, Bellaire:  Famous for their craft beer selection, they have great specialty pizzas, live music on some weekend nights, and lots of outdoor seating.

3. Bee Well Mead and Cider, Bellaire:  Outstanding atmosphere, and really good mead and cider menu.  If you’re willing to try something a bit different, this is a GREAT alternative to Short’s (which is right across the street).  Friendly, welcoming staff and great ambiance.

4. Bellaire Bar and Restaurant, Bellaire:  Casual bar fare, great burgers, a laid-back feel, and good beer selection.  A good alternative for when there’s an hour wait at Short’s. 😊

5. Pearl's New Orleans Kitchen, Elk Rapids:  Into cajun/creole food?  Do not go home before you try Pearl's.  It gets busy, but this might be the best cajun food we've ever had.  It's about a 30-minute drive.

6. Toonies Fish and Steakhouse, Bellaire:  Known for their fresh cut steaks and local fish, Toonie’s is a relaxed dining experience that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Awesome ribs, too!

7. Sarducci’s, at Summit Village:  This is one of our favorites, and is a bit of a hidden gem.  Outstanding Italian food, and great specialty pizzas, the place is cozy, inviting, and almost never crowded.  A great bartender who’s a bit of a wise-guy, but serves ‘em good and cold nonetheless.  Tell him “the brothers” sent you! 😊

8. The Shanty, at Summit Village:  A great little tavern with a “western” feel, this is great for apres ski (with its ever-burning fire on the patio), or to just stop in and grab a drink in a very cozy and rustic atmosphere.  Definitely worth a visit. 

9. Mammoth Distillery, Central Lake and Bellaire: Michigan craft distiller, making bourbon, gin and vodka locally.  This is basically a bar / tasting room with limited food, but Central Lake Bar is right down the street and serves up an excellent burger.

10. Ivan’s Bar and Grill, at Schuss Village:  This was the premier restaurant (then known as the Ivanhof) when the “Kingdom of Schuss” was opened back in the late 60s.  It is now the apres ski party scene with live music, a dance floor, good food and a very laid-back vibe.  Inconsistent hours in the summer, but open most ski days in the winter. 

11. The Lakeview Restaurant, at Summit Village:  For miles-long views that include Lake Bellaire and the surrounding countryside, it’s tough to beat the Lakeview.  Make sure you request (or reserve) a table next to the windows.  The food can be a bit pricey, but is very good.  The restaurant is located on the main floor of the Lakeview hotel.

12. The River Bistro, at Cedar River Village:  Best for lunchtime, take a break here from your golf round for a great sandwich and pasta.   Service can be a bit slow, and it lacks a little ambiance, but the staff is very friendly, and the location is great (in the Cedar River Village Hotel).

13. The Iron Skillet, Mancelona:  For the best breakfast you’ve probably ever had, try the Southern Skillet or Irish Skillet (seriously - our kids come up just for this place).  (Pro tip:  when you’re done, stop into the “Rooted” store right next door.  Awesome gift shop with everything Michigan and great selections of clothing, custom home décor, etc.)

14. The Pelican’s Nest, Bellaire:  Located at “The Chief” golf course, the nest is a sports bar / restaurant with tons of TVs, and a laid back tavern feel.  In the summer, there's an outdoor bar and they sometimes have live music. The burgers are outstanding, and the beer selection is very good (spirits, not so much).  Only about a 5 minute drive from the Treehouse.

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1. The closest towns are Mancelona and Bellaire. Both have interesting shops, but Bellaire has a lot more to do from a tourist’s perspective.   Bellaire has a movie theater, and the next closest movies are located in Gaylord.

2. Traverse City is about a 50 minute drive.

3. Boyne Mountain (Boyne Falls) is about a 35 minute drive.

4. Gaylord is about a 40 minute drive.

5. Petoskey is about an hour drive.

6. Charlevoix is about a 50 minute drive.

7. Mackinaw City is about an hour and a half drive.

8. Kayaking / Canoeing:  There’s lake access at lake Bellaire and also Torch lake (about a 20 min drive). Kayaks can be rented at Paddles and Pedals in Bellaire, and the Riverside marina, which also rents canoes and pontoons.

9. U-Pick Strawberries and Cherries:  King Orchards is just north of Central Lake on M-88 and is a wonderful family trip.  Strawberries are usually ready around the beginning of July and Cherries by mid-July.  

10. Biking:  There are many mountain biking trails around the area.  The awesome Glacial Hills Pathway and Natural Area Trailhead is only 15 minutes from the property.  It’s scenery is beautiful and there’s a variety of terrain, with roughly 32 miles of trails to choose from.  If you need to rent a mountain bike or fat bike, they are available at Paddles and Pedals in Bellaire.

Torch Lake (or Michigan’s Caribbean as they call it) is known for it’s clarity and beauty (and the sand bar!)   For all its awesomeness, Torch Lake’s access points aren’t the traditional sugar-and-sand beaches like those on nearby Lake Michigan. But there are some small access points all around the lake, usually every couple of miles or so.  Most are small, grassy areas, some with picnic facilities.  Great areas to try around Torch Lake:

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1. William K. Good Day Park in Torch Lake Township is a pretty little beach with pavilions, picnic tables, a public boat launch and swimming area.  This is a great spot to spend the day.  It’s at the eastern end of Public Dock Road, on US-31 just a few miles south of M-88. 

2. Depot Park in Alden (about 15 minutes) has a swimming area on Torch Lake with shelters, tables, bbqs and volleyball.  There is also a public boat access.  Alden is a neat little town right on Torch. Towel off, throw on your cover-up and your flip-flops and hit the eateries and shops that are a stone’s throw away. Since this beach faces due west, this is where you’ll want to head at sunset.

3. Ball Park is a wide open area with a baseball diamond, barbeques and picnic table.  It is just south of downtown Alden.  There is a kayak / canoe ramp, and limited swimming.  

4. For Torch Lake pontoon rentals, Dewitt Marine is located right on Torch Lake, due west of Bellaire, and half-way down the east coast of Torch Lake.  It’s about a 20 minute trip from the property.  They offer a few different kinds of boats, tubes, etc.  When we’ve used them, they were great to deal with.  Also, there’s Dockside Pontoon Rentals in the same area.  When you’re done boating, stop in to the famous Dockside Restaurant and Bar.  The Dockside sits at the mouth of Clam River where it meets Torch Lake, and has one of the best sunset-watching decks around. Boaters can pull right up to the restaurant and dock their boats to grab lunch or dinner.  There is also a small beach next to the Dockside where the Clam River runs into Torch Lake.

5. For the best access to the famous Torch Lake “sand bar” at the very southern tip of the lake, head to Torch River Marina, south of Alden (about a 20 minute drive from the property).  There is Public Access and a boat launch here, as well.

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If you want to access Lake Michigan for swimming, sunning or finding Petoskey stones, your best bet is to head to Barnes Park in Eastport at the north end of Torch Lake.  It's about a 30-minute ride, but the public beach is beautiful, wide open and almost never crowded.