A Brief History of Keystone
Keystone’s history reaches beyond its ski slopes. In 1883, the Denver, South Park & Pacific Railroad reached a depot here, serving mining and timber operations in the Snake River Valley. Recreation later transformed the community. Max and Edna Dercum, together with Bill and Jane Bergman, helped establish Keystone Resort in 1970, beginning a new chapter centered on skiing and mountain tourism. For decades, the community remained part of unincorporated Summit County. Residents subsequently organized a local government, approved a charter and elected a council. Keystone completed its incorporation as a home-rule town on February 8, 2024, distinct from the resort’s much earlier founding.
Historical Sources
Town of Keystone: incorporation process