Earl Eaton, the man regarded as one of the founders of the Vail ski resort has died of cancer at age 85, according to the Denver Post. Eaton along with future business partner, Peter Seibert, discovered the peak wile training with the famed 10th Mountain Division in 1957 and named it “No-Name Mountain.”

When construction began in 1962, the area that was to become Vail ski resort was virtually uninhabited. Only seven years after opening, Eaton and Seibert had transformed the erstwhile wilderness into Colorado’s most popular ski resort.

Coloradoans everywhere should raise a toast tonight to Mr. Eaton and his accomplishment. He helped the state once known for cattle and cowboys into the sophisticated center of style and winter fun it is today.