Neighborhood in Frankfort, Michigan
Benzie County 49635
Known for privacy and waterfront views, Crystal Downs Country Club is a residential neighborhood between Crystal Lake and Lake Michigan, surrounding a historic golf club of the same name. The 40-mile drive from Traverse City typically takes less than an hour, through some of Michigan's wilderness, though the area near the country club blends some of that rural ambiance with suburban amenities.
Houses along winding roads are privy to hidden beaches and long-established neighborhood hiking paths. Prices fluctuate depending on each home’s exact location within the neighborhood; houses within the Crystal Downs Country Club grounds tend to be priced higher while houses outside the grounds tend to be priced lower. Properties range from $800,000 to over $3 million, and the average sale price is $1.7 million.
Designed by Alister MacKenzie in 1929, around the time he also designed The Masters' home course of Augusta National, Crystal Downs Country Club's private 18-hole course is the centerpiece of the property. Members not only take on one of Golf Digest's best courses in the world, but they also take in panoramic views of the hilly countryside and Lake Michigan. The clubhouse, set on one of the highest hills, offers a formal dining room and large event space. Aside from the private club, there are several options for outdoor recreation. The Point Betsie Lighthouse hosts tours, overnight rentals, community events and public access to Lake Michigan’s waterfront at the Point Betsie Beach. The beach’s status as a prime sunset-watching spot is reinforced by the Point Betsie website’s daily “Sunset Countdown,” which helps visitors plan their evening picnics down to the minute. Another public beach option is the 7th Street Beach and Park on Crystal Lake, offering gentle sandy shores and a shaded picnic area. The Embayment Lakes Nature Preserve, 5 miles east of Crystal Downs, offers over 2 miles of hiking and snowshoeing trails within its 166 forested acres. According to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, the area can be used for deer hunting during legal hunting seasons. There are also plenty of hiking trails spread throughout the forests surrounding the town, including the Old Indian Trail and the Boekeloo Trail.
Students growing up in Crystal Downs may enroll in Frankfort Elementary School, graded A minus by Niche, from preschool through 6th grade, then continue to Frankfort High School, graded B, for 7th through 12th grades. The high school is known for its fine arts courses, which include aquaponics, drama, band, industrial arts and ceramics. Both schools are in the small town of Frankfort, 5 miles south of Crystal Downs.
Chimney Corners Resort stands on the northern edge of Crystal Lake. Since its opening in 1935, the resort has managed both the Lodge Bed & Breakfast and a collection of summer cottages throughout the neighborhood. The resort offers tennis courts, shuffleboard, kayaks, paddleboards and swimming at its private sandy beach. While the resort is private, Rocks Landing Restaurant, originally Chimney Corners’ in-house dining room, is open to the public. It serves varied New American dishes using local ingredients, like Grand Traverse mushrooms and Michigan poutine, and offers a full bar with an ever-changing wine list. Another dining option is The Manitou, an upscale restaurant that serves seafood in a log cabin-style dining room with a plant-filled patio. The nearest grocery store, Family Fare Supermarket, is 5 miles south of the neighborhood in downtown Frankfort. Aside from restaurants, nearby Frankfort offers community events throughout the year that Crystal Downs locals attend. “It’s a nice, quaint town,” says Zoe Bone-Roza, a Frankfort local who works in the area. “We have a few local festivals, including Fall Fest and Beer Week, and the town’s hosted Iron Man half triathlon events and Shakespeare in the Park, which always draw a crowd.”
Crystal Downs is 36 miles west of Traverse City, and traveling between the two takes between 50 minutes and an hour. This neighborhood is car-dependent and is not bicyclist—or pedestrian-friendly, except for several mountain biking and hiking trails. The nearest airport, Cherry Capital (TVC), is around 40 miles from Crystal Downs, and traveling between the two takes an average of an hour to 70 minutes.
Peter MacIntyre
RE/MAX Real Estate Professionals
(517) 777-8753
485 Total Sales
1 in Crystal Downs Country Club
$227,000 Price
Thomas Williams
VAUGHAN REALTY
(520) 441-1720
59 Total Sales
7 in Crystal Downs Country Club
$102K - $3.2M Price Range
Jon Zickert
REO-TCBeulah-Frankfort-233027
(231) 714-6893
636 Total Sales
4 in Crystal Downs Country Club
$180K - $1M Price Range
Suzanne Voltz
REO-TCBeulah-Frankfort-233027
(231) 227-8480
54 Total Sales
3 in Crystal Downs Country Club
$800K - $1.4M Price Range
Tamara Vomastek
Terra Real Estate
(231) 714-6933
45 Total Sales
3 in Crystal Downs Country Club
$550K - $2M Price Range
Sandi Gentry
RE/MAX Lakeshore
(231) 366-9927
1,399 Total Sales
2 in Crystal Downs Country Club
$102,900 Price Range
| 1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime | Crystal Downs Country Club | US |
|---|---|---|
| Homicide | 1 | 4 |
| Sexual Assault | 1 | 4 |
| Assault with Weapon | 1 | 4 |
| Robbery | 1 | 4 |
| Burglary | 1 | 4 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 1 | 4 |
| Larceny | 1 | 4 |
| Crime Score | 1 | 4 |
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
On average, homes in Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort sell after 257 days on the market compared to the national average of 47 days. The average sale price for homes in Crystal Downs Country Club, Frankfort over the last 12 months is $1,000,000, down 58% from the average home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Bike Score®
Walk Score®
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.