Sylvan Knob was opened in the mid to late 1940′s like other areas near Gaylord: Hidden Valley, Snow Valley and Swiss Village. In 1960, Sports Illustrated said Sylvan Knob added an 1100′ Pomalift with a 180′ rise. In 1963 they added another 1025′ Pomalift with a 175′ rise. The Cass City Chronicle, on Dec. 10, 1970, printed the 1971 AAA Michigan Winter Sports Fun List. It reported Sylvan Knob with 18 slopes, 5 Pomas and 5 rope tows.
Teachski.com has a picture postcard from the area’s early days. They don’t list a caption.
Sylvan Knob
In 1983, Sylvan Knob was purchased and renamed Sylvan Resort. It opened that year with 11 slopes and two new chairlifts. Later, they added a golf course by Robert Trent Jones they called the Masterpiece. While looking at the area from the lodge at the top of the hills, Jones remarked, “You can’t see anything but treetops.” The name stuck and the resort became known as Treetops at Sylvan. Still later, they dropped the Sylvan, but are still operating for both skiing and golf.
I grew up in Sparr, the local village at the bottom of the hill, and skied Treetops everyday I could, I’ve ridden my snowmobile, my bike and one time i even rode in on my horse just to make a few turns. I wouldn’t trade it for the world! I do wish that there were more events happening in the summer. Motocross up the back hills? Just a thought!