Record-Breaking SkyBridge Michigan Opens At Boyne Mountain by Paris LeClaire
When most people think of Michigan’s most majestic bridge, they picture the 26,372-foot-long Mackinac Bridge and the simultaneously horrifying and picturesque expanse of lakewater beneath it. But the award for the most impressive bridge in our state might actually go to SkyBridge Michigan, the world’s longest timber-towered suspension bridge, which opened just last Saturday.
By definition, a “timber-towered suspension bridge” is a high-up wooden structure supported by vertical cables that suspend from sloping horizontal cables: think a woodsy Golden Gate Bridge. SkyBridge Michigan, located at the stunning Boyne Mountain, can be compared to the rope course at BAM!, except 1,200 feet long, 120 feet off the ground, and capable of holding 3,000 visitors at once in its five-foot-wide stretch.
Officials at Boyne Mountain expect the bridge to attract thousands of tourists to the Northern Michigan scene. Besides venturing across SkyBridge, those staying at the Boyne Mountain resort can go hiking, zip-lining, and skiing in the valley of McLouth and Disciples Ridge. A ticket to SkyBridge gets a visitor a chairlift all the way up the mountain, where they can then watch the skiers directly beneath them. The design of the bridge is allegedly inspired by the Pure Michigan M, an iconic symbol among native and visiting Michiganders.
SkyBridge is just one of many recent projects designed to spruce up Boyne Mountain’s adventure opportunities, many of which are similarly superlative. Avalanche Bay, for example, which opened in 2005, is the state’s largest indoor water park. There’s also golf, horseback riding, tubing, and a plethora of winter sports. Boyne’s Renaissance 2.0 plan has also brought to life the luxurious Chalet Edelweiss as well as renovations for the historic Clock Tower Lodge and an outdoor expansion of Avalanche Bay.
SkyBridge offers four different payment plans depending on the age of the visitor: those aged 11-69 enter for $25; seniors 70+ enter for $20; juniors aged 3-10 enter for $15; and everybody else walks free. From now until Halloween, SkyBridge is open seven days a week from 10 in the morning to 8:30 at night. From November 4 until the winter season opens a month later, SkyBridge will only be open Fridays through Sundays.
By definition, a “timber-towered suspension bridge” is a high-up wooden structure supported by vertical cables that suspend from sloping horizontal cables: think a woodsy Golden Gate Bridge. SkyBridge Michigan, located at the stunning Boyne Mountain, can be compared to the rope course at BAM!, except 1,200 feet long, 120 feet off the ground, and capable of holding 3,000 visitors at once in its five-foot-wide stretch.
Officials at Boyne Mountain expect the bridge to attract thousands of tourists to the Northern Michigan scene. Besides venturing across SkyBridge, those staying at the Boyne Mountain resort can go hiking, zip-lining, and skiing in the valley of McLouth and Disciples Ridge. A ticket to SkyBridge gets a visitor a chairlift all the way up the mountain, where they can then watch the skiers directly beneath them. The design of the bridge is allegedly inspired by the Pure Michigan M, an iconic symbol among native and visiting Michiganders.
SkyBridge is just one of many recent projects designed to spruce up Boyne Mountain’s adventure opportunities, many of which are similarly superlative. Avalanche Bay, for example, which opened in 2005, is the state’s largest indoor water park. There’s also golf, horseback riding, tubing, and a plethora of winter sports. Boyne’s Renaissance 2.0 plan has also brought to life the luxurious Chalet Edelweiss as well as renovations for the historic Clock Tower Lodge and an outdoor expansion of Avalanche Bay.
SkyBridge offers four different payment plans depending on the age of the visitor: those aged 11-69 enter for $25; seniors 70+ enter for $20; juniors aged 3-10 enter for $15; and everybody else walks free. From now until Halloween, SkyBridge is open seven days a week from 10 in the morning to 8:30 at night. From November 4 until the winter season opens a month later, SkyBridge will only be open Fridays through Sundays.