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 1800's 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 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.

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 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 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 John Kircher, Seattle based family member, Crystal Mountain has added two new high-speed six-passenger chairlifts, one high-speed quad, expanded the rental shop, paved the parking lots, added five new grooming machines and upgraded many of the facilities.

Crystal Mountain is now waiting for the Forest Service review and release of the Final Environmental Impact Statement, which will be followed by the Forest Service announcing which version of the Master Development Plan has been approved. This will guide the expansion of the area over the next 10 to 20 years and will greatly enhance the quality of the recreational area.