Crystal Resort is here to give you a great snow experience.

This Westside ski area has been offering snow facilities to local snow-lovers for 40 years- and we’re as committed as ever to downhill skiing, boarding, snow- walking and even ice-climbing fun. Welcome to our Westside ski resort’s 40th season!

How it all began

Crystal Mountain Resort began as a family project to celebrate Canada’s Centennial by giving a lasting gift to the Westside. It started in Canada’s Centennial year, 1967.

Catering to Westside and Kelowna families, the resort was run by family members Pat, Allan and Jim Mcleod, who’d gained experience at Castle Mountain in Banff, Alberta.

A lodge was built from trees harvested from the mountainside. At their resort on Mount Last, Pat ran the cafeteria, Allen manned the office and Jim handled maintenance. It wasn’t easy in the early years, but people loved the new ski facility.

In the early seasons 

Many prominent Westside residents started skiing or snowboarding ‘careers’ at Mount
Last. Among them were members of the Gorman and Findlater families.

“Crystal Mountain Resort has been a part of my life since 1967. I went there with my Community Recreation class in my graduating year. We didn’t know what we were doing- it took us all day to come down one run. In 1977 I came back with my own family, and both our sons started skiing at an early age.

David started at Crystal at age five, and Paul at age five as well. From Crystal the boys went into competition, skiing at numerous mountains. As teenagers, both boys had their first real jobs at Crystal Mountain as level 1 and 2 ski instructors. David was led into the ski industry and attended a ski hill management program at Selkirk College. That took him into Inter-Mountain Testing and safety inspection of ski lifts, a job that took him around the world. Paul started in ski patrol, then First Aid, then became a volunteer fire fighter. Now he’s an accredited international fire fighter.  David began another role on Crystal Mountain- his role as a husband. He married Kim on a knoll on one of the runs in June 2004, and they now have their first child. “

-  District of Westside Councillor Doug Findlater on the first week of Crystal’s 40th season.

"Our son, Marcus, was introduced to the joys of powder at Crystal back in the early 80s. He grew up to lead ski retreats for youth, and skiing and snow sports have never lost their magic for him."

- Dorothy Brotherton, journalist and Westside Weekly columnist, first week of the 40th season

While you were sleeping…

The people at Crystal Mountain were up in the small hours of the morning, getting the hill ready for more fun. Lee the grooming machine operator was out preparing the runs, and operations manager Mike Morin checked weather predictions and conditions, then sent out the snow report. Around dawn, rental shop staff got the gear all set. Cafeteria staff- now headed by Irene of The Cherry Pit- prepped the kitchen. The ski school and snowboard instructors came in. Next, the lift operators, ski patrol, snow hosts and office staff arrived- all to help YOU have a terrific day on the slopes.

Did you know?

The ski and board runs at Crystal Mountain Resort currently offer 200 metres of vertical slope. Located on Mount Last near the rapidly growing Westside community, the resort is 1535 metres high.   

Plans are to greatly increase the terrain over the next few years, starting in 2008 with construction of a new day lodge and the groundwork for a signature golf course, later adding more runs and accommodations.

 ‘The mountain’s vertical could be doubled, from 200 metres to 500 metres, extending Crystal Resort’s ski and boarding season,’ says mountain manager Mike Morin. ‘The expansion would also provide more challenging terrain for advanced skiers and boarders- we’ve calculated that the longest of the new runs could be a full two kilometres.‘

Find out all about our expansion plans on our website!  www.crystalresort.com

                                                                                                                   Mike and Genie Morin  

What we offer now ...  

Crystal Mountain Resort is the closest ski, snowboard and snowshoe facility to Peachland, the Westside and downtown Kelowna.

Just 20 minutes or less from Westbank and about 35 minutes from downtown Kelowna, Crystal is a friendly mountain with approved instructors, great terrain for beginner and intermediate skiers and boarders, beautiful snowshoe trails and fantastic views ! You can take guided snowshoe tours with Selah Outdoor Explorations by day or starlight. Crystal Mountain also boasts an awesome terrain park for boarders.

The people at Crystal Mountain Resort aim to make your snow experience fun and memorable, season after season.

Clouded In?

What celebrations and 40th Anniversary specials we’re having
this year on our Crystal Hill

Help us celebrate our 40th season ! YOU can make a lasting contribution to the legacy

Send in your personal stories of days on our local downhill slopes. We’ll document your story

on our special 40th Anniversary web page. We’d also enjoy hearing from those of you who are past employees of our resort, and to know what you’re doing now !

The Crystal Mountain Website
Open 24 hours a day

www.crystalresort.com is the virtual place to go before you leave the house.

Use your computer to find prices, snow conditions, information on lessons, the scoop on rentals of boards, skis or snowshoes, and the mountain’s hours of operation- as well as the weather.

No Computer?  No worries. You can always phone Crystal at 250-768-5189

New to the area ?  How to find us :

Crystal Mountain Resort is easy to find. The main turnoff is in Westbank at Highway 97 and Glenrosa Road, ighway 97 and GlenrosasHighway

 just east of the accesses to the Okanagan Connector and Peachland and famous Gorman Brothers Lumber. Turn uphill onto Glenrosa, and travel straight to the resort parking lot. Welcome!

Special, If you get dressed up in retro attire you will pay only $10 for a lift pass, If you are a pass holder and you get dressed up in retro attire you can purchase a lift pass for $10 that must be used this season.

Buck or Two Store