This is what Crystal Mountain looked like in the early 1960s. The photo was taken by Bob and Ira Spring and featured on a postcard that comes courtesy of JoAnne Matsumura, an Issaquah historian and collector. Six decades later, Crystal Mountain is the largest ski resort in Washington State covering 2,600 acres, with 11 lifts and 85 named runs, in an area near Mount Rainier that averages 29 feet of annual snowfall. Crystal Mountain is located 42 miles southeast of Enumclaw on Highway 410.
Back in the 1940s, Crystal was just a dream by a group of passionate skiers, many from Tacoma who focused their attention on a Forest Service mountain known for its reliable snowfall and interesting terrain. A proposal was made to the Forest Service in 1955 and in September 1958 the Crystal Mountain Winter Sports Area was created. Funding for the initial development was raised from a stock sale to about 200 people.
The 1962 Seattle World’s Fair drew almost 10 million visitors and focused international attention on the state of Washington. Crystal opened for business on November 14, 1962, three weeks after the Fair’s close. Governor Albert Rosellini presided over that official dedication that showcased its two chair lifts, one T-bar, and several rope tows. Crystal Mountain was part of the explosive growth in ski resorts from 1955 to 1965 when the number in North America increased from 78 to 580. Growth topped out in the late 1960s and today there are about 530 ski resorts in the United States and 290 in Canada.
Jack Nagel soon moved his ski school and racing program from Stevens Pass setting up at Crystal with a ski shop, run by his wife, Donna. Their daughters, Cathy and Judy Nagel would soon become world-famous skiers with Judy going to the 1968 Olympics and Cathy featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated, one of only three Enumclaw athletes to be so honored. Crystal Mountain attracted more attention in the late 1960s and early 1970s by hosting both National Championships and World Cup events.
Though Crystal Mountain grew quietly it was often overshadowed by Snoqualmie’s three resorts that were far closer to Seattle. In 1988, Crystal was the first to install a high-speed detachable quad chairlift called Rainier Express. Several poor snow years followed and the resort’s owners found themselves deep in debt and unable to fund needed improvements. Boyne USA purchased Crystal Mountain in 1997 and committed more than $15 million in capital improvements over the next 20 years. One of their crowning achievements was installation of the Gondola that opened for business on New Year’s Day, 2011.
The Michigan-based Boyne Company was led by John Kircher who sold Crystal Mountain Resort to Alterra Mountain Company in 2018. Alterra owns 15 year-round destinations such as Big Bear, Mammoth, Steamboat, and Palisades Tahoe. In March 2022, Alterra disclosed a $100 million redevelopment proposal for new food and parking facilities, additional retail, and a 100-room hotel. The announcement also brought higher prices for parking, chair lifts, and season tickets. Back in 1962 lift tickets at most U.S ski resorts averaged about $5 per day.
