Resorts

Brian Head Ski Resort Owner Jim Trees Dies
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Published on Tuesday, July 08, 2008 - 03:25 PM






Brian Head, UT - The primary owner, President and CEO of Utah's Brian Head ski resort, Jim Trees, died suddenly on Monday, June 2 of cardiac arrest while on his daily walk in Tiburton, Calif. He was 69.

Since purchasing Brian Head Resort in 1992, Trees implemented many new improvements at the ski area including the installation of an extensive snowmaking system, a vehicle maintenance facility, and most recently two new chairlifts and a skier bridge to connect the formerly two separate mountains, Giant Steps and Navajo. He was the driving force behind master planning and entitling the resort's future expansion into an adjacent 1,700 acre parcel of land, as well as working to secure entitlements for a future new skier village at the base of the current Giant Steps base area.


Trees also co-owned and managed Trees Ranch, a 2,100 acre property adjacent to Zion National Park, which includes Springdale Fruit Company, a 200 acre organic apple orchard and Utah's first. Upon moving to Utah in the early 1980's, Tres became the founder and Chairman of the Grand Canyon Trust, a highly successful and effective environmental group for the region. Prior to moving to Utah, he was the founder, Chairman and CEO of Fischer, Francis, Trees and Watts, Inc., an SEC-registered large investment management firm in New York City. He received his Ph.D. from Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. in International Finance. Trees relocated in 1997 with his two children from his Utah ranch to the San Francisco Bay Area.

Trees is survived by his two daughters, Willow and Sierra; a brother, Jack; and sister Joanne Davis, both of Lake Forest, Ill. A memorial service was held July 23 at Trees' beach home in Sagaponack, N.Y.
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