According to Sports Illustrated, Mt. Christie opened in 1958 with a 1200′ poma lift with a 160′ rise, 3 slopes, 5 toboggan runs, a shop, a restaurant and a lodge. It also had snowmaking and night skiing. On Feb. 10, 1961, The Ludington Daily News published a snow report which listed Mt. Christie with 3″ fresh powder on an 8 to 10″ base for good conditions.
On Feb. 3, 1966, The Cass City Chronicle printed the AAA Guide to Winter Sports Fun in Michigan. It listed Mt. Christie with 7 slopes, the longest 1200′, Poma, T-Bar, 8 tows, snowmaking and night skiing.
The area is now a housing development.
I grew up in Mount Christie’s shadow. Before the subdivision, but after it closed. I can remember some building structures rotting away growing up, and having to dodge the chair lift posts while sledding, that was the early nineties. My Parents had their wedding reception there back in May 1968. My mom told me it closed the previous winter.
What are the nearest crossroads to Mt Christie?
You can still see Mt. Christie displayed on Google Maps, clearly visible in the terrain mode north of Oxford, MI. West of M-24, East of Baldwin Rd, North of W. Davison Lake Rd, South of Brauer Rd. I learned to ski at Mt. Christie where my father was a volunteer National Ski Patroller.
On the satellite view, it looks like the slopes may have faced southwest–not an auspicious orientation for a long season. Thanks, Don, for the pointers.
Mt Christie was at least part owned by the Hollenbach family. O.L.”Doc” Smith was on the patrol there. He became a member of the National Ski Patrol, taught first aid and ultimately became the First Aid Director of the National Ski Patrol. Mt. Christie also had an official toboggan run. A fun place but it didn’t last very long. The Smith kids moved over to Mt. Holly where their high school race team trained and raced, while Doc moved over to the ski patrol at the new Pine Knob.