1979

Throughout my childhood years I had the opportunity to go up with the crews designing the Snowmass Ski Area as well as the teams that researched the possibility of building a resort on Haystack Mountain.  In the end Snowmass became a reality while the Haystack Mountain research may have been nothing more than posturing to prevent a competitor from developing it.  The mountain never became a resort.

Little did I know that would not be the first time I was a part of new ski area.  Years later, in 1979 I was given the opportunity to fly to Park City, Utah to see the new Deer Valley Ski Resort while it was under construction.

As the Class President my senior year one of my tasks was to find the keynote speaker for our graduation ceremony in June of that year.  I considered a number of local celebrities and businessmen for the task and in the end I was able to get Edgar Stern.  Edgar Stern was a successful businessman with his roots in the south where he had a number of holdings through his Royal Street Corporation.  He had also been involved in other resorts in Park City, Utah and owned the Sir Francis Drake Hotel in San Francisco.  Locally he had a number of holdings and was responsible for the creation of the exclusive Starwood residential community. 

During my conversations with Mr. Stern, the new Deer Valley Resort that he was developing came up as did my love of flying and all things aviation.  When he offered to let me go with him the following weekend to check out the new ski resort, I nearly fell out of my skin.  Not because I cared all that much about the ski area, I was more interested in how we were going to get there.

Over the years Mr. Stern had owned a number of private aircraft including a Gulfstream I and a King Air.   In 1979 he owned a Sabreliner 40A, a seven passenger corporate jet.  I had never flown in a business jet and the opportunity to do so was irresistible.  The trip to Salt Lake City International took about an hour and a half.  We landed in Salt Lake City since the local Park City airport could not accommodate aircraft of that size or weight.  It was a really fun ride over the mountains but it did not last anywhere near long enough.

In Salt Lake City we grabbed a rental car for the quick trip up to Park City.  All joking aside, I remember the Osmond’s were on the radio when we climbed into the car which seemed only fitting.

Our day included hiking around on a few of the trails that were already cut as well as looking at the potential paths the lifts would follow on the slopes.  We also looked at all the buildings that were under construction in the base area.  Our return trip home was just as quick and every bit as much fun. 

A few months later Edgar Stern spoke at our graduation.  His message escapes me but the ride on his Sabreliner never will.  Deer Valley opened two years later, in the winter of 1981.  I have never skied there but it is still on my “bucket list.”