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Toasting the future at SkiCo's 75th anniversary celebration

Aspen Public Radio | By Halle Zander

Published January 17, 2022 at 6:55 PM MST

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Mike Kaplan, left, and Jim Crown toast with Champagne in front of the base of the original Lift 1 chair in Willoughby Park on Jan. 11. Kaplan is the CEO of the Aspen Skiing Co., and Crown, whose family owns the skiing company, is the managing partner. After delivering speeches to a crowd of employees and guests, the two men broke Champagne bottles on the base of the chairlift and toasted the company's 75th anniversary.

Halle Zander / Aspen Public Radio

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Jim Crown and two women whom he introduced as his daughters, Summer, left, and Hayley, pose at the original Lift 1 chairlift at the base of Aspen Mountain on Jan. 11. Crown asked his daughters to join him by the chair while he spoke about Aspen values and his family's connection to the city.

Halle Zander

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Jim Crown, managing partner of the Aspen Skiing Co., breaks a bottle of Champagne over the base of the original Lift 1 chair on Jan. 11. It took Crown four attempts to break the bottle, which resulted in a large cut on one of his fingers. His daughter Hayley helped him bandage the wound after the festivities settled down.

Halle Zander

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A crowd gathers in Willoughby Park on Jan. 11 to celebrate Aspen Ski Co.'s 75th anniversary.

Halle Zander

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Skiers and snowboarders wait outside the Sundeck to ski down Aspen Mountain to the base of Lift 1A. The participants, most of whom were Aspen Skiing Co. employees, rode down the mountain together and walked to Willoughby park to hear celebratory speeches from SkiCo CEO Mike Kaplan and managing partner Jim Crown.

Halle Zander

On Jan. 11, 1947, state and local politicians gathered to celebrate the first season of lift-served skiing on Aspen Mountain. And on Jan. 11, 2022, a crowd formed at Willoughby Park to commemorate the 75th anniversary of that celebration. Photos from the event are posted here for the historical record. Please see related story, Aspen Skiing Co. celebrates 75 years since the official opening of Aspen Mountain's original chairlifts.

Aspen Skiing Company 75th Anniversary Celebration

Aspen Skiing Co. managing partner Jim Crown breaks a bottle of Champagne to celebrate 75 years of lift-served skiing at Aspen Mountain. After several attempts, Crown finally broke the bottle over the original Lift 1 chair. Crown sustained a minor injury to his hand from the broken glass.