HISTORY OF THE SUMMIT

The Northwest tradition of skiing on Snoqualmie Pass began in the 1920's and 30's, pre-dating the 1937 opening of the Snoqualmie Summit Ski Area. The earliest skiers were a hardy group of world-class ski jumpers who hiked up hill and competed on a jump built by the Seattle Ski Club, near Beaver Lake Hill. Interest in the sport by both jumpers and spectators grew rapidly, and in 1933 the Seattle Parks Department applied for a permit from the United States Forest Service to establish a ski hill at Snoqualmie Pass.

Summit West

At the same time, Ski Lifts, Inc founder Webb Moffett, obtained permission from the Forest Service to construct a rope tow, also at Snoqualmie Pass. When World War ll two broke out, Moffett and his partners continued to operate Summit West, then known as Snoqualmie Summit, gambling that Northwest skiers would maintain their enthusiasm for skiing. The gamble paid off and devoted skiers pooled their gas ration coupons to continue skiing at the fledgling ski area. Encouraged by this success in the face of wartime adversity, Moffett focused on developing the area after the war. In an innovative move, Snoqualmie Summit (now called Summit West) became the nation's second night skiing area. Moffett installed old gas station lights so his employees could ski after the paying customers had gone home. Soon, customers started staying after dark to ski under the lights and night skiing was born. Today, The Summit is the nation's largest night skiing area.

Thunderbird, Summit West's first chairlift, was installed in 1954. Additional chairlifts and numerous buildings have been added over the years.

Summit Central

In 1948, Ray Tanner purchased 350 acres of privately owned land east of Snoqualmie Summit and opened a new ski area at The Summit, Ski Acres. The first year there were two rope tows and the following year he built the first chairlift in Washington. This was the beginning of a long but friendly competition with neighboring Snoqualmie Summit. Ski Acres is now called Summit Central.

In 1980, Ski Lifts, Inc. acquired Summit Central, combining the two largest ski areas on Snoqualmie Pass into one single operation. In 1988, Summit Central expanded with the construction of the Silver Fir Triple chairlift, east of the existing ski area.

Alpental

Alpental was built in 1967 by a partnership of Tacoma businessmen. In one busy summer, three chairlifts and a base lodge were built. Noted mountaineers Jim and Lou Whittaker hiked up the proposed runs to see if the terrain was suitable for skiing. Their conclusion was a surprise - they thought the terrain was too steep! The hook was set for the challenge of Alpental.

Financial burdens of avalanche control, as well as maintaining and plowing the Alpental Road, forced the Tacoma partnership to sell the ski area to Westours, Inc., a subsidiary of the cruise ship company, Holland America. Westours' hope was to create viable "off-season" employment for its employees who worked summers in Alaska. Their plan proved to be unsuccessful, and Westours sold Alpental to Ski Lifts, Inc. in 1983.

Read about Alpental's early history here. (PDF file - Requires Adobe Acrobat Viewer)

Summit East

Summit East's origin dates back to the late 1930's when it was first operated as the Milwaukee Ski Bowl. The area was later renamed Hyak, and operated by a succession of owners. In 1992, Ski Lifts, Inc. purchased the Hyak Ski Area from Pacific West. The area boasts incredible scenery and consistent fall-line skiing. The area is currently open weekends only. A series of cross-over trails allow alpine skiing from Summit East to Summit West, a distance of approximately three miles.

Privately operated cross country skiing operations began at Hyak as early as 1974. In 1982, The Summit Nordic Center was built, and today offers 50km of machine groomed trails. The lower trail system was designed for beginners. The Silver Fir chairlift provides access to the upper trail system and the trails that wind around Mr. Catherine.

Booth Creek Resorts

In 1997, Ski Lifts, Inc. was purchased by Booth Creek Ski Holdings, Inc., the fourth largest ski resort company in the United States. At the time of purchase, Ski Lifts, Inc. was comprised of Hyak (now called Summit East), Ski Acres (now called Summit Central) Snoqualmie Summit (now called Summit West), Alpental, the Nordic Center, and the Snowflake Tubing Center (now called The Summit Tubing Center).

CNL Income Properties, Inc.

In January of 2007, CNL Income Properties, Inc., a Florida-based real estate investment trust, purchased and subsequently leased The Summit at Snoqualmie back to Booth Creek Ski Holdings.

Boyne USA Resorts

In October of 2007, Michigan-based Boyne USA Resorts became the lease holder for The Summit, a role previously held by Booth Creek Ski Holdings. While still owned by CNL Income Properties, Inc., The Summit will be operated and managed by new lease holder, Boyne USA Resorts. Other Boyne Resorts include: Cypress Mountain near Vancouver, British Columbia, Big Sky Resort in Montana, Boyne Mountain and Boyne Highlands in Michigin, Brighton in Utah, Crystal Mountain in Washington, Sugarloaf/USA and Sunday River Resort in Maine, Loon Mountain in New Hampshire, and Gatlinburg Sky Lift in Tennessee.