The Highlands Celebrates 60 Years, The Midwest’s First Six-Person Bubble Lift, And Much More In 23/24 Season

The Highlands located in Harbor Springs, Michigan, is preparing for a momentous winter season. The northern Michigan resort is celebrating its 60th year in business and coming full circle with lift innovation with the debut of Camelot 6, a six-person, high-speed Doppelmayr D-Line bubble chairlift, a first in the Midwest. The Highlands, formerly Boyne Highlands, had the world’s first bubble chairlift in the early 1960s. The resort has also invested significantly in snowmaking upgrades, expanded night skiing, and has several new dining options for the 23/24 season.

Camelot 6, a Midwest First

The Midwest’s first modern bubble lift, Camelot 6, offers guests unrivaled comfort, speed, energy efficiency, and safety.
Passengers can ride in ultra-comfort thanks to the D-Line’s heated, extra wide, ergonomically designed seats with foot rests. A tinted, weatherproof bubble keeps riders warm and protected from elements while being whisked up the slopes at a swift 6m/s, the fastest in the Midwest. Beyond its comforts, the lift also boasts advanced safety features like the first fully automatic safety bar system in the U.S., including auto closing and auto opening mechanisms, plus auto locking, and a height-adjustable loading carpet conveyor, ideal for kids. Camelot 6 is expected to open early December.

The Highlands Celebrates 60 Years

This winter, The Highlands celebrates its 60th anniversary. Guests can enjoy multiple celebrations, including a day of festivities on Tuesday, December 26, offering lift ticket deals, live music, food and drink specials, and more. The resort’s annual Anniversary Weekend, January 19-21, offers another chance to celebrate with a European style market, fireworks, and more. Visit highlandsharborsprings.com to learn more about celebration plans.

Slopes after Sundown, a New Midweek Experience

New this year, head to the slopes midweek for Slopes after Sundown available Wednesdays and Thursdays, from 5 to 9 p.m. Night skiing tickets are only $25 for adults and $20 for youth and seniors. Add rental equipment for only $5 more. Plus this winter, ski even more with expanded night terrain. The Highlands has added lights to four additional trails – North and South Tournament, Camelot Bowl, and Valley View – for a total of 326 acres of night skiing terrain.

On The Snow

Snowmaking upgrades have taken place from the top of Heather to the Tournament region, encompassing MacGully, Rob Roy, Leprechaun, and the top of Camelot. The upgrades include eight carriage SMI Super PoleCats and two Super PoleCat towers, plus two miles of new air and water lines, along with snowmaking vaults for the hydrants and electrical system, and new electrical wiring. The SMI Super PoleCat snowmakers excel in all temperature conditions, and have a throw of 150 feet and oscillators allowing for greater snowmaking coverage in a shorter amount of time.

For fans of cross country skiing, a new Pisen Bully 100 Cross Country groomer provides added consistency and the ability to expand Nordic trails for skate and double track skiing this winter.

The Funland terrain park is shifting to the north side of upper Camelot and expanding to include more beginner features. NASTAR is also relocating to the south where the perfect playful pitch adds excitement for all skiing levels.

Rounding out the on slope moves, a new glade area on the south end offers open tree skiing and an intermediate pitch ending at the Valley runs.

New Dining Options Abound

Guests to The Highlands this winter can experience a myriad of new dining offerings from a new Waffle Cabin on the slopes, to a pop-up chophouse restaurant at the Country Club of Boyne, and a Mexican twist at the Zoo Bar. Resort favorites like the loaded grilled cheese at North Peak returns this winter, and added outdoor bars throughout the base area allow for plenty of mingling. The food court is getting revamped, plus adding a sushi bar. The resort also plans to offer a Prime Rib Buffet on Friday and Saturday nights, along with select holiday dates, in the Main Dining Room, and the mountaintop experience, Aonach Mor Moonlight Dinner has added special occasion dates.

For lodging reservations, lift tickets, season passes, activities, and event information, visit highlandsharborsprings.com or call 888.436.2296.