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The longtime owner of Alta Lodge, Bill Levitt, has died.
Levitt died Tuesday at the age of 92 after he collapsed while dining at the Alta Lodge, said his friend Alan Engen.
Levitt made a name for himself by establishing the Alta Lodge as a premier ski destination, as well as earning the distinction as one of the longest running mayors in Utah's history.
Levitt served as Alta's mayor for 34 years. He stepped down four years ago.
"There's an awful lot you could say about Bill Levitt. He truly made a lifetime of contributions at Alta," said Engen, who is director of skiing at Alta and chairman of the Alta Historical Society -- an organization Levitt co-founded.
"He made many contributions and made many friends. He was loved by everybody. He was a longtime friend of my family. He will be truly missed."
A news release in February 2009, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Levitt's purchase of the Alta Lodge in 1959, recalled how the man fell in love with the ski resort after moving from New York City in 1954.
He started in the ski industry after a career in documentary filmmaking.
"I fell in love with Alta and figured out this was the place to be. From that point, moving the family to Alta was an easy decision to make. The unique beauty in the mountains was a stark contrast to our New York life," Levitt said in the news release.
"We want to provide a safe haven for our guests, especially in
Alta Lodge opened in 1939 as Alta's first ski hotel. When the Levitt family took over in 1959, they made a few changes to the hotel, which is known for its charm. The family added two wings during the 1960s, increasing the number of rooms from 20 to 57, each of which had its own bathroom. Before that, Alta Lodge had only an indoor outhouse.
Bill Levitt was a fixture around Alta, along with his wife, Mimi, said Engen. He is survived by family, including his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Brian Lohnes, an assistant manager at Alta Lodge, said the Levitt family was gathering late Tuesday in Alta. No other details were immediately available.
