Hypothetically, a golf resort cannot be all things to all people. Or can it?
Crystal Springs Resort, the Northeast’s largest golf destination situated on 4,000 acres in the New Jersey portion of the Appalachian Mountains, arguably offers the most comprehensive slate of golf, spa and culinary choices of any destination in the United States.
“People often show up for one thing and then they’re like, ‘Wait a minute, you do that?’” says Michelle Abate, the resort’s longtime director of marketing. “It’s kind of cool. Our website is a bit overwhelming, but it should be overwhelming because of what we have to offer.”
The history of the resort, located in Hamburg, New Jersey — just 43 miles from New York City — dates back to 1995 and founder Gene Mulvihill, who died in 2012.
“He was a little bit of P.T. Barnum meets Frank Lloyd Wright,” says Abate, who has been with the resort for 25 years. “He loved to create newfangled designs and really had a penchant for pushing the envelope in a lot of his developments. He was a showman as well, but four decades ago he had a vision for Sussex County — that this area could become a recreational playground.”
Crystal Springs and its stellar reputation took yet another step forward in June when private equity firm South Street Partners purchased the resort, which boasts six golf courses along with a one-of-a-kind, 18-hole natural-grass putting course.
South Street Partners wanted a Northeast property to complete their portfolio of luxury resorts. They appreciated Crystal Springs Resort so much that they changed their strategy from a joint venture to a buyout. The firm now plans to enhance and upgrade the resort where appropriate.
South Street Partners certainly has a great list of amenities to work with.
The two-hotel resort featuring the Grand Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel is known for its culinary program, hosting the internationally recognized New Jersey Wine & Food Festival and boasting 10 seasonally inspired dining venues with more than 130 locally sourced menu items. The highlight is Restaurant Latour and its world-famous, Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning wine cellar.
Other amenities include two full-service luxury day spas; the state-of-the-art Minerals Sports Club; multiple indoor and outdoor pools — including the tropical Biosphere Pool Complex with lush foliage and freeform nature pools — and Ballyowen, New Jersey’s top-rated public course.
“Before there was any amenity at the resort, there was golf,” Abate said of the destination’s 90 holes. “When I started here 25 years ago, there were no hotels, there were no spas; there wasn’t the No. 1 fine-dining restaurant in the state; there was no award-winning wine cellar. But there was a vision to expand in 2003.”
Then came the game-changer in 2007 with the opening of the resort’s 250-room AAA Four Diamond hotel.
“So the vibe from a leisure standpoint was—in addition to catering to golfers — we began to cater to couples for romantic getaways, girlfriend escapes, family vacations and weddings,” said Abate, noting that the resort has four distinct wedding properties with seven reception facilities available. “We’re really quite a multifaceted resort, but our foundation is golf, and most people who know Crystal Springs know it because of the golf.”
The resort’s scenic golf was designed by some of the most notable architects in the game, including Robert von Hagge, Robert Trent Jones and Roger Rulewich, who designed Ballyowen, a links-style layout that emulates the heathland-style landscapes of Ireland and Scotland. The course features a treeless expanse, grassy meadows, rolling terrain and 360-degree views of the Wallkill Valley and Appalachian Mountains.
Abate describes the upcoming sweater weather and fall foliage of October as “stunning.” Through Oct. 31, the resort offers what is called the Harvest Trail package, in which guests are provided a locally sourced basket filled with seasonal items and a credit to embark on a trip to shop for fresh produce or visit wineries.
“They can either go pumpkin picking or apple picking at a farm, or they can do a wine and spirits tasting,” she said. “We’re a big collaborator with our local purveyors. We support the local community. We’re not like, ‘Hey, come to Crystal Springs and just stay on property because the beauty of Sussex County and neighboring Warwick, New York, is amazing.’ Can you imagine coming from an urban area like New York just an hour away and having all that in your backyard when you come?”
To maintain its high golf standards, Crystal Springs Resort has implemented an extensive capital improvement plan. By the end of 2026, the resort will have invested nearly $1 million in comprehensive bunker renovations, specifically at the Ballyowen, Black Bear and Wild Turkey courses.
An additional $1-million-plus has been funneled into vital turf and player-experience improvements across the properties, including upgraded irrigation systems, cart-path replacements, tee-box leveling and targeted tree removal.
“We aren’t standing still. We are actively investing millions to ensure our facilities match our world-class accolades,” says Art Walton, vice president of golf operations at Crystal Springs Resort.
And the draw of the Big Apple gives Crystal Springs Resort a unique destination identity.
“Being so close to the New York market, we get some cool clientele for our golf outings,” added Abate. “The draw from the city is huge because there is no other luxury resort of the caliber of our resort that has the proximity to New York City. It just doesn’t exist.”
