Washington — Crystal Mountain Resort has a new leader.
Last week, Crystal Mountain Resort announced that Linnea Hansen is the new President & COO of the ski resort. She has over two decades of experience with hospitality, consumer brands, global marketing, and operations. This has included her recent years as Vice President of Marketing & Sales at Crystal.
“Linnea is a strong leader who deeply understands Crystal Mountain and has demonstrated her dedication to Crystal’s community and its people. I am confident Linnea is the right person to guide Crystal towards realizing its full potential,” said Ron Cohen, Regional Chief Operating Officer & Executive Vice President of Alterra Mountain Company’s Western Mountain Division. “Her experience, authenticity, community presence, and collaborative approach make her the right choice to lead this special destination.”
Linnea has extensive ties to Washington. She graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts in Communications, then earned an MBA there. Before working at Crystal, she had roles with Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and Philips Healthcare. She remains involved in various local organizations, such as the Visit Rainier Tourism Board and the Enumclaw Chamber of Commerce.
“I am honored to serve Crystal Mountain in this new capacity and work alongside the amazingly talented and dedicated Crystal Mountain team,” said Linnea Hansen, President & COO, Crystal Mountain. “This resort and its surrounding community are incredibly special, and I am committed to leading with integrity, strengthening our operational excellence, and ensuring that Crystal continues to inspire guests and employees for generations to come.”
Recent History Of Crystal Mountain
Crystal Mountain has had an interesting recent history. For a long time, it was owned by Boyne Resorts, which is run by the Kircher family. However, they sold it in 2017 to John Kircher, a part of that family, who intended to keep it independent. However, Stevens Pass’s sale to Vail Resorts changed his mindset and made it clear that it needed to be on a multi-mountain pass. This is how it ended up in Alterra’s hands starting in 2018.
Since acquiring the ski resort, Alterra has made notable upgrades, including the new base lodge (Mountain Commons) and the replacement of the Rainier Express this season. However, other planned projects initially announced with the lodge replacement, such as a 100-room hotel, have stalled.
One frustration among guests has been the evolving parking lot situation, which has changed over the years due to interest from drivers from the Seattle market. Currently, parking reservations are required on weekends and holidays.
There’s also the complicated wastewater situation. In recent years, the wastewater treatment system at Crystal has been overwhelmed due to its smaller-than-needed scope. This can lead to flooding of their drain fields, which are situated below Parking B-Lot. The fear is that nutrients have leaked into local waterways, but scientists say it’s unlikely to cause any significant damage to the water.
However, it should be noted that the blame doesn’t fall solely on Alterra, as this was an unaddressed issue under previous ownerships. Washington has issued warnings to Crystal Mountain for past violations, but the ski resort is reportedly working on solving them. However, according to the Seattle Times, it could take years to implement solutions.
Ultimately, Crystal is a great mountain and has a lot going for it. But like other marquee mountains, it’ll need to keep evolving in the years ahead. Based on her experience, I think that Linnea is ready for the role.
Image/Video Credits: Crystal Mountain Resort
