Timber Ridge — Attraction in Pine Grove Township

We made the right choice of where to take our 3 children to learn! I skied northern Michigan quite a bit as a child and my spouse and I skied 11 years in Colorado while living there but I needed some where super close (in case they hated it) and super simple (so I wouldn't lose it) to start our 10, 8 and 4 year old.

The ski school was helpful on the phone in talking through how many lessons we might need and what the set up was. The instructors were well engaged with our kids. After an hour, our two big kiddos were off and away with dad on greens and blues. I stayed with our 4 year old and he was content to keep working on his skills on the magic carpet and tow rope. I was so pleased with the fact that there were a lot of other learners and everyone at this place is so polite and patient so we didn't feel like a big inconvenience - this type of grace definitely would not have been felt at most CO slopes! Even the lift operators were really patient with loading learners.

The food at the bar and my apres-ski coffee cocktail were great. We did not try the cafeteria food but also appreciated that packing in a lunch was not a problem. It was so nice that there were always tables available to take a break and the parking lot was so close and easy to make a couple trips to after we were finished and with tired kiddos. The place was clearly busy but never felt too crowded

I could not have been more pleased with our first family experience. It was so important to me that it go well so that our kids would want to keep skiing as a family in the future. We will definitely be back to keep working on their skills.

The only con I have is that we have been used to heated grounds/walks in the much larger resorts but the ice around the ski racks and lodge doors was a little tricky with small kids on ski boots. However, weather is kind of out of their control and there was not much else that could be done with the...

This is probably one of the smallest ski resort in Michigan that should be great for beginners. There are three rope tow areas and quite a few beginner hills. The snow making compensated for the lack of snow this year but a few runs were still bare and at least when we were there, no active snow making was taking place.

The tubing area is good for tots and adults alike and the staff was efficient and cordial.

On the slopes, the staff members and Ski instructors were also courteous and helpful but completely overwhelmed over the long weekend. They should have added more help. Around noon, the wait for tickets and rentals was more than 45 min each!!

The resort itself needs some updates in facilities and operation. It is nearly impossible to find two ski poles of the same type and size. The Ski binding for a few people in our group had to be readjusted. There are NO WEBCAMS anywhere on the resort so no way to see if the condition of the slopes.

They have compensated for no indoor facilities (due to COVID) with outdoor pits and warming stations which we appreciated but the COVID protocols were extremely lax and most people were sitting around with no masks. Most other places require advance registration and are allowing only a limited number of people but at Timber Ridge this did not seem to be the case.

I think the resort has good potential. Its great to target people who are at beginner and intermediate levels but then the whole resort should be geared to making the experience for such people an exciting and smooth one so that they want to continue with the sport. Unfortunately, for many in our group the difficulty in getting tickets, rentals and lessons despite having preprep and communication with staff was unhelpful in...

It's not a bad place when the whole place is open. I understand that the weather isn't cooperating but they've shut off all the easier hills for the most part. Tubbing is fun. Done that multiple times there. This last year has made me not want to ski there again. I went a few weeks ago and only two lifts were open so you had to wait 20+ minutes to go up a hill plus they were charging $60 a lift ticket and then the lifts broke down, I understand they are machines and things happen. It was more the waiting and having to pay so much. I was hoping that they'd have more open this time and that wasn't the case. I called to make sure that the easier part would be open. Obviously it was a misunderstanding or miscommunication about that. I paid and not even 5-10 minutes later I came back to say what I was frustrated about. I asked for a refund. I would've been happy with half of my money back but they weren't even going to entrain it.They must have needed it more than I did apparently. I drove 1 hr and a half to ski there. Had I know that area wasn't going to be open I wouldn't have came there. We tried to ski but it was icy like I expected, which is probably why on a Saturday night there was hardly anyone there anyway. If the whole place is open I'll be open to coming back but for what I paid and what I got it wasn't worth it. Been skiing for 25 years and usually try to go to most of the places within 2hrs from Indiana. I probably won't be back...