Starting in 1960 an area in the rugged Northern Corries between Aviemore and Cairn Gorm was developed for alpine skiing. A road was constructed to an elevation of in Coire Cas where a ski centre was built and ski lifts and tows were installed, one going up to a new restaurant, the Ptarmigan, at . In good weather it was an easy walk from there to the Cairngorm Plateau.