Bellaire — Shanty Creek Resort plans hotel upgrades, increased family activities and a redesigned website following its sale this week, its new owners said.
Shanty Creek Ski and Golf Resort, a limited liability company formed in September 2025, acquired the sprawling Northern Michigan resort this week, saying its Michigan-based investment group brings experience in development, food service, entertainment, property management and ski operations.
Members of the investment group were not disclosed, but Sylvan Lake-based Pattah Development said on its Linkedin.com page that it was “thrilled to announce the acquisition” and plans significant improvements to the 5,500-acre property.
Details of the purchase, including the price and the identities of the investment partners, also remain undisclosed.
Hotel upgrades, new website and expanded activities planned
Despite the lack of financial disclosures, the new owners signaled significant improvements. The resort says the ownership group plans “fully renovated guest rooms, modernized facilities and enhanced golf, ski, dining, and year-round amenities.”
“These strategic investments will expand family-friendly offerings and elevate the overall guest experience — positioning Shanty Creek as one of the premier resort destinations in the Midwest,” according to the Pattah Development.
Shanty Creek COO and General Manager Andrew Reh said the current staff will remain in place to ensure continuity.
Executive Vice President Harper Sibley added that the investment group intends to build on Shanty Creek’s long‑standing reputation as an affordable, family‑oriented, year‑round escape.
A resort already operating on a large scale
Shanty Creek enters this new era with substantial infrastructure already in place. The resort expanded its golf portfolio to five courses and 90 total holes, placing it among the nation’s largest golf destinations — a scale that positions it for new capital investment and phased enhancements.
It also includes:
Five 18-hole championship golf courses, including one designed by Arnold PalmerTwo ski areas, Schuss Mountain and Shanty CreekA 189-room hotel overlooking Lake BellaireA 70-room hotel at Schuss Mountain86 luxury condominiumsFive restaurantsIndoor/outdoor pools, sauna, steam room and fitness center.
The resort’s size, along with its multiple villages and four‑season activities, has long made it a cornerstone of Northern Michigan tourism.
Looking ahead
The resort has signaled that “thoughtful enhancements” will roll out in phases. With new funding but few details public, the coming months will determine how the new owners shape Shanty Creek’s next chapter.
Reh said the longtime team is “excited to continue the traditions that make Shanty Creek a getaway destination for many years to come.”
A period of financial problems
Shanty Creek had a run of financial problems dating at least to 2004, when Comerica Bank foreclosed on its prior owners, Go Forward Operating Limited Partnership, which defaulted on debts of $20.3 million. Comerica operated the facility for two years before selling to Trinidad Resort & Club, a subsidiary of Apex Oil.
Trinidad operated the facility from 2006 until its sale this week.
Skiresortinfo.com ranks Shanty Creek as the fifth largest of Michigan’s 43 ski areas, with combined slope lengths of nearly 7.5 miles. The Highlands at Harbor Springs, formerly Boyne Highlands, is ranked first with nearly 15 miles of slopes.
Shanty Creek opened in 1962 as the dream of Roy Deskin, retired owner of General Sheet Steel Co., which supplied sheet metal to the auto industry. Nearby Schuss was founded in 1967 by Chicago stockbroker Daniel Iannotti. By 1985, Club Corporation of America had purchased both properties and merged operations.