Page 8 - Winter Park 75 Years

FOREWORD
There are so many things in the world that can and do change our lives. Our parents are the first influencers we experience and it continues from there with our own children, careers, friends, etc. But when I think of things that have consistently changed the lives of thousands of people I have to put Winter Park Resort on that list.
Winter Park Resort is not just a spot on a map or a statistic in the travel industry. For millions
of people it has become a lifestyle and core to their culture. There are many things that make
the resort special including its location at the base of the Continental Divide; the ownership and relationship it has with the City and County of Denver; its dedication to teaching people “the art of skiing” as was required in the original document creating the Winter Park Recreational Association in 1950; the National Sports Center for the Disabled; the resort’s family orientation and inclusion of people from all walks of life; and of course its abundant snowfall. But with all of this having been said, the key to the success of the resort has been the courage, dedication, creativity, and loyalty of the people who have had any level of involvement with what we do.
This book is intended to memorialize the first seventy-five years of our history but more importantly it is intended to honor all of the people who have been part of the resort’s success over the years. With this in mind, it is dedicated to the millions of people who have been involved with Winter Park Resort for those seventy-five wonderful years. This dedication goes to the visionaries who conceived the idea of building a ski resort in the Colorado Rockies in the 1930s
as well as the visionaries over the years who were here to help the resort grow, improve, and prosper. The dedication goes to the thousands of people who have worked at the resort and to their families and friends who supported them through countless hours of work, many times in very difficult weather conditions. The dedication includes the thousands of volunteers and their families who have also given freely of their time to make this a better place. And this would not be complete without including all of the people who have skied, competed, and ridden here
over the years as well as the people who are now homeowners within the resort’s property and community; they brought their families and friends with them and they too have shaped what we have been and what we are today.
If you are reading this you are most likely a part of what I have described above. We have all been part of a rich past and have created something that will enhance lives for many years to come.
Sincerely,
Gary DeFrange, President / COO Winter Park Resort
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FOREWORD