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Jack dePagter

Jack DePagter

Back in 1951, the idea of Aspen as a winter resort was still taking hold and following the Christmas rush the ski lifts actually closed for several weeks, leaving residents with not much to do and plenty of time to do it. So Jack DePagter—lodge owner and Hotel Jerome bartender—came up with the idea of a series of events to keep the locals entertained, and maybe draw a few tourists to town…

…and Wintersköl was founded.

Fifty-seven years later, Wintersköl is still giving Aspenites plenty of reason to celebrate.

Aspen Times, Photo: Aspen Historical Society