Sports
AVP Huntington Beach Open delivers exciting clashes and memorable victories
HUNTINGTON BEACH – The 2025 AVP Huntington Beach Open wrapped up last Sunday, treating beach volleyball fans to a weekend of high-stakes action under the California sun. The tournament, held at the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, has been a staple on the AVP calendar since 2000, and this year’s event carried the added significance of […]

HUNTINGTON BEACH – The 2025 AVP Huntington Beach Open wrapped up last Sunday, treating beach volleyball fans to a weekend of high-stakes action under the California sun. The tournament, held at the iconic Huntington Beach Pier, has been a staple on the AVP calendar since 2000, and this year’s event carried the added significance of determining the final teams for the upcoming AVP League season.
The men’s championship match featured a commanding performance by top-seeded duo Andy Benesh and Miles Partain. The pair defeated the second-seeded team of Chase Budinger and Miles Evans in straight sets, 21-14, 21-14. Known for their dynamic chemistry, Benesh and Partain controlled the court, demonstrating why they previously clinched the 2023 Huntington Beach title.
For Budinger, a former NBA player, and his partner Miles Evans, the loss highlighted their grit and determination throughout the tournament. They had advanced to the final after a grueling three-set semifinal victory over Billy Allen and Taylor Crabb, 24-26, 21-19, 15-13. This marked another strong showing for Allen and Crabb, with local hero Allen hailing from Fallbrook.
On the women’s side, fans were treated to a thrilling three-set showdown between first-seeded Taryn Brasher and Kristen Nuss, and third-seeded Terese Cannon and Megan Kraft. Brasher and Nuss, who finished third in 2023 and second in 2024, finally secured their first Huntington Beach Open title with a hard-fought 21-17, 21-23, 15-9 victory. The pair’s toughness on the sands solidified their status as one of the top teams to watch heading into the AVP League season.

Cannon and Kraft, though falling short of the crown, impressed throughout the tournament, particularly in their semifinal victory against the second-seeded team of Melissa Humana-Paredes and Brandie Wilkerson in another intense three-set match, 21-15, 19-21, 15-12.
For Fallbrook native Billy Allen, the Huntington Beach Open was a homecoming of sorts. Partnered with Taylor Crabb, Allen advanced to the semifinals, where they narrowly lost in three sets to eventual finalists Budinger and Evans. Allen, a veteran of the AVP circuit since 2004, has built a storied career that includes tournament wins in Seattle and a successful run as co-host of the podcast “Coach Your Brains Out.”
Allen’s connection to his California roots remains strong, even after relocating to Idaho with his family. The father of one continues to balance his roles as an athlete, coach, and writer, sharing his experiences in books like The Inner Knight.
With the Huntington Beach Open officially in the books, players now shift their focus to the AVP League, set to begin its second season on May 23 in Palm Beach, Florida. Two additional California stops are planned for this summer’s league schedule, including events in San Diego and Los Angeles.
The stakes remain high for athletes vying not only for league glory but also to further establish themselves on the international stage, as many of the weekend’s standout performers are also preparing for the 2024 Olympics.
The 2025 AVP Huntington Beach Open was a weekend packed with talent, thrilling matchups, and electric energy that only beach volleyball can bring. From the dominant performances of champions Benesh and Partain to the dramatic battles on the women’s side, this year’s tournament left an lasting mark on the sands of Huntington Beach.
Send local sports tips and info to sports@reedermedia.com.
Sports
how to watch CWS Finals Game 1
All Times Eastern Australian Rules FootballAFL Men’s — Round 15Greater Western Sydney Giants vs. Gold Coast Suns — Fs2, 11 p.m.Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond Tigers — 1:06 a.m. (Sunday) Beach VolleyballAVP LeagueWeek 2, EHP Resort & Marina, East Hampton, NYWomen: Austin Aces vs. Dallas Dream/Brooklyn Blaze vs. New York Nitro — The CW, 1 p.m. […]

All Times Eastern
Australian Rules Football
AFL Men’s — Round 15
Greater Western Sydney Giants vs. Gold Coast Suns — Fs2, 11 p.m.
Western Bulldogs vs. Richmond Tigers — 1:06 a.m. (Sunday)
Beach Volleyball
AVP League
Week 2, EHP Resort & Marina, East Hampton, NY
Women: Austin Aces vs. Dallas Dream/Brooklyn Blaze vs. New York Nitro — The CW, 1 p.m.
CFL
Week 3
Ottawa Redblacks at Calgary Stampeders — TSN1/RDS2/CBS Sports Network, 4 p.m.
Winnipeg Blue Bombers at BC Lions — CTV/TSN1/TSN3/CBS Sports Network, 7 p.m.
College Baseball
NCAA College World Series Finals
Game 1, Charles Schwab Field Omaha, Omaha, NE
Announcers: Karl Ravech/Chris Burke/Kyle Peterson//Kris Budden
Coastal Carolina vs. LSU — ESPN, 7 p.m.
Announcers: Mike Monaco/Jackie Bradley, Jr./Ben McDonald
NCAA Men’s College World Series Studio — ESPN, 6 p.m.
CONCACAF Gold Cup
Group Stage — Matchday 2
Group B, Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
Announcers — FS1: Mark Followill/Landon Donovan/Dr. Joe Machnik (rules)
Curaçao vs. Canada — Univision/TUDN, 6:30 p.m.//FS1, 7 p.m.
Fútbol central — Univision/TUDN, 6 p.m.
Fútbol central — Univision/TUDN, 9 p.m.
Announcers: Rob Stone/Landon Donovan/Maurice Edu/Alexi Lalas
CONCACAF Gold Cup Match Day — FS1, 9 p.m.
Group B, Shell Energy Stadium, Houston, TX
Announcers: Tyler Terens/Warren Barton//Dr. Joe Machnik (rules)
Honduras vs. El Salvador — Univision/TUDN, 9:30 p.m.//FS1, 10 p.m.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025
Group Stage — Matchday 2
Group F, TQL Stadium, Cincinnati, OH
Mamelodi Sundowns FC vs. Borussia Dortmund — DAZN, noon
Group E, Lumen Field, Seattle, WA
Inter Milan vs. Urawa Red Diamonds — DAZN, 3 p.m.
Group F. MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, NJ
Fluminense vs. Ulsan HD — DAZN, 6 p.m.
Group E, Rose Bowl, Pasadena, CA
Announcers: Andrés Cantor/Steve McManaman — TBS/truTV/DAZN, 9 p.m.
Announcers: Alex Scott/Kieran Gibbs/Melissa Ortiz/Derrick Williams
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Pre-Match Show — TBS/truTV/DAZN, 8:30 p.m.
FIFA Club World Cup 2025 Post-Match Show — TBS/truTV/DAZN, 11 p.m.
Golf
PGA Tour
Greater Hartford Open, TPC River Highlands, Cromwell, CT
3rd Round
Announcers — Golf Channel: Steve Sands/Frank Nobilo/Curt Byrum//Jim Gallagher, Jr.//Arron Oberholser//George Savaricas//CBS: Jim Nantz/Trevor Immelman/Ian Baker-Finch/Frank Nobilo//Mark Immelman/Colt Knost//Dottie Pepper//Amanda Balionis
Main Feed — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 8 a.m.
Featured Groups: Tony Finau/Rickie Fowler & Viktor Hovland/Kevin Yu — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 8:45 a.m.
Featured Holes: 5, 11, 15, 16 — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 9 a.m.
Marquee Group: Andrew Novak/Xander Schauffele — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 9 a.m.
ESPN BET — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 11 a.m.
Featured Group 1: Wyndham Clark/Russell Henley — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 1 p.m.
Featured Group 2: Harris English/Rory McIlroy — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 1 p.m.
Featured Hole: 15 — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 1 p.m.
Featured Hole: 16 — ESPN+/PGA Tour Live, 1 p.m.
Main Feed — Golf Channel, 1 p.m.
Main Feed — CBS, 3 p.m.
Golf Central Pregame — Golf Channel, noon
Course Record With Michael Breed — CBS, 2 p.m.
PGA Tour Originals: Rory: The Long Game — CBS, 2:30 p.m.
2025 Greater Hartford Open Third Round In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 5 p.m.
PGA of America/LPGA Tour
Women’s PGA Championship, Fields Ranch (East Course), Frisco, TX
3rd Round
Announcers: Grant Boone/Judy Rankin//Gerina Mendoza
Featured Groups — Peacock, 10 a.m.
Announcers
Play-by-play: Terry Gannon/Cara Banks
Analysts: Morgan Pressel/Karen Stupples
Holes: Tom Abbott
On Course: Kay Cockerill/Paige Mackenzie/Karen Stupples
Reporter: Amy Rogers
Main Feed — Peacock, 11 a.m.
Main Feed — NBC/Peacock, 1:30 p.m.
PGA Tour Champions
Senior Players Championship, Firestone Country Club (South Course), Akron, OH
3rd Round — Golf Channel, 6:30 p.m.
The Smylie Kaufman Show — SportsGrid, noon
Golf Central — Golf Channel, 8 p.m.
Hockey
AHL Calder Cup Finals
Game 5, Abbotsford Centre, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada
Charlotte Checkers at Abbotsford Canucks — NHL Network, 9 p.m. (Abbotsford leads series 3-1)
IndyCar
NTT IndyCar Series
Grand Prix at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
Practice 2 — FS1, 11 a.m.
Qualifications — FS1, 2:30 p.m.
IndyNXT
Firestone IndyNXT Series
Grand Prix at Road America, Road America, Elkhart Lake, WI
Practice 2 — FS1, 10 a.m.
Qualifications — FS1, 1:30 p.m.
Mixed Martial Arts
UFC Fight Night
Hill vs. Rountree, Jr., Baku Crystal Hall, Baku, Azerbaijan
Prelims — ESPN, noon
Main Card — ABC, 3 p.m.
UFC Fight Night Post Show: Hill vs. Rountree, Jr. — ESPN+, 6 p.m.
Combat Sports Report — SportsGrid, noon
Morning Kombat — DraftKings Network, 11 p.m.
UFC 317 Countdown: Topuria vs Oliveira — ESPN2, 11 p.m.
MLB
American League
Detroit at Tampa Bay — MLB Network (main)/FanDuel Sports Network Detroit/FanDuel Sports Network Sun, noon
Baltimore at New York Yankees — MLB Network (backup)/MASN/YES, 1 p.m.
Chicago White Sox at Toronto — Chicago Sports Network/Sportsnet, 3 p.m.
Houston at Anaheim — Space City Home Network/FanDuel Sports Network West, 9;30 p.m.
Cleveland at Sacramento — MLB Network (backup)/CleGuardians.TV/NBC Sports California, 10 p.m.
National League
Baseball Night in America, Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia, PA
New York Mets at Philadelphia Phillies — Fox, 7:15 p.m.
Fox Saturday Baseball — Fox, 7 p.m.
Cincinnati at St. Louis — FanDuel Sports Network Ohio/FanDuel Sports Network Midwest, 2:15 p.m.
Atlanta at Miami — FanDuel Sports Network South/FanDuel Sports Network Florida, 4 p.m.
Arizona at Colorado — Dbacks.TV/Rockies.TV, 9 p.m.
Washington at Los Angeles Dodgers — MLB Network (main)/MASN/Spectrum SportsNet LA, 10 p.m.
Interleague
Baseball Night in America, Petco Park, San Diego, CA
Kansas City Royals at San Diego Padres — Fox, 7:15 p.m.
Milwaukee at Minnesota — FanDuel Sports Network Wisconsin/Twins.TV, 2 p.m.
Seattle at Chicago Cubs — Root Sports/Marquee Sports Network, 2:20 p.m.
Boston at San Francisco — NESN/NBC Sports Bay Area, 4 p.m.
Texas at Pittsburgh — FS1/Rangers Sports Network/SportsNet Pittsburgh, 4 p.m.
Play Ball — MLB Network, 10 a.m.
MLB Network Breakdown — MLB Network, 10:30 a.m.
Baltimore Orioles vs. New York Yankees MLB In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 2 p.m.
Blue Jays Central — Sportsnet, 2:30 p.m.
MLB Big Inning — MLB Network, 3 p.m.
MLB esta semana — UniMás, 3 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 5:30 p.m.
New York Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies MLB In-Game LIVE Gameday — SportsGrid, 8 p.m.
MLB Tonight — MLB Network, 9 p.m.
Quick Pitch — MLB Network, 1 a.m. (Sunday)
NASCAR
NASCAR Xfinity Series
A Silly Sponsor Name Goes Here 250, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA
Announcers: Adam Alexander/Parker Kligerman/Jamie McMurray//Kim Coon//Dillion Welch
Practice and Qualifying — The CW app, 10 a.m.
Race — The CW, 3:30 p.m.
Host: Carla Gebhart
NASCAR Countdown Live — The CW, 4 p.m.
NASCAR Cup Series
An Even Sillier Sponsor Name Goes Here 400, Pocono Raceway, Long Pond, PA
Announcers: Adam Alexander/Dale Earnhardt, Jr./Steve Letarte//Trevor Bayne//Kim Coon//Marty Snider
Practice and Qualifying — Amazon Prime Video, 12:30 p.m.
NBA
Betting Above The Rim Pro Basketball Today — SportsGrid, 10 a.m.
Playoff Central: NBA Finals Media Day — NBA TV, 12:30 p.m.
Playoff Central: Live at the Finals — NBA TV, 7 p.m.
NFL
NFL Mic’d Up: Weather Game — NFL Network, 7 a.m.
NFL Mic’d Up: Best QB Moments — NFL Network, 7:30 a.m.
Top 10: Revenge Games — NFL Network, 8 a.m.
NHL
Coaches With Coffee: Deboer and Maurice — NHL Network,11:30 p.m.
NWSL
Matchday 13
Utah Royals vs. Seattle Reign — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 5 p.m.
Gotham FC vs. Bay FC — Ion, 7:30 p.m.
North Carolina Courage vs. Houston Dash — NWSL+, 7:30 p.m.
Portland Thorns vs. Chicago Stars — Ion, 10 p.m.
NWSL on Ion Pre Match Show — Ion, 7 p.m.
NWSL on Ion Match Break Show — Ion, 9:30 p.m.
Soccer
Attacking Third — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 4 p.m.
ESPN FC — ESPN+, 6 p.m.
ESPN Fútbol Center — ESPN Deportes, 6 p.m.
Scoreline — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 9 p.m.
Scoreline — CBS Sports Golazo Network, midnight
Línea de cuatro — TUDN, midnight
El Show del Mundial — TUDN, 1 a.m. (Sunday)
Softball
Athletes Unlimited Softball League
Talons vs. Volts — ESPNU, 5 p.m.
Bandits vs. Blaze — MLB Network, 7 p.m.
Sports News & Talk
SportsCenter — ESPN, 7 a.m.
Marty & McGee — SEC Network, 7 a.m.
All The Smoke — DraftKings Network, 8 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 8 a.m.
Harlem Globetrotters: Play It Forward — NBC, 8 a.m.
Fantasy Sports Today Saturday — SportsGrid, 8 a.m.
The Sports Rundown — beIN Sports, 8:30 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 9 a.m.
All The Smoke Unplugged — DraftKings Network, 9:30 a.m.
All The Smoke — DraftKings Network, 10 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 10 a.m.
E60: Heart of Pearl — ESPN2, 10 a.m.
Gameday Pregame Live — CBS Sports HQ, 11 a.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 11 a.m.
HQ Gameday Scoreboard — CBS Sports HQ, noon
Best of Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz — DraftKings Network, noon
Contacto deportivo — TUDN, noon
SportsCenter — ESPN, 1 p.m.
Gameday Reset — CBS Sports HQ, 2 p.m.
Gameday Scoreboard & Highlights — CBS Sports HQ, 3 p.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 5 p.m.
The B1G Show — Big Ten Network, 6 p.m.
SportsCenter — ESPN, 6 p.m.
30 for 30: New York Sack Exchange — ESPN2, 6 p.m.
All ACC — ACC Network, 6:30 p.m.
SEC Now — SEC Network, 6:30 p.m.
Gameday Reset — CBS Sports HQ, 7 p.m.
Gameday Scoreboard and Highlights — CBS Sports HQ, 8 p.m.
All ACC — ACC Network, 10 p.m.
SEC Now — SEC Network, 10 p.m.
SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 10 p.m.
Scoreboard Final — CBS Sports HQ, 11 p.m.
SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, midnight
El pelotazo — Telemundo, midnight
Mystery Crate — DraftKings Network, midnight
Contacto deportivo — Univision, midnight
South Beach Sessions — DraftKings Network, 1 a.m. (Sunday)
SportsCenter at Night — ESPN, 1 a.m. (Sunday)
Contacto deportivo — TUDN, 2 a.m.(Sunday)
Best of SportsGrid — SportsGrid, 3 a.m. (Sunday)
Scoreboard Final — CBS Sports HQ, 6 a.m (Sunday)
Tennis
Courtside Live: Finals — HSBC Championships (ATP)/Wortmann Open (ATP)/Berlin Tennis Open (WTA)/Nottingham Open (WTA) — Tennis Channel, 6 a.m. (Sunday)
USL Championship
Matchday 16
Detroit City FC vs. Miami FC — TUDN, 4 p.m.
Indy Eleven vs. Las Vegas Lights — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 7 p.m.
Monterey Bay FC vs. El Paso Locomotive — CBS Sports Golazo Network, 9 p.m.
Volleyball
Women’s
FIVB Nations League
Pool 6: Week 2, Beogradska Arena, Belgrade Serbia
Netherlands vs. United States — CBS Sports Network, 10:30 a.m.
WNBA
Announcers: Angel Gray/LaChina Robinson/Brooke Weisbrod
Phoenix Mercury at Chicago Sky — ABC, 1 p.m.
Announcers: Elle Duncan/Andraya Carter/Chiney Ogwumike
WNBA Countdown — ABC, 12:30 p.m.
Los Angeles Sparks at Minnesota Lynx — NBA TV/FanDuel Sports Network North, 8 p.m.
Sports
Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday
Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday DHAKA, June 21, 2025 (BSS)-The final round of the National Volleyball competition (30th men’s and 25th women’s) will be held from June 26-30 at Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium in the capital. A total of seven teams of men’s section and six teams of women’s section […]

Final round of national volleyball to begin Thursday

DHAKA, June 21, 2025 (BSS)-The final round of the National Volleyball competition (30th men’s and 25th women’s) will be held from June 26-30 at Shaheed Noor Hossain National Volleyball Stadium in the capital.
A total of seven teams of men’s section and six teams of women’s section will directly participate in the final round.
The seven men’s teams are defending champions Bangladesh Army, Bangladesh Air Force, Bangladesh Navy, Kushtia, Dhaka, Bogra, and Rajshahi districts while the six women’s teams are reigning champions Bangladesh Ansar and Village Defense Party, Bangladesh Police, Satkhira, Rajshahi, Chattogram and Jessore districts.
Talking to BSS today (Saturday) Bangladesh Volleyball Federation general secretary Bimal Ghosh Bhulu said before the final round of the men’s competition a two-day men’s selection round would be held from June 23-24 at the same venue with the participation of six teams.
He informed that Bangladesh Ansar and VDP, Bangladesh Police Volleyball Club, Bangladesh Krira Shkiia Protisthan, Power Development Board, Titas Club and Bangladesh Jail would take part in the selection round. After the selection round, top four out of six teams would qualify for the final round.
Bimal said the national volleyball competition has been postponed for a long time but now we are going to revive the meet. Since we have SABA International Volleyball competition in October in Dhaka, so we have plan to select forty to forty five players from the national competition and bring them under long-term training.
Sports
How to watch AVP beach volleyball: TV schedule, channel, live stream for 2025 East Hampton tournament
The AVP beach volleyball tournament is set for June 21-22 in East Hampton, NY, featuring both men’s and women’s matches. Competing teams include the Dallas Dream, Austin Aces, New York Nitro, and Brooklyn Blaze. Currently, the women’s Blaze boasts an undefeated 4-0 record, while the Aces hold a 2-0 record, with their matchup on Sunday […]

The AVP beach volleyball tournament is set for June 21-22 in East Hampton, NY, featuring both men’s and women’s matches. Competing teams include the Dallas Dream, Austin Aces, New York Nitro, and Brooklyn Blaze. Currently, the women’s Blaze boasts an undefeated 4-0 record, while the Aces hold a 2-0 record, with their matchup on Sunday expected to be a highlight. Matches will air live on The CW and CBS Sports Network, and viewers can stream them on Fubo, which offers a free trial.
By the Numbers
- Four men’s games and four women’s games will be played over the weekend.
- The women’s Brooklyn Blaze is currently 4-0, while the Aces are 2-0.
State of Play
- The two best performing women’s teams, Blaze and Aces, will clash on Sunday, potentially affecting their undefeated statuses.
- Matches will be broadcasted live on The CW and CBS Sports Network, with additional streaming options available on Fubo.
What’s Next
As the tournament unfolds, expect thrilling matches that will impact team standings in this early-stage competition. Key matchups this weekend could set the tone for the rest of the season.
Bottom Line
This weekend’s matches in East Hampton could significantly influence the race for the top seeds, especially with the Brooklyn Blaze vying to maintain their undefeated record against strong competition.
Sports
New pickleball, hoops facility to open soon with ties to 2 ex-Syracuse basketball players
Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025). © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us).The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or […]
Sports
Alpen Bluffs Goes All In on a Full-Service Experience | Features
Lodging, dining, a waterpark, mini golf, groceries, and more await By Ross Boissoneau | June 21, 2025 Go ahead, call it glamping if you must. But please don’t call Alpen Bluffs a glampground. “It’s Michigan’s first outdoor hotel,” says Rob Platt, one of the owners of the newly opened Gaylord facility. With cabins, yurts, and […]

Lodging, dining, a waterpark, mini golf, groceries, and more await
By Ross Boissoneau | June 21, 2025
Go ahead, call it glamping if you must. But please don’t call Alpen Bluffs a glampground. “It’s Michigan’s first outdoor hotel,” says Rob Platt, one of the owners of the newly opened Gaylord facility.
With cabins, yurts, and RV sites that all include hookups to city water and sewer, plus a restaurant, market, and other amenities, it’s hard to argue with that term. “It’s an RV resort plus 44 accommodations that are not RVs,” Platt says.
Indeed, with all its amenities, Alpen Bluffs is much more than just a campground or glampground. Start with Inukshuk Shores, an aquatic waterpark that features an inflatable obstacle course floating on a man-made pond, a sandy beach area, comfy chairs, locker rooms, and a concessions area. Alpen Point is an 18-hole mini golf course. Youngsters can mine for gems at Matterhorn Mine, a gem mining sluice.
Mulligans at the Bluffs is a full-service restaurant with seven indoor golf simulators, an expansive outdoor patio, and lawn games, including shuffleboard, bean bag toss, a putting green, lawn bowling, and croquet. The resort includes a grab-and-go store at its welcome center and Alpen Market, a full-service grocery store.
All those are open to both the public and guests. Those staying at the resort can also take advantage of other exclusive amenities: pickleball courts, a dog park, a playground, horseshoes, table tennis, sand volleyball, golf cart rentals, pedal cart rentals, bicycle rentals, food trucks, and communal fire pits.
But wait, there’s more: The upcoming Bluff Club will include a shipping container bar with food offerings from the grill and smoker, a resort-style outdoor pool, hot tub, and cabanas.
The Bigger Picture
It’s all part of a plan, according to Platt, one that came about when he saw property across from Otsego Resort was for sale. He and his business partner Craig Snyder purchased it, then began working to buy other contiguous parcels, ending up with 45 acres within one of Michigan’s Opportunity Zones. The Opportunity Zones offer tax deferral and potential tax-free growth on investments held for at least 10 years.
Platt and Synder’s backgrounds include work in construction, property management, and mixed-use development, including properties featuring living spaces, coffee shops, valet parking—even rooftop pools and restaurants. It all dovetailed nicely into the creation of Alpen Bluffs, where they wanted to bring such design details and what he calls “experiential living” to an outdoor space rather than an urban property.
The 45-acre resort is located just outside of Gaylord proper—literally one and a half miles from the heart of downtown. Platt and his partners don’t see Alpen Bluffs as competition for other resorts, but rather another attraction within northern Michigan. They say the goal is simply to offer another exciting and memorable option for families looking to have fun together. “Downtown Gaylord is unique, plus the Golf Mecca, skiing—you can walk across the road to golf and ski at Otsego Resort,” says Platt.
The Opening Slate
He says all the purchases and planning took place during the heart of the COVID lockdown. He and his partners recognized the immediate appeal of outdoor activities and business and believed that would be a long-term attraction. “Up North and the U.P. were always great destinations for outdoor hospitality,” he says.
The first part of the plan came to fruition last September with the opening of Mulligans at the Bluffs, offering winter golf leagues. Also opened were outdoor games associated with the restaurant, as well as the mini golf (including nine holes designed for ADA accommodations) and the gem mining sluice.
The next phase came in late May, with the opening of a number of RV spaces, four cabins, two pickleball courts, dog park, pedal cart, bicycle, and golf cart rentals, the bathhouses with laundry facilities and Alpen Market. Inukshuk Shores, the aquatic waterpark, opened Father’s Day weekend.
The last phase includes the balance of the resort’s 30 cabins, 14 yurts, and remaining amenities, as well as the outdoor pool. All those are scheduled to be open and available sometime between mid-July and mid-August.
The Year-Round Mindset
Platt says a key consideration was creating accommodations and attractions that could be open year-round. The cabins and yurts are open in the winter, as is Mulligans at the Bluffs. That allows them to keep a large portion of staff on payroll throughout the year.
Platt is also cognizant of the challenge endemic to virtually every business of finding enough staff. When fully open, he estimates there will be 45 to 50 staffers needed for the aquatic water park, and close to 60 for housekeeping. That’s more than 100 just for those two parts of the operation.
He also recognizes the concurrent need for housing for employees. “It can be difficult to find housing,” he admits, noting they rented one of the cabins to their new food and beverage manager.
When it comes to more housing, Platt hopes they’ve found at least part of the solution. “We own 37 acres less than a mile south. The intent for our next project is [building] a single-family-home neighborhood,” he says. He believes the cabins they purchased for the resort could be used or modified for use on that site, depending on zoning.
The Alpen Bluffs team plans to expand the resort’s social activities and offerings when the build-out is complete. That includes live music on the weekends at Mulligans, the haunted house in the cart barn at Halloween, and pig roasts, all of which will be open to the public. There are plans for special services for guests as well, including offering food delivery services to the individual campsites and intimate dining experiences along the water of Inukshuk Shores.
Though just barely open, Platt says they are already fielding requests for reservations for 2026. “We’re getting good feedback from people already. They are booking for next year,” he says.
Learn more about Alpen Bluffs at alpenbluffs.com.
Sports
52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships – Orlando Sentinel
Winter Park Volleyball Club (WPVC) 16 Armour Black’s Teagan Mitchell-Timmons,(5) left and Kennedy Walker, (2) right, attempt to block the ball during their match in the 52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel) (Left to Right) Top Select 16 […]

1 of 18
Winter Park Volleyball Club (WPVC) 16 Armour Black’s Teagan Mitchell-Timmons,(5) left and Kennedy Walker, (2) right, attempt to block the ball during their match in the 52nd AAU Junior National Volleyball Championships at the Orange County Convention Center. Orlando, Fla., Saturday, June 21, 2025. (Willie J. Allen Jr./Orlando Sentinel)
Expand
-
High School Sports2 weeks ago
Parents Speak Out As Trans Pitcher Throws Shutout In MN State Quarterfinals
-
Professional Sports2 weeks ago
'I asked Anderson privately'… UFC legend retells secret sparring session between Jon Jones …
-
Health2 weeks ago
Oregon track star wages legal battle against trans athlete policy after medal ceremony protest
-
Professional Sports2 weeks ago
UFC 316 star storms out of Media Day when asked about bitter feud with Rampage Jackson
-
NIL3 weeks ago
Men's college basketball Top 25 reset
-
Motorsports1 week ago
NASCAR Weekend Preview: Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
-
Rec Sports3 weeks ago
2x NBA All-Star Reacts to Viral LeBron James Statement
-
Social Media3 weeks ago
Controversial Athletics Gender Dispute Goes Viral After Riley Gaines Lashes Over Authorities
-
College Sports3 weeks ago
OKC’s Mark Daigneault knows what it takes to win championships. His wife has won a ton of them
-
Motorsports3 weeks ago
Corey LaJoie to make nine NASCAR Truck Series starts with Spire Motorsports