A secluded lakefront neighborhood in the heart of Michigan
Known for privacy and waterfront views, Crystal Downs Country Club is a residential neighborhood between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan, surrounding a historic golf club of the same name. The 40-mile drive from Traverse City typically takes less than an hour, through some of Michigan's wilderness, though the area near the country club blends some of that rural ambiance with suburban amenities.
Decadently landscaped houses perch over Lake Michigan in Crystal Downs Country Club.
Traverse City is home to a plethora of lakeside recreation near to Crystal Downs Country Club.
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Waterfront houses offer unparalleled views of Lake Michigan
Houses along winding roads are privy to hidden beaches and long-established neighborhood hiking paths. Prices fluctuate depending on each home’s exact location within the neighborhood; houses within the Crystal Downs Country Club grounds tend to be priced higher while houses outside the grounds tend to be priced lower. Properties range from $800,000 to over $3 million, and the average sale price is $1.7 million.
Farther south in Crystal Downs Country Club can be found sandy lake homes along Lake Michigan.
Most of the homes in Crystal Downs Country Club sell for over a million dollars.
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Private golf courses meet public beach spots
Designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1929, around the time he also designed The Masters' home course of Augusta National, Crystal Downs Country Club's private 18-hole course is the centerpiece of the property. Members not only take on one of Golf Digest's best courses in the world, but they also take in panoramic views of the hilly countryside and Lake Michigan. The clubhouse, set on one of the highest hills, offers a formal dining room and large event space.
Aside from the private club, there are several options for outdoor recreation. The Point Betsie Lighthouse hosts tours, overnight rentals, community events and public access to Lake Michigan’s waterfront at the Point Betsie Beach. The beach’s status as a prime sunset-watching spot is reinforced by the Point Betsie website’s daily “Sunset Countdown,” which helps visitors plan their evening picnics down to the minute. Another public beach option is the 7th Street Beach and Park on Crystal Lake, offering gentle sandy shores and a shaded picnic area.
The Embayment Lakes Nature Preserve, 5 miles east of Crystal Downs, offers over 2 miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails within its 166 forested acres. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the area can be used for deer hunting during legal hunting seasons. There are also plenty of hiking trails spread throughout the forests surrounding the town, including the Old Indian Trail and the Boekeloo Trail.
Embayment Lakes Nature Preserve is over 160 acres of natural forested area in northern Michigan.
Crystal Downs Country Club is a challengin 18-hole gold course that has operated since 1929.
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The nearest public schools are 5 miles east of town
Students growing up in Crystal Downs may enroll in Frankfort Elementary School, graded A minus by Niche, from preschool through 6th grade, then continue to Frankfort High School, graded B, for 7th through 12th grades. The high school is known for its fine arts courses, which include aquaponics, drama, band, industrial arts and ceramics. Both schools are in the small town of Frankfort, 5 miles south of Crystal Downs.
Over 250 students from across Frankfort and surrounding towns attend Frankfort Elementary.
Frankfort High School boasts an overall B rating on school ratings site Niche.com.
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Restaurants use local ingredients to make waves
Chimney Corners Resort stands on the northern edge of Crystal Lake. Since its opening in 1935, the resort has managed both the Lodge Bed & Breakfast and a collection of summer cottages throughout the neighborhood. The resort offers tennis courts, shuffleboard, kayaks, paddleboards and swimming at its private sandy beach. While the resort is private, Rocks Landing Restaurant, originally Chimney Corners’ in-house dining room, is open to the public. It serves varied New American dishes using local ingredients, like Grand Traverse mushrooms and Michigan poutine, and offers a full bar with an ever-changing wine list.
Another dining option is The Manitou, an upscale restaurant that serves seafood in a log cabin-style dining room with a plant-filled patio. The nearest grocery store, Family Fare Supermarket, is 5 miles south of the neighborhood in downtown Frankfort.
Aside from restaurants, nearby Frankfort offers community events throughout the year that Crystal Downs locals attend. “It’s a nice, quaint town,” says Zoe Bone-Roza, a Frankfort local who works in the area. “We have a few local festivals, including Fall Fest and Beer Week, and the town’s hosted Iron Man half triathlon events and Shakespeare in the Park, which always draw a crowd.”
Rocks Landing is a popular reservation-only lakeside restaurant in Crystal Downs Country Club.
The Manitou has been family-owned and operated near Crystal Downs Country Club since 1979.
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Under an hour to downtown Traverse City
Crystal Downs is 36 miles west of Traverse City, and traveling between the two takes between 50 minutes and an hour. This neighborhood is car-dependent and is not bicyclist—or pedestrian-friendly, except for several mountain biking and hiking trails. The nearest airport, Cherry Capital (TVC), is around 40 miles from Crystal Downs, and traveling between the two takes an average of an hour to 70 minutes.
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This home in the attractive Michabou Shores Subdivision is about 2,800 Sq’, 4 Bedrooms, including a 4 bed bunk room (sleeps 8!) and 2.5 baths on a 2+ Acre (about) lot. It has a drive-under 2 Car Garage, and is nestled quite nicely in the soothing forest. Built in 1983, it’s winterized, although the family closes it during winter, so occupied less than half of each year. It has great bones, and of
This exceptional, never-before-offered lot is nestled in the heart of one of the most enchanting areas in Northern Michigan. From the moment you enter the picturesque Crystal Downs Country Club, you’re transported by its beauty. The road narrows, the trees thicken, and you’re surrounded by a landscape that feels both secluded and magical. As you turn onto Beach Road, you’re greeted by a dense,
This exceptional, never-before-offered lot is nestled in the heart of one of the most enchanting areas in Northern Michigan. From the moment you enter the picturesque Crystal Downs Country Club, you’re transported by its beauty. The road narrows, the trees thicken, and you’re surrounded by a landscape that feels both secluded and magical. As you turn onto Beach Road, you’re greeted by a dense,
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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
