The management and ownership of Kirkwood Mountain Resort are deeply saddened by the passing of Bud Klein, Kirkwood’s Founder, Patriarch and Visionary. Bud lost his battle with cancer on May 5, 2011. It was Bud’s pioneering spirit, entrepreneurial vigor and tireless energy in the early 1970s that converted a remote wilderness outpost at the pinnacle of the Sierra into one of North America’s most legendary ski mountains. Bud saw opportunity where others saw challenges – developing not only the resort, but all the roads ……

and infrastructure that would become our community. While Kirkwood was only one of Bud’s many bold investments, we know it held a special place in his heart.

Bud’s passion for Kirkwood will be difficult to replace and his support for this community will be missed. Over the past several years Bud has encouraged us all to “finish the painting” that he started and we intend to do everything we can to support his legacy. The story of Bud’s efforts and accomplishments has been chronicled in a book titled Mountain Dreamers and the history will be further memorialized in the Kirkwood Inn – the spot where Bud first put together what became Kirkwood. Bud loved his views of the Kirkwood Meadow from his Sun Meadows unit, in his honor that meadow will be renamed in a conservation trust bearing his name.

Bud Klein represented all things Kirkwood, he will be missed. The family is planning a celebration of his life in the early summer.