Crystal Mountain has a new owner and it’s not Vail Resorts or KSL Capital Partners/Aspen Skiing Company.

Related: Elysian Bikini Downhill @Crystal Is One Spicy Event

According to a recent press release, Washington State’s premiere ski area is now in the hands of its former general manager and SkiEO, John Kircher. Kircher, who’s served as a ski area operator for the last 37 years, bought the ski area this week from Boyne Resorts Inc, which still owns Sugarloaf, Big Sky, Loon, and Brighton just to name a few.

“The fact that Crystal Mountain is now the only locally owned and owner-managed ski operation runs totally counter to the corporatizing trends in the ski business.” – John Kircher, Owner Crystal Mountain

The acquisition precedes a monumental reinvestment by Kircher into mountain operations. During the summer, he hopes to invest $5 million dollars in everything from snowmaking to lift improvements. “Crystal will go into the 2017/18 season with snowmaking capabilities on the mountain unmatched anywhere else in the region,” said the new owner in a prepared statement.

Mountain Stats:

Annual Snowfall – 486″

Vertical Drop – 3,100

Base Elevation – 4,400′

Skiable Terrain – 2,600 acres

Lifts – 11

Find the entire press release here: John Kircher Acquires Crystal Mountain