When the legendary Kansas City developer J.C. Nichols was living out his final years in the 1940's, the George and Marjorie Nichols family was struggling to survive upon the farmlands of tiny Mankato, Kansas.
Although this was the heartland, the source of food for the entire country, putting food on the table was not easily achieved---- if at all. But more than crops would grow for this family headed by two good parents. A love of learning, prolific hard work, ambition, and an appetite for adventure was instilled and born in each of their seven children. Each would go on to do great things in life.
Two of George's sons, Burt and Frank, would later become developers themselves and would make their mark upon the rugged and beautiful landscapes of the west some two decades later.
The eldest son Burt would join the U.S. Navy and later graduate from the Naval Academy. Work, travel and adventure in Europe would introduce Burt to the relatively new sport of skiing and ski resort development. This knowledge and fascination would not end in Europe but would later become the driving force behind Burt's career and notoriety.
By the early 1960's Burt was a young and energetic executive with Hughes Aircraft in Southern California. However, his interest in ski resorts had not left him. After a stint with developing a ski resort in Williams Arizona, Burt wanted to determine the perfect place to locate a ski resort in the west. This place had to be easily accessible to the major population centers of the west, namely Los Angeles, San Diego, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Burt pulled out a map and located a site near Cedar Breaks National Monument in Southern Utah. This is where Burt and his partners would build their ski resort and community. This is where their dream would be realized.
Brianhead resort would become a reality in a few short years.
Burt had to keep his day job in California to both finance and promote this new venture. In 1964, Burt would receive some help and support from his younger brother Frank. Frank was still quite young, in his early 20's and had just gotten out of the Navy. He was curious what his older brother was up to in Utah. So he hitchhiked across the country to go find out for himself.
Frank could scarcely have imagined that he would never leave Utah. He would find his home, his wife and family, his education and his career, as well as a lasting legacy.
During these early years in Utah, Frank would help Burt build his projects and would sell Real Estate to pay the bills. Frank claims that he is the first full-time Real Estate agent in the region, citing that all of this then fellow agents relied on other means to provide a living.
He was fortunate to enroll and later graduate from Southern Utah State College in Accounting.
However, he fancied that some day he could become a Ranger for the Forest Service. He loved the land and wanted to be living out in it. The thought of a desk job was not appealing so he quickly eschewed the career path that his friends and fellow accounting graduates would take.
Frank never became a Ranger, though he would spend his career in the outdoors as he had dreamed. Land would become his passion and his career. It is his love and where his mastery lies. Frank would become a prolific investor, developer, and builder of all things Real Estate.
The 1980's were both exhilarating and tough times for the Nichols. Burt was doing massive expansions at Brianhead, now living in Utah full time and managing the resort. Burt would acquire beach properties in California and great Ranches in Arizona.
Toward the end of the 80's, Burt would leave Utah under inauspicious circumstances. Ironically, as he was leaving he would be inducted into the Utah tourism hall of fame.
He then moved to Texas to build another empire. This time would be another of his passions: Japanese koi fish, water filters, manufacturing and fun.
Frank's experience in the 80's was likewise trying. His projects in Iron County were tough to sell. With interest rates near 20%, nobody was buying. Making payments was increasingly difficult. Many, if not all, of his contemporaries were already bankrupt. Frank would pay back all of his creditors and live to fight another day, but the battle scars would remain. Better times would come with the 1990's and 2000's thank goodness.
Today, the Nichols companies are joined by new family members to extend an already rich legacy of struggles and successes.
With several decades of experience and history behind them, you'd think they'd be ready for a break. But, not a chance, they feel like things are just beginning!
