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Sandy Journal

Ski & Snowboard News /Snowbird icon Dick Bass dies at 85

Jul 28, 2015 07:14PM ● By Harriet Wallis

photo credit: Snowbird Resort

Visionary Dick Bass and his partner Ted Johnson began construction of Snowbird in 1970 and Bass bought out his partner in 1974. Snowbird is known as one of the nation's top resorts. He fulfilled his dream of bringing people together with nature in a great alpine setting where they could recreate and renew.

Bass died at home in Texas of pulmonary fibrosis. He was 85.

He loved art and literature and had an incredible Oriental rug collection at Snowbird. The huge, colorful rugs carpeted the floors in the main lodge. Skiers probably had no idea they were walking on a fabulous collection. In addition to those rugs, he hired rock climbers to scale the massive concrete walls and hang some of the rugs there for display.

When he was 55, he was the oldest man to climb the highest peak on each of the continents. He chronicled his experiences in his book, Seven Summits.

In addition to Snowbird, he had investments and holdings in numerous other companies.

Witty and lively, he was always in a jovial mood and loved to indulge listeners with tales of everything. He called himself "the big mouth Bass."