Editing Keystone Resort (section)

==History==
In the 1940s, Max Dercum left his job as a forestry professor and ski racing coach at [[Pennsylvania State University|Penn State University]] to work for the Forest Service as a forester and fire spotter in Colorado. He and his wife Edna first lived in [[Georgetown, Colorado|Georgetown]] before settling on a ranch outside the village of Keystone. Max served as a rodeo clown at the Summer Rodeo. Their passion was skiing.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Strand. |first=Dercum, Edna |url=https://archive.org/details/itseasyednaitsdo00derc |title=It's easy, Edna, it's downhill all the way |date=1981 |publisher=Sirpos Press |isbn=0960646000 |location=Carbondale, Colo. |oclc=8721688 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

They skied at the Climax Mine, Loveland and Berthoud Passes, Loveland Ski Area, and Steamboat. After a race at Loveland Pass, Max filed mining claims for land around an alpine cirque that he hoped to develop into a ski area. Max served as the head coach of the ski school, and Edna quickly followed as the first female instructor at the school.{{Citation needed|date=October 2023}}

Bill Bergman and Max Dercum founded Keystone. It opened in November 1970.<ref>{{Cite web |last=REPORT |first=DAILY NEWS STAFF |date=2006-11-17 |title=Keystone recognizes resort founders Dercums and Bergmans in 36th year |url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/keystone-recognizes-resort-founders-dercums-and-bergmans-in-36th-year/ |access-date=2025-03-20 |website=www.summitdaily.com |language=en-US}}</ref>

In May 1974, Keystone was acquired by [[Ralston Purina]].<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.summitdaily.com/news/keystone-marks-40-years-of-skiing/ | title=Keystone marks 40 years of skiing | date=20 November 2010 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.vailresorts.com/Corp/heritage.aspx | title=Vail Resorts Management Company &#124; Heritage }}</ref>

=== 1976 Winter Olympics ===
Independence Mountain was an Olympic finalist and nearly selected for the alpine skiing downhill event for the [[1976 Winter Olympics|1976 Winter Olympic Games]], initially awarded to Denver, United States.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Olympics that weren't|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna35441125|access-date=2022-01-01|website=NBC News|date=18 February 2010 |language=en}}</ref> Lands owned by the Denver Water Board at the base of Independence Mountain were given consideration by the Forest Service as an alternative second base area. Speculation about conflicts in the Snake River Valley with the lynx reintroduction program stifled further study and land allocation. Prior to the formal expansion of the Keystone ski area onto Independence Mountain, this terrain was under permit by multiple guides and outfitters in the 1970s and 1980s using snowcats and helicopters for alpine skiing.{{Citation needed paragraph|date=April 2024}}

=== North Peak expansion ===
North Peak opened for skiing in 1984. Two trails, Diamond Back and Mozart, allow access to North Peak from Dercum Mountain. North Peak initially featured seven trails, serviced by two [[Lift Engineering]] triple chairlifts. Santiago serviced the North Peak pod, while Teller, now known as Ruby Express, provided egress back to Dercum Mountain. As part of the expansion, a second base area was opened at River Run, with a gondola running all the way to the Summit House. Several trails in the Spring Dipper area, and a new triple chairlift, Erickson, was also introduced.

In 1986, the original River Run Gondola was removed and replaced with a new gondola constructed by [[Von Roll]], reusing the original gondola terminals.

===1990s===
In 1990, Keystone entered the detachable industry as [[Doppelmayr USA|Doppelmayr]] constructed two [[Detachable chairlift|high speed quads]] to replace aging lifts on Dercum Mountain. The Peru Express lift replaced a Heron Poma double, providing access from the Mountain House base area to the Packsaddle Bowl and the west side of the mountain. It was supplemented by the Montezuma Express lift, which replaced a Yan triple chairlift and provided access to all trails on the upper and central part of Dercum Mountain.

In 1991, Keystone opened an expansion into the Outback, located beyond North Peak. Doppelmayr constructed three new lifts to service the expansion. A two-way gondola, known as the Outpost Gondola, was built from the summit of Dercum Mountain over to North Peak. A new high speed quad known as the Outback Express was built to service the Outback trails, and a fixed-grip quad known as the Wayback was built to service two access trails leading to the Outback as well as provide egress from the area.

In 1996, [[Vail Resorts]] announced plans to acquire Keystone and Breckenridge's parent company Ralston Resorts Inc. from Ralston Purina. The merger was approved by the [[U.S. Department of Justice]] on January 3, 1997.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.justice.gov/archive/atr/public/press_releases/1997/1021.htm|title = Colorado Ski Resort Merger Approved with Conditions to Keep Prices Lower for Skiers}}</ref>

In 1997, the Erickson triple chairlift on Dercum Mountain was removed and replaced with a new Doppelmayr high speed quad, named the Summit Express, running parallel to the River Run Gondola for its entire length. That same year, a new triple chairlift known as the Ranger was built to open up a learning area at the summit of Dercum Mountain.

In 1998, the Santiago Express was built to replace the Santiago triple chairlift on North Peak.

===2000s to 2020s===
In 2000, the original Ruby (then Teller) lift was removed and replaced with a high speed six pack. The Ruby Express was constructed by Poma and provided faster egress out of North Peak and the Outback.

In 2008, the River Run Gondola, nearing 22 years of continuous service, was retired and replaced with a new gondola. Doppelmayr constructed the replacement River Run Gondola, which had its base area terminal moved from adjacent to the Summit Express to a new location across the river. The new gondola also features a mid-station, allowing guests to upload or download from midway up Dercum Mountain, as well as a new learning area.

In 2014, the Outback Express was given a capacity upgrade to 2,400 pph, using chairs transferred over from the Peru Express and Montezuma Express lifts.

For the 2017 season, Keystone built their second high speed six pack, bringing in Leitner-Poma to replace the Montezuma Express lift. Parts from the old lift were relocated to [[Beaver Creek Resort]] and used to construct the Red Buffalo Express.

In 2021, Keystone completed the upgrade of the Peru Express lift, replacing it with a high speed 6-passenger chair. Part of this project also included removing the Argentine Chair, which was an original lift from the resort.

In 2022, Keystone expanded its lift-serviced terrain into the Bergman Bowl, including a new chairlift, new trails, new snowmaking and a ~6000 sq ft expansion of the Outpost Restaurant.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Capital Investments {{!}} Keystone Ski Resort|url=https://www.keystoneresort.com/the-mountain/about-the-mountain/capital-investments.aspx|access-date=2022-01-01|website=www.keystoneresort.com|language=en}}</ref>