When this circa 1971 photo was taken Crystal Mountain was in its 10th year of operation. It opened a decade earlier on November 14, 1962, at a dedication featuring Governor Albert Rosellini. Washington’s star shone bright that year, as the Seattle World’s Fair drew nearly 10 million visitors and focused international attention on the state. The fair closed three weeks earlier as Crystal Mountain took center stage.
The dedication ceremony was co-sponsored by the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce and Crystal Mountain, Inc., developers of the resort. Dr. J. Gordon Adams, president of the Chamber served as master-of-ceremonies, with an invocation delivered by Rev. Robert Sargent, pastor of Enumclaw’s Calvary Presbyterian Church. Mrs. Melvin Borgersen broke a bottle of champagne over the stonework at the corner of the new two-story day lodge. Cathy Nagel, daughter of the ski school operator, Jack Nagel looked on. Cathy was featured on the Feb. 11, 1963 cover of Sports Illustrated. Her sister, Judy Nagel attended the 1968 Olympics and was a World Cup racer. Judy retired from competitive skiing in April 1970.
The day lodge hosted a buffet luncheon for guests where William M. Black, president of Crystal Mountain, Inc. thanked those who were part of its successful launching. Melvin Borgersen, general manager of the company chronicled the problems developers faced during the six years since the resort idea was hatched. Borgersen also outlined plans for additional chair lifts, rope tows, a dormitory-style overnight lodging, and a deluxe eight-story hotel hoping to make Crystal one of the nation’s top winter resorts. Following the luncheon guests inspected facilities and took rides on the double chair lift to the top where they enjoyed spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. The resort opened to the general public on Dec. 1, 1962.
In this circa 1971 photo, the day lodge is visible to the left where an American flag flies above. To the right is the chair lift, built in two sections. The lower section seen at the base of the white tower carried skiers 3,690 feet to the second lift. There visitors hopped on the another set of chairs for the final lap, traveling 3,570 feet laterally for a two-lift vertical gain of 7,260 feet. More than 20,000 pounds of steel cable were used in the chair lift system. More than 20,000 pounds of steel cable were used in the chair lift system. Crystal’s original facilities also featured a T-bar and seven rope tows.
That year Crystal Mountain was attracting record numbers of visitors. On one Sunday in early January, a KOL Ski Bust attracted 6,500 skiers, while weekend visitors averaged 20,000. KOL was Seattle’s first progressive rock radio station and by 1971 achieved enough commercial success to begin 24-hour broadcasting. Though Crystal Mountain grew quietly it was often overshadowed by Snoqualmie’s three resorts that were much closer to Seattle.
Today, Crystal Mountain is the largest ski resort in Washington State covering 2,600 acres, with 11 lifts and 85 named runs, in an area that averages 29 feet of annual snowfall. Crystal Mountain is located 42 miles southeast of Enumclaw on Highway 410. In March 2022, its owner, Alterra disclosed plans for a new base area lodge called the Mountain Commons, a 25,000-square-foot building for dining, retail, and a smoother guest arrival experience.
This photo by Frank A. Wilbur of Auburn was featured in a 16-page promotional pamphlet, “The Enumclaw Story.” Photo enhancements were undertaken by Boomer Burnham, a Tahoma High School teacher and entrepreneur who operates www.BoomersPhotography.com
