Crystal Mountain History
History Briefs
The first visitors to the area that is now Crystal Mountain came seeking their fortunes, not fresh snow. Traces of gold were found in the Cascade foothills in the late 1800šs and prospectors flocked to this area, originally known as the Summit Mining District.
Shortly after World War I, mining activity in the area declined. The smaller claims were not profitable, and larger companies could not be persuaded to invest in the area once promoted as being "richer than the Klondike."
It was not until 1949 that the recreational opportunities of the area were discovered. When attempts to put a chairlift up at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park failed, a group of dedicated Tacoma skiers got together and began looking for another place to develop a ski area in the Pacific Northwest.
After investigating other locations in the region, the group decided on Crystal Mountain for its reliable snowfall and variety of terrain. A proposal was presented to the Forest Service in 1955 and three years later the Crystal Mountain Winter Sports Area was created.
Funding for initial development was raised by a sale of stock to approximately 200 people. Crystal Mountain opened for business in the winter of 1962.
Crystal Mountain first came to national attention in 1965 when the fledgling ski area hosted the National Alpine Championships. The event drew legendary skiers from Europe and North America including Jimmie Heuga, Billy Kidd and Jean Claude Killy.
Over the next few decades, Crystal Mountain grew quietly. In 1988 the area was the first in Washington to install a high-speed, detachable quad chairlift, the Rainier Express.
In the years that followed, development at the area stalled. After experiencing several poor snow years in a row, the Crystal Mountain found itself deeply in debt and unable to finance new capital improvements.
In March of 1998, Boyne USA purchased Crystal Mountain. Michigan-based Boyne USA had been interested in the area for more than a decade, and made a commitment to invest significantly in the area. Under the terms of the sale, Boyne, USA is required to spend a minimum of $15 million on capital improvements over the first 10 years of ownership.
Under the ownership of Boyne, USA, Crystal Mountain has added two new high-speed six-passenger chairlifts, expanded the rental shop, paved the parking lots, added five new grooming machines and upgraded many of the facilities. Thus far Boyne has made good on its agreement by spending over $8 million in the first three years of ownership alone.
Crystal Mountain is now in the process of creating a new Master Development Plan that will guide the expansion of the area over the next 10 to 20 years. The plan, currently under review by the U.S. Forest Service, calls for the addition of six new chairlifts, a 100-passenger tram from base to summit, new hotel and conference center, an on-mountain restaurant and additional guest service facilities. With the total price of development at approximately $40 million, Crystal Mountain just keeps getting better and better.
Did you know…
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- Crystal Mountain first began when a group of Tacoma skiers became interested in developing the Silver Creek drainage on the White River District in 1949. In 1955 a proposal was presented to the Forest Service and in July of 1958, the Crystal Mountain Winter Sports Area was created. After highway 410 was constructed, the development of recreational facilities began and in 1962 the area opened for business.
- Crystal Mountain was named after Crystal Lake located on the west slope of the Cascade Mountain summit near the south end of Crystal Mountain. This is a name which often is used for clear mountain lakes at high altitudes. An alternative name is Upper Crystal Lake.
- Abandoned mining villages are located on various areas around Crystal Mountain. Settlers discovered traces of gold in the early 1900's and believed a large amount was yet to be uncovered. The miners used six inch pipes to search for the gold and to this day some people still search in creeks throughout the Crystal region for small fortunes.
- Crystal Mountain's Summit House Restaurant is located 6,872 feet up on the mountain making it the highest restaurant in the state of Washington.
- During the first winter season of operation, lift tickets sold for $5.
Crystal Mountain Founders' Club
P.O. Box 1131
Bellevue WA
98009-1131
