The Highlands at Harbor Springs

Reviews

Reviews are sorted by relevance, with the most helpful and insightful feedback listed first for easy reference.

  Charles Grill
a month ago
Didn't stay here. Skied two days...Friday and Saturday. Friday was mid-20s after 3 days in the 40s so the slopes were pretty icy. To their credit only 2 lifts were closed and almost all the slopes were available. There were a couple that we did that should have been closed. Saturday was much better with almost all the slopes groomed and freshly mDe snow. Rented skis only and that was easy with a very friendly staff. Ticket prices are high just like everywhere else. Even on Saturday only the 6 place chair right outside the lodge got really crowded. It was a bit crowded on a fee of the narrower slopes and the ski patrol looked busy. Lodge is fine...way overpriced like all the ski resorts ($9 for a generous soup cup).

  Jeff Riddle
a month ago
Our young son got the flu while we were at the Highlands and every single member of the staff stepped up for us in a way that nearly brought my wife and I to tears. They were our village and made sure we had everything we needed to ensure he was OK and that we were taken care of.For example, we had security guards in the middle of the night running us towels, bedding, and cleaning supplies and genuinely, I mean fully from their heart, offering to go into town if we needed anything. This was followed by Lisa, the manager, dropping off a beautiful care package with chicken noodle soup, crackers, ginger ale, and other assorted goodies in the morning and once again, extending the full support of the staff as our son made his recovery.We were already impressed with the room transformations in the lodge and the staff welcome experience (shout out to Morgan at check in and Jeff from Brazil who helped with getting us settled in) but this experience has taken our appreciation and gratitude for Highlands to an entirely different stratosphere. It's truly rare these days to experience a business and its staff leading with so much heart and humanity. Highlands is doing something very right!I truly hope executive management sees this because everyone that stepped us for us from Lisa to the housekeeping crew and to the two security guards at our door multiple times in the middle of the night and offering to go to town (I wish I had caught their names because they were incredible) deserve a huge hug and huge raise!Thank you to Highlands for everything. We are lifers!

  J
2 months ago
I interacted with a lot of the staff -- the ticket booth, equipment rental, the bar, the lift operators, etc. And everyone was so nice -- like they enjoyed the day.And they were very helpful whenever I had any issues.Their new lift is incredible!My friends and I had an amazing time. Strongly recommend.

  Lilla
2 months ago
This place is AMAZING for skiing. If you re not looking for a ski trip I would not recommended staying here or traveling to come. The main reason my family and I came was to do fun activities and see highland cows. Google and their website made it seem like the cows were just hanging out and you can go pet them, snuggle, etc. but that is not how it really is. The cows are behind fences, they made a special exception for me to go inside and pet the cows (because we traveled across the state). The activities are NOT very fun and the buildings are really confusing. The only fun activity we did was horse riding, but that s one day a week (sunday). Zip-lining sounded fun but it was only open a few days a week and it wasn t open when we were there. But all the people who worked there that we interacted with were incredible and friendly. I would not come back unless I want to ski because their skiing set up is incredible!!!

  Scott Beaudrie
3 months ago
The enchanted trail is a wonderful experience. The color scheme is amazing. It is a beautiful stroll through the woods. The yurt in the middle of the trail is a great place to rest, and warm up. The yurt serves hot chocolate, alcohol, and s mores. There is a free shuttle if you don t want to walk back. Gratuities are appreciated.Nearby activities: See above.

  Amy Martens
a month ago
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  c k
3 months ago
We re a group of 9 and we stayed in the townhomes this past Friday to Sunday. We ve stayed at Highlands multiple times before, but it s been about a decade. The resort is great, with all the amenities we needed for a snowboard weekend with our families. The service was outstanding, from the lift attendants to the shuttle drivers. We will be back!

  Devon McLochlin
2 months ago
One major difference in my trip was the level of service from the staff. I showed up to a lift and forgot my lift pass at the condo. I met a manager Josh who offered to get me a new lift pass so I didn t have to take a shuttle back (I didn t even ask). He let me up the lift while he went back to the main lodge and gave the new pass to Janet so I could be with my group. What a selfless act of service that did not go unnoticed. Thank you!

  M
a month ago
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  Damian Brennan
3 months ago
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  Katja Babicz
a month ago
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  Tom S
a month ago
I have been skiing at the Highlands since I was a kid. But our experience over President s Day weekend that demonstrated that, despite all the great work Boyne Resorts has done in lift upgrades and mountain maintenance, there is currently a significant staff competence and culture problem at The Highlands.The most appalling experience happened on the Heather Express lift. My son and I boarded the lift with two strangers, one of whom, unbeknownst to me, was a very inexperienced skier. That skier did not execute the lift boarding process correctly and accidentally sat down early and in the wrong spot. Thus, when I went to sit down, she was in my seat, I ended up on her lap, and I began to fall out of the lift.Five people - me, the inexperienced skier's partner, my son, my daughter, and my cousin - all screamed to the lift operator to stop the lift. Even the lift operator's co-worker said, "I think you need to stop the lift." But the lift operator was not paying attention to the situation and refused to stop the lift.I thus rode up the lift in another's lap who was hanging onto to my coat so that I didn't fall off the front of the lift. Thankfully, my 14-year-old son had the clarity of mind to pull the safety bar down, which I was then able to use to pull my body up and across the lift so I could get seated.After this harrowing incident, the partner of the inexperienced skier and I went to talk to the left operator. We both expressed our shock and dismay at his refusal to stop the lift. The lift operator expressed no concern, regret, or even awareness of what happened. He just shrugged his shoulders and said it probably would have been worse if he had stopped the lift.I the 30+ years I have skied, I have never witnessed anything like this. We shared this story with a senior mountain ops person, who kindly apologized and said it should never have happened. But the resort allowed the incompetent operator to continue operating the lift.I also shared this story in writing to The Highlands. No one has reached out to express any concern or regret over the incident. I have skied at nearly every other Boyne Resorts property in the country and never encountered this kind of incompetence or lack of concern for safety at any other resort.

  Mary Ramisch
2 months ago
Love the shuttle service!!!5-stars to Rob our shuttle driver. Friendly, cooperative and just a super nice guy. Soooo great with all our kids and makes me feel like they are safe and in good handsNearby activities: The skiing!!!!! Love itSafety: Very safeFood & drinks: Great food

  Kelley Leonard
6 months ago
1st time staying at the Highlands. Spent 4 days/3 nights for our wedding anniversary. Great time riding the scenic chairlift to look at colors. Had meals at both Slopeside and Main Dining Room, wonderful service every time. Our room was exceptional. Friendly and helpful service from check in to check out. Will definitely be back!Rooms: Super comfy bed and great separate living room.Nearby activities: Scenic chairlift ride to admire fall colors!Food & drinks: Fantastic breakfast at Main Lodge. Great drinks in the evening at Slopeside Lounge.

  Christine Ramaekers
3 months ago
DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY ON THE ENCHANTED TRAIL!!!! Biggest waste of money ever! Boyne should be beyond embarrassed for how bad this was! $26 to walk a trail with a few Christmas lights strung in trees. Absolutely NO ANIMATION WHATSOEVER! And the promise of S mores at the end was not to be had!! There were NO interactive displays like advertised. I definitely DO NOT RECOMMEND!!!!.

  Tara Priest
6 months ago
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  Christine Theodore
8 months ago
I didn t stay at the hotel so I can t speak for that but I came here over the winter for a skiing trip and had a good time. We stopped here on our way back from up north to do the zip line. We had a great time with that as well. Seth, Craig, and D were great guides! The staff was super accommodating- we were suppose to do it on Saturday but my son wasn t feeling well and they switched us to Wednesday. We will be back in the future.

  Carmen Yarnell
3 months ago
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  Jim Stefanko
10 months ago
This was my second year joining up with a group to play some golf at The Highlands.I'm from Ontario Canada, and it's shocking to me that courses only a few hours west, Winter this well. The condition of each of the 4 courses on the property is top notch.The rooms are a tad dated, but when I went at the end of May 2023, it looked like some renovations were under way to the outside. Some inside updating of the guest rooms is definitely needed, but still comfortable nonetheless.The breakfast buffet? 15/10. Never had anything like it.THE COOKIES WHERE YOU CHECK IN?!?!STUPID GOOD.I will be coming back here every year for the rest of my life.Best golf weekend ever.Do it.

  Kayla Salty
2 weeks ago
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  pat winzeler
2 months ago
Great night skiing! Kids had a blast and they had plenty of trails for all types of skiers.

  Marcia Vandermus
7 months ago
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  Kip Mangan
8 months ago
We stayed here from 8/14-8/17/2023. This was our second stay here at this hotel in the MAIN LODGE. This review is specific to the main lodge and not the other places you can stay at.The rooms are modern, comfortable, and welcoming. They shower is large and the water pressure is superb. The beds are extremely comfortable. The hotel has a large in ground pool and hot tub with deck chairs/lounge chairs. While we were there, it was quiet and almost a private experience.The grounds behind the main lodge have a small hut filled with recreational toys/activities for kids to do - putt putt, ladder ball, cornhole, etc. Great for the kids.The location is close enough to Petoskey, the Petoskey State Park, and Harbor springs so you are not wasting to much time driving to things to do. The hotel is secluded off the beaten path making it desirable for those wanting a more private and quiet location.We never at the hotel so I can not comment on that.

  Neal Walther
a month ago
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  C B
a year ago
The skiing is superb. The grooming is first rate - I can't stress enough how perfectly groomed the slopes are. Nice runs, we'll marked trails, very friendly staff. Plenty of parking and parking is pretty close to the lifts - just a short walk. Did not stay on site / can't speak to the overnight accommodations.

  Enzo Scappaticci
a month ago
The Highlands is the best! Mountain biking, skiing, the restaurant, and all the staff. All incredible!

  Christian Barnes
9 months ago
Nice location. Came here for a week long golf trip and expected more of the resort lifestyle. The hotel is a little out-dated and apparently their season for restaurants being open is considered winter time. They only had one restaurant for breakfast and one for dinner onsite which was a huge bummer. Very pretty area and the grounds were well kept.Fantastic golfing with all the Boyne courses.

  Ashley Schneider
a year ago
A fun family adventure. Great place to ski for a fun weekend away! If you re new to skiing, it s a great place for lessons. The lift to learn on is nice and slow, the bunny hill has multiple options as you begin to improve and for the rest of the skiers in your group, there are lots of fun runs! Enjoy!!

  Nina Carla Kasilag
2 months ago
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  Joseph Liss
a year ago
This place is tucked back in the woods, but that is a good thing. It's a quick trip to Petoskey and Harbor Springs The check-in service was smooth and friendly. Shay was awesome and professional as I was checking in late. The room (Main Lodge) was superb since it was recently remodeled and updated with an awesome bathroom, nice size T.V., and nice furniture. It was perfect for my solo trip and have no complaints. Very clean and a great place to relax and catch your breath. I would bring my family if the opportunity arose.