Crystal Mountain Resort Revenue and Competitors

The first visitors to what is now Crystal Mountain came seeking their fortunes, not fresh snow. Traces of gold were found in them there hills (of the Cascades) in the late 1800s and prospectors flocked to the area, originally known as the Summit Mining District. Shortly after World War I, mining activity in the area declined. It was not until 1949 that the recreational opportunities of the area were discovered. When attempts to put a chairlift at Paradise in Mount Rainier National Park failed, a group of dedicated Puget Sound area 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. In March of 1997, Boyne USA purchased Crystal Mountain. This family-owned corporation had been interested in the area for more than a decade, and made a commitment to invest significantly. Under the terms of the sale and under management of John Kircher, Boyne USA spent over $15 million on capital improvements. In March of 2017, John Kircher, a Seattle-based Boyne family member purchased Crystal Mountain from Boyne USA. Today, the mountain is open seasonly, in the winter and summer for skiing, snowshoeing, sightseeing, hiking and dining. Like the founders, Crystal's team is here to share their love for snowsports and adventure in this corner of the Pacific Northwest.