- Lost Trail, Montana/Idaho seeks permission to replace Chair 1, Chair 2 and Chair 4 with high speed quads and utilize retired equipment for a new beginner lift.
- Aerial footage shows Eagle Point’s lifts still standing after wildfire but with unknown heat damage.
- Vail Resorts vigorously defends its owned and operated network model.
- New York’s Governor forms an exploratory committee for hosting the 2042 Winter Olympics.
- The Getty Museum in Los Angeles announces a Doppelmayr automated people mover.
- Lutsen Mountains begins charging extra for private gondola cabins and priority boarding.
- Donner Ski Ranch asks guests to report lift operators distracted by cell phones.
- Leitner to reach more than 40 miles of urban gondolas throughout Mexico.
- The Forest Service approves Telluride’s proposed replacements for lifts 7 and 8.
Fire Burns Eagle Point
The Cottonwood Fire tore through Eagle Point Resort in Southern Utah yesterday evening, causing extensive damage. The human-caused fire ignited Monday and spread rapidly to more than 60,000 acres. Eagle Point was evacuated Monday evening and no injuries have been reported. “We are incredibly grateful for the firefighters and first responders who are working tirelessly to protect our community,” said Eagle Point owner Shane Gadbaw. “Conditions at the resort remain dangerous, and we are monitoring the situation closely,” he continued. “There has been significant property loss for local owners and the resort. Eagle Point will be closed for considerable time to recover from the catastrophe.” Gadbaw promised to share a more detailed update once employees return to the mountain.
As of this afternoon, infrared mapping on Watch Duty showed the fire burning 61,138 acres including a majority of Eagle Point’s terrain. All but one of Eagle Point’s five lifts were potentially affected and a photo circulating on social media showed the Canyonside Lodge engulfed in flames. Note that infrared fire perimeters are preliminary and do not necessarily reflect structure protection efforts by firefighters.
Eagle Point unfortunately becomes the latest on a list of resorts impacted by wildland fire in recent years. In 2007, a wildfire destroyed both lifts at Trinity Mountain, California, and the resort never reopend. In June 2012, a large fire burned sections of Ski Apache, New Mexico. Three lifts were destroyed and the tribe that owns the mountain hired Doppelmayr to replace them that fall at a cost of $15 million. Back in California, the Caldor Fire burned through Sierra-at-Tahoe in August 2021, damaging numerous lifts and buildings. Sierra managed to repair all lifts but missed an entire season and reopened in December 2022. The 2024 Bridge Fire burned part of Mountain High, California, damaging several lifts.
Instagram Tuesday: Summer Skiing
Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
News Roundup: Around the USA
- Alberta conceptually approves the master plan for a Fortress Mountain reboot.
- Waterville Valley and the Forest Service to host a public meeting regarding a proposed gondola on June 26th.
- Revelstoke will host an info session on the future of the resort June 24th.
- Cannon Mountain issues a request for bids for an 80 passenger tramway reusing certain components from the last tram with an expected completion date of December 1, 2028.
- Amid bankruptcy, Whitecap Mountains lists a disused CTEC for sale.
- Vail Resorts reportedly hires takeover defense bankers.
- Alterra says a new law in Colorado could unlock public funding for a Winter Park town gondola.
- Aspen-Pitkin County Airport’s new terminal design leaves room for a future gondola to town.
- The federal government will fund a new haul rope for Whaleback, New Hampshire’s double chair.
- Both ladder trucks and ropes are used to rescue riders from the skyride at Dutch Wonderland, Pennsylvania.
- Teton County, Wyoming plans an objection to Grand Targhee’s expansion plan.
- A black bear cub climbs a tower on Whistler’s Fitzsimmons 8.
- A new operator plans to reopen Spout Springs, Oregon with help from the family that owns Timberline Lodge.
- Big Sky dismantles parts of Powder Seeker to move the top terminal due to ground movement.
- Lots of construction pictures from readers this week starting with Deer Valley’s Hail Peak expansion:
- Next Caberfae Peaks, Michigan’s expansion lift:
- And finally Powderhorn, Colorado’s Wild West Express:
News Roundup: Setbacks
- Utah skier visits fell 26 percent last season, Vermont was up 4.7 percent.
- Aspen Snowmass visitation falls for the third year in a row.
- Vail Resorts reports season pass unit sales down 10 percent for next season, lowers financial guidance again.
- Vail wins a 15 year contract extension in Grand Teton National Park representing over a billion dollars gross.
- Six Park City residents appeal approval of replacement Eagle and Silverlode detachables.
- A new ski resort in Ukraine selects Doppelmayr for €47 million worth of lifts.
- A Japanese gondola operator introduces a special cabin with Dolby Atmos surround sound for an upcharge.
- A new urban gondola in Uruapan, Mexico already carries 18,000 riders per day, far exceeding expectations.
- Mt. Ashland, Oregon pushes to lift replacements to 2027 and 2028.
- Snow King’s new gondola cabins planned for summer concerts are delayed in customs but should go live soon.
- A new sightseeing gondola nears completion in BC’s Okanagan region.
- Beartooth Basin temporarily closes due to lift issues.
- Mountain Capital Partners acquires three Arizona golf resorts.
- Pico to replace the Outpost double with a new chairlift in 2027, manufacturer and model TBA.
- Planning commissioners in Georgia reject a gondola proposal on the Tennessee border but it could still be built on unincorporated land.
- A gondola proposed in Canmore, Alberta also faces fierce opposition.
- The Town of Telluride questions Telski’s plan to replace two doubles with fixed grips instead of detachables.
- Floods partially submerge chairlifts in Manitoba.
- The Governor officially opens Arkansas’ first new chairlift in 53 years.
- Pursuit’s planned $70 to $80 million in 2026 growth capital includes replacing the Jasper SkyTram with a 2S gondola, subject to Parks Canada approval.
Instagram Tuesday: Schilthorn
Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
News Roundup: Doolans
- A damaged tower at Tamarack is expected to take three to five weeks to replace following last week’s “unusual cable entanglement event.”
- Brattleboro Ski Hill in Vermont fundraises for a new Skytrac control system.
- Mont Sutton to auction unique Mueller chairs.
- Roosevelt Island asks the public what to do with original tram cabins.
- Stoneham and Leitner-Poma to complete a CA$1 million renovation of L’Aurore Boréale.
- Mountain Village, Colorado releases a 300 page report detailing local officials’ failed attempt to purchase Telluride Ski Resort.
- Vail Resorts vows not to sell as Matthew Prince continues making his case to acquire Park City.
- Casper, Wyoming expects to order a new chairlift for Hogadon Ski Area this fall.
- Colorado skier visits plunge 24 percent.
- New Hampshire visits rise 5 percent.
- In New Zealand, The Remarkables proposes the nation’s longest gondola.
- A gondola collides with a crane in Austria.
- Enjoy this progress report on the Gelande expansion at Purgatory.
Instagram Tuesday: New Connections
Every atuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
News Roundup: Targhee & Park City Approved
- Park City’s planning commission approves new Eagle and Silverlode detachables at Park City Mountain.
- The Forest Service releases a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Waterville Valley’s proposed village-to-Green Peak gondola.
- The Forest Service approves a slew of projects at Grand Targhee including Crazy Horse, Palmer and North Boundary infill lifts, replacements for Dreamcatcher and Shoshone, plus expansion lifts in South Bowl and Mono Trees (all subject to an objection period.)
- Timberline Lodge pivots away from a Government Camp gondola to replacing the Summit chair with two longer chairlifts.
- Powder Mountain to retire the Sunrise Poma in 2027, removing lift access to Cobabe Canyon for non-homeowners.
- PowMow also shifts the planned Doodle beginner lift away from Sundown, new location and timeline to be announced.
- The Town of Winter Park considers where to land a gondola.
- Doppelmayr undertakes major systems modernizations on aging detachables at Telluride, Bromont, Gunstock and Mt. Bachelor.
- Leitner releases its 2025 Reference Book.
- Powderhorn to auction Heron-Poma chairs from old West End.
- The Goldbelt tram remains closed indefinitely and refunds passholders following last month’s crash. Goldbelt is also hiring for a Tram Maintenance Manager and Tram Maintenance Supervisor.
- Even if one municipality says no, a gondola could still work in Rock City, Georgia.
- Quebec reports a strong 6.3 million skier visits and record lift ticket revenue.
- A storm knocks Tamarack’s Tamarack Express offline (photos below)
Mt. Seymour Proposes Ambitious Expansion
Mt. Seymour could become the largest of Metro Vancouver’s three ski area under a new development plan released this week. Currently the local’s mountain operates just three chairlifts and one surface lift, which could grow to 14 lifts over the coming decades. Seymour lies within Mount Seymour Provincial Park and could increase its footprint from 581 acres to 825 with comfortable carrying capacity rising from 1,717 skiers per day to 4,561. Whistler-based Brent Harley and Associates (BHA) crafted the plan. “We have the potential to expand our winter operation with excellent higher elevation intermediate terrain, mountaintop food and beverage with 360 world-class views, and a little more space for us all to breathe,” wrote Mt. Seymour. “We already carefully control our capacity to avoid overcrowding, but we all need more space.” Potential full buildout could include four new quad chairs, two double chairs and two-T-Bars. Summer offerings would grow significantly with a via ferrata, mountain biking, hiking, zip lines and more.
First could come a new Brockton Chair, which dates back to 1970 and remains one just four Murray-Latta lifts on Earth. Phase 1b also includes nearby Summit and Percy quad chairs, adding intermediate and advanced terrain. “Unique, undulating topography of the slopes will result in remarkably playful and dynamic ski terrain featuring natural bumps, rolls, and banks sought after by experienced skiers,” the plan notes. Summit would be quite long and include an intermediate station about two thirds of the way up. A double chair called Flower and access T-Bar could be built alongside Summit.
Phase three includes a new Ridge chair, located near the former Ridge double chair which stopped operations circa 2008. This fixed quad would service beginner and intermediate progression terrain. “The proximity of this lift to the rental and ski school buildings makes it very accessible to newer skiers and well suited to ski school lessons,” BHA noted. Ridge could also service a future downhill bike park.
A new quad called De Pencier would probably come last, offering a distinctive alpine experience. This phase would also include construction of a Haul Back T-Bar and Exit chair to facilitate egress. The final phase also mentions the possibility of a gondola from the foot of the mountain to the ski area similar to the Blue Grouse Gondola at nearby Grouse Mountain. “Gondolas are increasingly being employed in resort and recreation contexts where onsite parking capacity is limited or where additional vehicles would detract from the desired experience,” BHA noted. “The development of a gondola at MSR would address parking capacity issues at the resort and reduce traffic on Mount Seymour Road.” This high dollar project would need to be studied extensively in partnership with BC Parks.
Mt. Seymour plans to host an open house on June 11th from 4:30 to 7:30 pm at the Parkgate Community Centre. Comments on the plan can also be submitted online.
Lift Blog 