Celebrating Keystone’s 50th Birthday
Put on your party pants because Keystone turns 50 years young this season! The anniversary season kicks off on November 6th, but it doesn’t stop there – follow along all season long as we turn this birthday into a birth-year party that will take place through closing day on Keystone’s social media channels. Keystone plans to highlight the resort’s fun, family-focused past, present and future, by featuring some of the resorts key people, places and historical moments, that have shaped the resort over the last half-of-century.
Q&A with Bill Bergman
Co-Founder of Keystone Resort
What was your biggest inspiration in the founding of Keystone?
Max and Edna Dercum, in their Ski Tip bed and breakfast, had a plaster mock-up of the proposed ski runs and Max, on several occasions had pulled me on my skis up the mine roads to the top of the mountain to see what it looked like. Max had a ten year first right from the Forest Service to establish the ski area and only had two months left. Max and I talked New Years Eve of 1968 and I agreed to give it a try. The rest is history.
How many years have you been skiing?
My spouse of 69 years, Jane, and I had been skiing, first in Iowa, then at Telemark, Wisconsin, all on rope tows since we were in our thirties. These days, the golf course is more my speed.
What is your favorite run at Keystone?
Paymaster because of its undulation and jumps
What is your fondest memory at Keystone?
Fondest memories were skiing with Max and Edna, and of course, my Jane.
How did you recently celebrate your birthday?
We had a big birthday party planned by my family on March 15, but it had to be abandoned because of the virus.
What is your birthday wish for Keystone?
TO STILL BE OF THIS EARTH, so hurry it up!
What would be a good gift for Keystone’s birthday?
Six feet of new snow!
Q&A with Pam Brown
Keystone employee for over 33 years!
What was your first job at Keystone?
Gondola/Lift Operator
What is your current job at Keystone?
Senior Manger of Lift Operations
How many years have you worked at Keystone?
33 years, since 1987!
What made you want to work there?
I grew up on a farm in Southeastern Indiana and had wanted to come to Colorado as long as I can remember. I grew up loving The Sound Of Music and John Denver, which made me want to come to the Mountains of Colorado.
What is your favorite run at Keystone?
I’ve always loved North Peak, especially Powder Cap on a powder day. If I want to cruise, Paymaster on the front side of Dercum is hard to beat.
What is your fondest memory at Keystone?
My first few years at Keystone there was only Keystone (now Dercum) and North Peak—no Outback— and Fondue was at the Summit House. I think it was such a unique experience that you could night ski and have a Swiss Alps/Bavarian type of dinner.
How do you celebrate your birthday?
My birthday is in May so camping and mountain biking, and being someplace warm like Moab, Fruita, or Buena Vista. I rode the White Rim trail with friends for my 50th birthday.
How should Keystone celebrate its birthday?
Start a Bill Bergman day at Keystone!
What would be a good gift for Keystone’s birthday?
A statue of Bill and Jane Bergman across from the statue of Max and Edna Dercum.
What kind of celebration do you think Keystone would like?
Music from the late 60’s and 70’s and a cake with the original Keystone logo. Everyone would also be dressed in ski equipment and attire from 1970!
Photo to right: 2002 Lift Ops crew
Q&A with Grant Ellis
Keystone employee for over 38 years
What was your first job at Keystone?
Keystone Lodge Conventions Houseman
What is your current job at Keystone?
Director of Lift Maintenance
How many years have you worked at Keystone?
Over 38
What made you want to work there?
The skiing and mountain life style.
What is your fondest memory at Keystone?
The people I have met and worked with over the years!
How do you celebrate your birthday?
Usually a steak on the grill.
What is your birthday wish for Keystone?
A safe and successful ski season.
What would be a good gift for Keystone’s birthday?
O minutes of down-time on the ski lifts!
What kind of cake/celebration do you think Keystone would like?
Keystone would definitely like to celebrate with a fresh foot of powder!
Photo to left: Grant’s employee pass from 1982
Q&A with Steve Corneillier
Retired employee of nearly 44 years
What is your connection to Keystone?
A proud and dedicated retired employee of the resort!
What was your first job at Keystone?
Shoveling snow, hauling dirty laundry and stacking firewood for Property Management & weekend parking lot attendant at the Mountain House in 1975.
How many years did you work at Keystone?
43.7 continuous years from 1975 – 2019!
What made you want to work there?
After skiing Aspen & Vail, with some high school buddies, from Minneapolis, in 1964, I simply wanted more of the Colorado mountain experience by working in the ski resort and hospitality industry after college. Keystone Resort was the right fit for my wife and I because it had year round jobs, it had the best snowmaking in Colorado, and it was close to Denver. It was also family-oriented.
What is your favorite run at Keystone?
Frenchman & Silverspoon! I was on the trail crew in 1976 when we built these trails.
How do you celebrate your birthday?
I’d be skiing if there was snow in August!
How should Keystone celebrate its birthday?
If it wasn’t for Covid, we should invite anyone that worked at Keystone in its formative years to the party, and they should wear that period of dress if they still have it, or if it still fits. My stocking cap is the only thing that still fits me… What a great photo that would be.
What would be a good birthday present for Keystone?
Arthritis cream for the original Argentine Chairlift from 1970! We should run Argentine Chairlift on the celebrated day.
What kind of cake do you think Keystone would like?
Maybe a Keystone Karrot Kake!