Timeline: 1960's
1961
William M. "Bill" Black becomes president of the board through 1968.
1962
The board launches second stock sale, $300,000 of additional Class A stock (at $5 5 per share instead of $50, but with the same lift privilege), $200,000 of which is slated to build the new Green Valley chairlift in 1963.
In April, the Forest Service issues Crystal's "Term Special Use Permit" for a period of twenty years (later amended to thirty).
Summer sees a hubbub of final construction. Newspaper headlines trumpet "Ski Area Is Readied at Crystal Mountain" and "Crews Rush Work at Crystal Mt. Ski Area."
On November 14, Governor Rosellini presides over "Official Dedication" and "Crystal Mountain Preview" at the junction of Highway 410 and the hardwon Crystal Mountain road, four miles of it completed, with a single lane of gravel and dirt the rest of the way to the Day Lodge.
Opening day is December 8. Crystal Mountain Ski Area starts operation with Miners Basin double (C-1), Iceberg Ridge double (C-2), seven rope tows, a T-bar on the Gold Hills slope, and the Day Lodge.
Jack Nagel moves ski school and racing program from Stevens Pass, setting up Crystal's resident ski school and ski shop with then-wife Donna and founding what would become the Crystal Mountain Alpine Club.
1963
Green Valley double (C-3) comes online in December.
1964
Silver Skis Chalet opens in February, the first condominium development in Washington State.
The legendary Silver Skis race from Rainer's Camp Muir to Paradise is revived at Crystal as part of the Pacific Northwest Ski Association's downhill championships. Silver Skis races are subsequently held at Crystal 1965-69, with a weather cancellation in 1967 and format change to giant slalom in 1969.
Alpine Inn and Snorting Elk open in early December.
Crystal Inn and restaurant open in mid-December, along with the pool and Bullion House built by the same development group (C-M Inn Co.). Crystal Inn offers condo units and hotel accommodations.
Summit House (a.k.a. "warming hut") opens at top of Iceberg Ridge lift (C-2).
1965
Quicksilver double (C-4) comes online in December.
National Collegiate Ski Championships event is held March 25-27.
National Alpine Championships and P-I Silver Skis International is held April 2-4.
1966
Chapel is built in spring and summer.
Crystal House (today's Quicksilver Lodge) is built.
Howard "Huck" Paulsen is named Crystal's area superintendent, taking over from General Manager Mel Borgersen. Paulsen is superintendent through 1968. Frank Webb is shop supervisor.
1967
Forest Service issues moratorium on condo development on federal land, which lasts until 1973. Silvers Skis and Crystal Chalets are two of only three condominiums on Forest Service land in the country.
Night skiing comes to Crystal with the illumination of Quicksilver, "one of the longest lighted ski runs in the world."
1968
National Alpine Championships and 15th P-I Silver Skis Downhill event is held March 8-10.
Day Lodge reconstruction in summer repairs damage from second-floor fire the previous February.
H. E. "Ed" Link takes over from Huck Paulsen, becoming president of the company and general manager for a long tenure that lasts until 1981. Don Christianson is his area superintendent.
Tedrowe Watkins becomes chairman of the board through 1975.
1968 Ski Team
