Built by operators, not marketers.
DEK Builds LLC was founded in 2026 and is headquartered at 1603 Capitol Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001. We were set up specifically to acquire ski resorts, distressed ski assets, and mountain real estate across North America, with committed capital from our family office to fund acquisitions.
I am Daniel Kaufman, founder of DEK Builds. I've spent my career building, financing, and operating real estate across the Mountain West, Texas, Florida, and the Northeast. DEK Builds is where that experience is applied specifically to ski and mountain assets.
- Founded
- 2026
- Headquarters
- Cheyenne, Wyoming
- Structure
- Principal capital, family office backed
- Founder
- Daniel Kaufman
Daniel Kaufman, founder of DEK Builds.
A gap the big platforms leave behind
The ski industry has consolidated hard around a handful of large multi-resort operators over the past two decades. That has left a real gap for independent mountains, aging assets, and closed resorts that don't fit a big platform's model but still have real value to the right buyer.
“There's a real gap in this market between the handful of large operators consolidating destination resorts and the independent mountains that get left behind. We're built to move into that gap.” Daniel Kaufman, Founder & CEO, DEK Builds
How we operate
Principal capital
We invest committed family office capital directly. We are not raising a fund and we are not brokering deals for a fee.
Speed and discretion
We can move quickly on off-market and broker-sourced opportunities alike, and we can keep a process quiet when that matters to a seller.
Operating experience
Decisions are made by people who have actually built, financed, and operated real estate, not by an investment committee working from a memo.
Long term hold
We reinvest in what we buy. Our plan for a property extends past closing into capital improvements, reopening, or redevelopment.