Keystone Announces Passing Of Industry Legend Bill Bergman

Yesterday, Keystone Resort, Colorado, announced that its co-founder, Bill Bergman, had passed away at 99.

Bergman was a local legend, credited as a pioneering member of Colorado's world-renowned ski industry.

Bergman, who was born in Iowa, co-founded Keystone Resort alongside his wife, Jane, and Max and Edna Dercum.

Bergman played a pivotal role in the nascent resort's development, pursuing potential investors, some of whom he drew from his law office in Cedar Rapids. He later went on to serve as the resort's first president while his wife worked as the chief marketer.

While Bergman eventually passed the reigns of resort operation to Bob Maynard, his legacy lives on at Keystone. Atop Keystone stands the titular Bergman Bowl, named in Bergman's honor.

And now, the visionary resort leader is getting a chairlift. The Bergman Express, constructed this summer, is a high-speed six-person chairlift slated to serve the Bergman and Erickson Bowls. The new lift is finished—Keystone is just waiting for more snow to fall before announcing its debut.

This summer, before his passing, Bergman was given a tour of the new Express, offering him a glimpse into the future of the resort he helped shape.

"On behalf of Keystone and our entire resort family, I want to express my deepest condolences to the Bergman family and all of the family members, friends and resort employees who have been impacted by the extraordinary life of Bill Bergman. Bill was a legend and a visionary here at Keystone and the inspiration for Bergman Bowl. We will miss Bill's presence at the mountain, in our community and his favorite place, the golf course," wrote Chris Sorensen, Vice President and General Manager, Keystone Resort, in honor of Bergman.

Related: Brighton Resort Announces Opening For Night Skiing

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