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Crystal Springs Resort is a four season mountain resort in Hamburg and Vernon, New Jersey, built around two hotels: the AAA Four Diamond Grand Cascades Lodge and the more casual, family friendly Minerals Hotel, roughly three miles apart. It is open year round, and this guide from our team covers both hotels, the two spas, the restaurants, six golf courses and how close you are to Mountain Creek for the 2026-27 winter season.
- What: Crystal Springs Resort, a golf, spa and dining resort with two hotels
- Where: Grand Cascades Lodge, 3 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg, NJ 07419; Minerals Hotel, 2 Chamonix Dr, Vernon, NJ 07462
- When: Open year round; check in begins at 4:00pm and check out is 11:00am at both hotels
- Reservations: 855.977.6473 or online
- Link: crystalgolfresort.com
Grand Cascades Lodge vs Minerals Hotel: Which Should You Book?
The resort describes the two hotels very differently, and that is the easiest way to choose. Grand Cascades Lodge is the Adirondack style flagship in Hamburg and one of the few AAA Four Diamond hotels in the state. It is home to Reflections Spa, Restaurant Latour, the Wine Cellar and the Biosphere pool. Rooms range from standard guest rooms with two queens, one king or one queen up to studio suites with full kitchens, one and two bedroom suites with gas fireplace decks, and the six bedroom Grand Villa.
Minerals Hotel in Vernon is the AAA Three Diamond, recreation focused option. It offers Aspen themed deluxe rooms, junior suites with a balcony or patio, and presidential suites with a two sided fireplace. If you are traveling with kids or planning to ski, Minerals is usually the natural pick; for a couples getaway built around a spa and a long dinner, Grand Cascades Lodge is the classic choice.
A few details worth knowing before you book, all from the resort’s FAQ: at least one guest per room must be 21 or older, all rooms are non smoking, only ADA service dogs are permitted, parking is complimentary (valet is offered at Grand Cascades Lodge), and there is no shuttle between the two hotels, so plan on driving the five to ten minutes between them.
The Pools: Biosphere, Vista 180 and Minerals
The pools are a big reason families come in the colder months. The Biosphere Pool Complex at Grand Cascades Lodge is a 10,000 square foot tropical indoor pool with a retractable roof, and in summer the Vista 180 complex adds an infinity pool with mountain views plus a freeform pool with a waterslide. Over at Minerals, the Minerals pool complex has indoor and outdoor pools, a sauna and steam room, a cliff jump, a spray ground, a grotto style waterfall cave and an underground aquarium.
Who can use what matters here. The resort says Grand Cascades Lodge guests can use the Biosphere, Vista 180 and Minerals pools, while Minerals Hotel guests have access to the Minerals pool complex only. The resort is not selling pool day passes at this time, and there is a 48 inch height requirement for the Biosphere slide.
Reflections Spa and Elements Spa
Crystal Springs has two full service spas, and both appear on the Spas of America Top 100 list. Elements Spa at Minerals Hotel is billed as the number one spa in New Jersey, with a hands on Blend Bar where you mix your own oil or lotion. It is open Monday through Saturday 9:00am to 9:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 8:00pm.
Reflections Spa at Grand Cascades Lodge is ranked the number two spa in the state, with massages, facials, a new Yume head spa and salon services. Hours are Monday through Saturday 9:00am to 9:00pm and Sunday 10:00am to 7:00pm. Spa and salon guests must be 18 or older, reservations are required at both spas, and each adds a 10 percent service charge. Reflections lists a Ladies Spa Day on November 10 and Elements lists one on November 18 this fall.
Where to Eat at Crystal Springs Resort
The food program is one of the resort’s strongest draws, and several of the restaurants are open to the public, not just hotel guests. Reservations are required at Restaurant Latour, Crystal Tavern, Kites and Gino34, so book ahead.
At Grand Cascades Lodge
- Restaurant Latour: The resort’s fine dining room, with three course and seven course menus from Resort Executive Chef Florian Wehrli and Chef de Cuisine Matt Laurich built on foraged and locally sourced ingredients. Dinner ends with custom chocolates by Jacques Torres.
- The Wine Cellar: Nine interconnected chambers with 6,000 labels and a Wine Spectator Grand Award every year since 2006. Guided tours run Wednesday through Sunday at 3:00pm, and you can walk the self guided route daily.
- Crystal Tavern: A seasonal, locally sourced menu in the clubhouse with mountain and sunset views, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Gino34: The former Springs Bistro, now an Italian American spot off the lobby with pizzas, pastas and cocktails.
- Biosphere Taqueria: Tacos, gelato and tropical drinks inside the Biosphere pool, for Grand Cascades Lodge guests.
At Minerals Hotel
- Kites Restaurant: Contemporary American food with a kids menu on the second floor of Minerals Hotel, open daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
- Zinc Cafe: Coffee, pastries, sandwiches and protein shakes in the lobby, daily 7:00am to 8:00pm.
- Frosty’s Cantina: The winter outdoor bar with spiked hot chocolate, fire pits, marshmallow roasting and axe throwing. It is open to the public and is currently closed until its winter season.
Hungry for more? Our guides to the best restaurants in Hamburg NJ and the best restaurants in Vernon NJ cover great local spots minutes from both hotels.
Golf: Six Courses Within Five Miles
Crystal Springs calls itself the Northeast’s largest golf resort, with six courses within a five mile radius. The resort’s course status page listed all six as open at the time we checked.
- Ballyowen: The links style, nearly treeless course by Roger Rulewich that the resort rates number one public course in New Jersey, with Owen’s Pub and a bagpiper at day’s end.
- Crystal Springs: Robert von Hagge’s challenging 1992 layout, named for the springs formed by old limestone quarries along the 11th hole.
- Wild Turkey: A basin and ridge layout that mixes open links holes with elevation changes.
- Black Bear: A 6,673 yard course in Franklin that opened in 1996, built for every skill level, with the Bear Den Grille.
- Cascades: The newest course, a nine hole Rulewich design from 2009 with junior tees and oversized cups.
- Minerals: A nine hole Robert Trent Jones executive course at the base of Hamburg Mountain, plus 18 holes of FootGolf.
For a side by side look at every course in the county, see our guide to golf courses in Sussex County NJ.
Mountain Creek Next Door
If you are planning a ski trip, location is the headline. According to the resort’s Mountain Creek page, the ski area is immediately adjacent to Minerals Hotel and about three miles from Grand Cascades Lodge. Mountain Creek has more than 1,000 vertical feet and 44 trails, and lift tickets are sold separately through Mountain Creek.
For the 2026-27 season, the resort’s Minerals Ski and Stay package runs from December 2026 through March 2027 and says ski in, ski out access to Granite Peak begins in January 2027. Read our full Mountain Creek ski resort guide for trails, lessons and tips, and our things to do in Vernon NJ guide for everything else in town. On a stormy day, the Sterling Hill Mining Museum in nearby Ogdensburg makes a great side trip.
Activities Included With Your Stay
The resort says most activities on its guest activities calendar are included with a stay, except goat yoga, workshops and food and beverage events. Options include laser clay shooting, axe throwing, catch and release fishing at the quarry and archery. The Minerals Sports Club adds a full gym, fitness and yoga classes, pickleball, a climbing wall and an indoor track, and it is open to guests of both hotels.
In winter, the Glice skating rink at Grand Cascades Lodge uses a synthetic surface you can skate on above freezing. Skate time and rentals are included for guests of both hotels, with sessions on the calendar starting Friday, November 27, 2026.
The Holiday Season at Crystal Springs
The resort’s holiday season page lists Thanksgiving dining and getaways, a December to Remember getaway, the Holiday Spectacular Show, Christmas dining and New Year’s Eve parties, including the Biosphere Bash. We broke down every Thanksgiving buffet and dinner in our Crystal Springs Resort Thanksgiving 2026 guide, and our roundup of Thanksgiving in Sussex County NJ covers other dinners and turkey trots. For more festive plans, browse our list of Christmas events in Sussex County NJ.
Tip from our team: If you are staying at Minerals Hotel but want to see Restaurant Latour or the Wine Cellar, book your dinner first and plan a guided cellar tour at 3:00pm (Wednesday through Sunday) the same day. The hotels are only five to ten minutes apart, and it turns a family ski weekend into a date night without changing rooms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Minerals Hotel part of Crystal Springs Resort?
Yes. Minerals Hotel at 2 Chamonix Dr in Vernon is one of Crystal Springs Resort’s two hotels, alongside Grand Cascades Lodge in Hamburg. They are about three miles apart.
Which Crystal Springs hotel is closest to Mountain Creek?
Minerals Hotel. The resort says Mountain Creek is immediately adjacent to Minerals Hotel and about three miles from Grand Cascades Lodge.
Can I use the pools without staying overnight?
The resort says it is not offering pool day passes at this time, though its Spa and Pool Daycation package includes pool access.
Are the restaurants open to the public?
Yes, restaurants such as Restaurant Latour, Crystal Tavern, Gino34 and Kites take reservations from the public, and Frosty’s Cantina is open to the public in winter. Biosphere Taqueria is for Grand Cascades Lodge guests.
What time is check in at Crystal Springs Resort?
Check in begins at 4:00pm and check out is 11:00am at both Grand Cascades Lodge and Minerals Hotel. The Grand Villa checks in at 5:00pm.
Are pets allowed at Crystal Springs Resort?
Only ADA certified service dogs are permitted at the two hotels, and the resort asks guests to mention them when booking.
Primary sources: Grand Cascades Lodge, Minerals Hotel, Crystal Springs Resort FAQ, Directions, Reflections Spa, Elements Spa, Golf and Skiing at Mountain Creek, all on crystalgolfresort.com.
Featured photo: Crystal Springs Resort via crystalgolfresort.com.
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