When detachable lifts were invented, no one knew exactly how many years they might last before having to be replaced. Now at 35 years since the first high speed quad went in at Breckenridge, we are getting an idea of what that number is. Twenty-two early high speed quads built in the 1980s have been removed and replaced so far at an average age of 23.8 years. The oldest of these was the Siberia Express at Squaw, removed this spring after 30 years of service. There are six more detachable quads built the same year as Siberia that are going into their 31st winter season.
Some would say that rather than looking at a lift’s model year and the associated technology, what really matters is operating hours. A machine that runs winter- and daytime-only will accumulate around a thousand hours a year while the Whistler Village Gondola will rack up 3,500 hours in the same year spinning 18 hours per day all winter and all summer. Since there’s no way for me to know how many hours most lifts have I will have to stick with looking at them by model year.
Every high speed quad built since 1990 is still operating, although not necessarily in its original location. The only exception is Marble Mountain’s Governor’s Express, which burned down last August. Even most of that machine is being re-used at Marble or Powderhorn in Colorado. An impressive 431 out of the 473 high speed quads built in the US and Canada are still operating in their original locations. When you take out the Yan detachables (which were mostly scrapped for obvious reasons,) 17 out of 29 removed detachable quads are still operating in a new location. In other words, only 12 of the 450 high speed quads built by Doppelmayr/CTEC/Leitner/Poma have been scrapped. Even one of the Yan detachable quads from Silver Star lives on; you can ride it at Nazhvan Park in Iran where faulty grips may be the least of your worries. Other older detachable quads like Snowmass’ Fanny Hill and Stowe’s FourRunner were converted into fixed-grip chairlifts in new locations rather than being scrapped.
So what is the future for the 200 aging high speed quads that were built in the 1990s? If you figure the average detachable is replaced at 23.8 years as mentioned above, the peak year for replacement of these machines will be in 2022. Even if only half of the detach quads built in 1998 are replaced in 2022, that’s a huge 16 new detachables. Pretty significant when you consider lots of high speed lifts replace fixed-grips or go in new locations altogether. Just three older high speed quads are being replaced in 2015 so there’s a long ways to go if we are going to see those numbers in five years.
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Then you sometimes have to factor in that some of these detachable lifts have been modified, like, new chairs, or new infrastructure, even the older ones.
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Would the detachables built in the 1990s have longer lifespans than the ones from the 1980s? Many of the early fixed grips had shorter lifespans than more modern chairs.
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I think you may be right but we’ll have to wait and see. The chain-driven terminals of the 80s were trouble from the start.
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Might be of interest to note the Horse Hill detachable *triple* chair which was ordered from Doppelmayr for Mt Buller in 1979 then cancelled at the last minute. I wonder if it was the first order in the world?
Then of course Mt Buller is still operating the Blue Bullet detachable quad built in 1983/84 by Doppelmayr. It’s based on the original Breckenridge Quicksilver SuperChair model and was actually ordered by Breckenridge when Mt Buller ‘commandeered’ it in Nov 1983 (Breck had time to get a new one ahead of 1984/85). It’s done somewhere upwards of 35,000 hours (after its sister chair was cannibalised for grips).
My question is – is Blue Bullet the oldest detachable or Doppelmayr detachable still operating in the world?
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Great insights Dave. Yes, Blue Bullet probably is the oldest operating Doppelmayr detachable chairlift. Although there may be a double or triple like this one still spinning in Europe: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkZb0gTeCwc&t=2s The former Quicksilver lift you mention that is only months newer than Blue Bullet still operates at Owl’s Head, Quebec: https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd4-du-lac-doppelmayr-4243.html
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How about the high speed 8-person gondolas? The one at Steamboat is the first 8 person built in the US and is 31 years old this year.
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No question Steamboat should be looking at replacement. River Run at Keystone was also an ’86 and was replaced in 2008.
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Yeah, I drove up there in 08 when all the old gondolas were in the parking lot. It was the only Von Roll lift that I had ever ridden before, I really liked her.
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Just an FYI for readers that the Governor’s Express at Marble Mountain (Steady Brook, Newfoundland) caught fire due not to a mechanical fault, but because of a lightning strike.
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I can hardly believe it’s been a decade since you posted this. Since 2015, 55 detachables have been replaced with at least 14 relocated. The 10-year average was 5.5 detachables replaced per year, rising well since 2022. I believe it’s because one of the rising challenges with high-speed lifts is that they have had shorter lifespans than fixed-grips since they have a lot more mechanical parts. I need to check the math here but my guess is detachables have lasted at least 25-30 or more years.
I’m curious to know how long Doppelmayr D-Lines will last, given their breakthrough technology, easier maintenance, etc. Per Doppelmayr’s website and insights I’ve gained from Boyne Mtn Company, D-Lines are supposed to last more than traditional high-speed lifts It’s been over a decade since the first D-Line has opened in Austria and it looks to have fared pretty well so far, but only time will tell.
I’m also curious on how other revolutionaries like direct-drives, new slower-running terminal technology influences lifespan of high-speed lifts.
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I will say, Japan has some really old detachable lifts and I am amazed to see them still running. Not sure how they are getting parts, but they keep really good care of them. One reason for the lack of improvements in Japan is due to the crash of Yen and how expensive new lifts are these days. In addition, I have come across several abandoned high speed lifts in Japan at resorts where they simply have kept them standing, one looking to be a 1997 Agamatic HSQ.
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Yes, Japan has numerous abandoned detachables, far more than any other country. I created a spreadsheet awhile ago that begins to categorize the (standing) lost detachables in Japan.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1huBLXKdtIYVuuxYnHQuH-C8oDcCmC5MO6VMRy5vATOo/edit?usp=sharing
A few stand out:
Shirakwara Kogen has an abandoned Leitner bubble quad (constructed in 1999, abandoned in 2001). It will apparently sit their and rot indefinitely.
Yanaba Snow Park has a fairly unique looking Nippon Cable detachable that’s been closed since 2016
Hakusen Sena Kogen has an extremely long lost Ansaku 6-person gondola lift.
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Additionally, if you’re talking about truly “modern” abandoned detachable lifts, Kozuf Ski area in North Macedonia has an abandoned 2002 Doppelmayr six pack. When it was built, apparently it had a parking garage, but the roof has since collapsed? The rest of the lift looks fine, just extremely overgrown.
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Thats super cool, im exited to look through it. Do you have any other documents like this?
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The Kozuf Six Pack in North Macedonia was built in 2007 and its called Markovo Ezero.
The Shirakawa Kogen Leitner Bubble HSQ was built in 1995 by evident of Chair Design, Yan Compact style terminals, and the Sheave Trains mounted above the crossarm rather than below
The Kusatsu Shizukayama Quad is a Tosaku with unique footrest equipped chairs
All of Myoko Pine Valleys lifts are Ansaku Brand
The Omote Manza Quad is a Bubbled Ansaku
The Hakusan Sena Quad is a Ansaku
Kuriko Kokusai and Karigahara are both Taihei branded lifts
Asahi Tenguston Snow Park has a Taihei Gondola with unique gondola carriers
Inawashiro Resort did had a Nippon Cable Gondola
Ilzuma Kogen has a extinct species of Quad Chair, it is a 1994 Mitsubishi Garaventa brand
Theres also another abandoned 2000 Japanese Leitner Quad at Kazawa Snow
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Great list, thank you for sharing! I believe St. Mary ski area in the Miyagi prefecture has a Ansaku quad from 1990. Not sure if it is still standing. In addition to Japan’s lost resorts, there are also other abandoned detachable lifts at operating resorts all throughout Japan. Some areas that come to mind would be Nukabira in Hokkaido with 2 abandoned Nippon Cable detachables (one with bubbles) and Suginohara Myoko’s n°1 quad.
I have also done similar research on this, I have been able to confirm some of the missing stats in your database. From google earth footage, I believe Iizuna Kogen’s quad is Garaventa, as it has AK-4 grips. The quad at Omote Manza is likely Ansaku from the chair/bubble design. Lift-world info lists it as Ansaku as well. The same source also lists the quad at Kuriko Kokusai as a 1987 Taihei (Stadeli). Lift-World info also lists the gondola and doubles at Myoko Pine Valley as Ansaku. Seems more likely since Ansaku doubles typically featured longer terminals, however it would be near impossible to tell without photos of the top terminals. I believe Geihoku Kokusai also has a quad from the same era as the six pack with DT grips and Uni terminals so it is likely it was installed in the late 1990s. Additionally, Karigahara’s detachable quad is also Taihei from 1991. Photos of the chair design likely confirms this as well. Despite what SnowJapan states, I believe Asahi Tenguston’s gondola has been removed. Only the top terminal and towers appear to remain as of 2023 Google Earth Footage, street view confirms this as well.
I realize I am being very nitpicky here, I do wonder if there is a comprehensive database of Japan’s lifts other than lift-world info. Such an interesting history along with how much ski lift/resort investment occurred in the years leading up to the bubble.
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@kiroro236 I did not initially see your comment before posting, my bad for the repeat info!
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Thanks Kiroro and Utah Powder Skier! I updated the sheet.
It also looks like Niyama Kogen near Hakodate may have closed last year, so maybe that’s another lost detachable for the sheet.
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what I am noticing is that it seems like a lot of the relocations are generally GCTEC and Doppelmayer chairs. Not sure if they are actually more durable but there dont seem to be as many recent Poma relocations. Plus seems like most post 1990 CTEC equipment gets relocated.
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What’s interesting is that there hasn’t been a Doppelmayr UNI-G that’s been replaced since its debut in 2000
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not sure if any detachables from that year and later have been replaced and not relocated
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Actually, there is one! The King 3 at Niseko United was upgraded to a high-speed quad in 2016 and just replaced by a six-pack. I would be curious if it gets relocated somewhere else on the mountain as it was a really nice lift. https://www.skiresort.info/ski-resort/niseko-united-annupurigrand-hirafuhanazononiseko-village/ski-lifts/l96331/ | https://www.experienceniseko.com/news/new-in-niseko-king-sixpack-lift
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No shot that 2016 lift doesn’t get reused, unless it ran 24/7 for its whole life
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There were 2 urban gondolas in Algeria built by Garaventa in 2008 (with UNI enclosures) that have recently been replaced by Poma systems. I’m sure they had high hours, but still don’t understand why the entire systems had to be replaced.
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tcd15-constantine-garaventa-4379.html
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tcd15-tlemcen-garaventa-4268.html
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SKIER72, it could be because Doppelmayr wasn’t being paid for replacement parts? Therefore, they refused to send new ones? Similar issue with the tram in Venezuela?
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That could be the reason for replacement. However, there is a third 2008 Garaventa gondola in Algeria that seems to have survived the scrap yard. I guess time will tell if it will get replaced with a Poma gondola.
From what I can tell, the new Poma gondolas re-use the Garaventa towers. Strange seeing a Poma lift with Doppelmayr towers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0cAomt3DLo
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SKIER72, yes and no when you think about it. It was a common practice with fixed grip lifts back in the day and when Doppelmayr, POMA and Garaventa CTEC retrofitted YAN HSQs.
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https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd6-asitzmulden-doppelmayr-6524.html
https://www.remontees-mecaniques.net/bdd/reportage-tsd6-de-cotch-doppelmayr-1634.html
These 2 lifts are UNI-Gs that got replaced
As for the King #3 Quad replacement, Niseko says something about reusing the lift for the upgrade of the Ace #3 lift.
“In keeping with Grand Hirafu’s push toward more sustainable operations, parts from the former lift system will be reused for other improvements around the mountain, including the upcoming upgrade of Ace Lift #3 in 2026-27. This ensures fewer materials go to waste and supports the resort’s long-term infrastructure cycle.”
Tomanu has 2 Reused Nippon Cable Quads, one came from Alts Bandai, the other was original to Tomanu but moved to a different location around 2013
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Correct me if I am wrong, but arent the internals of the Uni G basically the same as the internals on the spacejets? Didn’t they basically change a couple things but the technology such as the grips and acceleration tires are the same?
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Believe it or not, I was the one to put most if not all of the Japanese high speed lifts onto liftworld
As for more abandoned high speed lifts in Japan, there is 2 unique Ansaku High Speed quads at Mizuho Highland, one has the Ansaku footrest bars with their footrests cut off, the other has Ansaku bubble style chairs with their bubbles taken off. Mizuho Highland currently has 3 lifts, 2 of them unique. A typical Ansaku High Speed Lift, a Late Oeuf Cabin Gondola, and a very rare Ansaku Fixed Grip Quad.
There used to be a Girak Gondola at Cupid Valley in Niigata but it got decomissioned around Covid
Another Garaventa Quad is at Echo Valley in Nagano which closed in 2020 and hasn’t been open since
There is another Ansaku Bubble Quad abandoned at the world famous Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata
Ontake 2240 and Kusatsu Onsen both have abandoned Gondolas with the one at Kusatsu being decomissioned after the volcanic eurption in 2018. Ontake 2240 also has an abandoned Nippon Cable quad chair below the base. 2240 until 2010 had a High Speed Double lift in its own terrain pod but that has long been gone.
Palcall Tsumagoi Resort Ski Area has closed one of their Taihei Quads, the same resort with the 2 (One still operating) Taihei High Speed Doubles and that Yan High speed lift.
Myoko Suginohara Ski Area has a 1988 Tosaku Quad abandoned since 2008 going from the former base to where the Mitahara 2 Bubble Quad is now. Nearby Akakura.
Nukabira Gensenkyo Ski Area has 2 Nippon Cable Quads abandoned since the mid 2010s, one bubbled, that ski area has shrunk majorly
And finally from 2006 until 2017, Lotte Arai at one point had 2 Bubble lifts, a high speed double, and a 12 person gondola abandoned until refurbishment and reopening in 2017
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/High+speed+chair+lift+%233+station/@36.7966912,138.7847617,3a,70.5y,299.81h,83.31t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1s9-rpdLHOhZxFVGqgclG3hw!2e0!6shttps:%2F%2Fstreetviewpixels-pa.googleapis.com%2Fv1%2Fthumbnail%3Fcb_client%3Dmaps_sv.tactile%26w%3D900%26h%3D600%26pitch%3D6.687062224237906%26panoid%3D9-rpdLHOhZxFVGqgclG3hw%26yaw%3D299.8096928781924!7i16384!8i8192!4m14!1m5!2m4!1snaeba!5m2!5m1!1s2025-12-09!3m7!1s0x601e0897ab6e463d:0x6aaec5a9790cde0d!5m1!1s2025-12-09!8m2!3d36.7941342!4d138.7771588!16s%2Fg%2F11gfkmp04d?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
The abandoned Ansaku quad at Naeba
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mizuho+Highland/@34.8158812,132.4001996,16a,26.2y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICkoOeeIw!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSy6GL5RTYKIbLM3mCfDFU-dgK10fUrejd_9m2p4xCrRfIAbrJHBtsoL-TN9AUvouURifibel-3cU9YNqP2IhFlLXpfi0mJLBt0mzgkAdYwuPw0y_xWV3EInjKyYpbjxCnEXoJY%3Dw203-h270-k-no!7i3024!8i4032!4m9!3m8!1s0x355a7b31841d9dd7:0xa8d7353e5b85f1f2!8m2!3d34.8158812!4d132.399874!10e5!14m1!1BCgwKCC9tLzA4Nm1oMAE!16s%2Fg%2F1tgb55t_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
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Would you happen to know why the Japanese don’t sell/relocate its abandoned lifts? Just with the amount of money that goes into buying and building these things, you would think it would be a no brainer to relocate them. Here in the United States, it’s very rare to find an abandoned detachable lift. It’s only happened once and that was the Wildwood Express at Tamarack and it seized by its lender, sold at auction and bought back by Doppelmayr CTEC. Doppelmayr CTEC then sold it to Brian Head, UT. One lift that surprises me in Japan is the gondola at Shizukuishi. A gondola was built to no where. No wonder why it doesn’t operate.
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There is 2 abandoned gondolas at Shizukuishi, one Tosaku from 1985 that closed in 2008 and left abandoned since, the other is an Ansaku from the early 1990s with unique tower heads looking like the ones you see on the Lotte Arai and Old Nagasaka 12 Person Gondolas
Nekoma also has 2 abandoned High Speed Lifts, one triple and one quad, both Tosaku, and both Bubble Lifts
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We’ve also had the MART: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mississippi_Aerial_River_Transit and Mt. Whittier gondola’s left abandoned. Actually twice that we’ve had abandoned and subsequently sold off modern detachables in the US, the other being Mt. Ascutney. Could also count June and Homewood, both having skipped seasons of operation.
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While we’re musing about the abandoned detachables of Japan, what was the disposition of the Japanese YAN detachables. Did they all end operation before the 96-97 season? Seems some of them stood standing for quite a bit, any idea when the last one was finally removed? Any insight is appreciated.
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The Japanese Yan detachable’s lasted into the early 2000s, however they were allegedly plagued with reliability issues. It is my understanding that Mitsubishi stopped supporting its Yan distribution line in 2005 when it left the ropeway industry entirely. The first ones removed were at Sugadaira in 2004 due to reliability issues. I believe both lifts were replaced with fixed grips (if at all). The Yan detachables at Takasu Whitepia and Sun Meadows were replaced with detachable quads from Nippon Cable in 2005 and 2006, respectively. Tsumagoi’s was the last one replaced after missing most of the winter of 2006. Replaced with a shorter fixed grip double.
There are also two Yan fixed grips still in operation in Japan. Chair 5 at Naspa and the singular lift at Abashiri Lake View in northern Hokkaido.
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https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mizuho+Highland/@34.8158812,132.399874,3114a,13.1y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICEltqmZw!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSzU1ZA6QOsjQpOZXhEBYG_CWmH8QOcG9hwBy0YwSI0onOWHQEm7IDv-2lRIM_GC7_r7Ueh46D-HvzTw5ohxf2kj4OJS3N4Q0gztGr7eUxm3yoL_IB6O2-IAMZKRkHzdBcmAbUBU%3Dw203-h162-k-no!7i1280!8i1024!4m9!3m8!1s0x355a7b31841d9dd7:0xa8d7353e5b85f1f2!8m2!3d34.8158812!4d132.399874!10e5!14m1!1BCgwKCC9tLzA4Nm1oMAE!16s%2Fg%2F1tgb55t_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mizuho+Highland/@34.8155267,132.4008746,-33a,21.6y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgIDEq-XRRw!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSwZ989J_xQFBO-x0ykkB75JU0ISX_IKBku_V52Y257mPFW9qC8GV7TF0gS0SRx72HMeZt9STBhwvq8ZvcdKUfSyFFU5-gZCAHsbxbcRJifWpy9jYIrgBI8xRsdq4t37bQwGFeko%3Dw203-h360-k-no!7i3000!8i5333!4m9!3m8!1s0x355a7b31841d9dd7:0xa8d7353e5b85f1f2!8m2!3d34.8158812!4d132.399874!10e5!14m1!1BCgwKCC9tLzA4Nm1oMAE!16s%2Fg%2F1tgb55t_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mizuho+Highland/@34.8155267,132.401098,-22a,53.6y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICE5s7ygQE!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSxbAkYA-jLxeCtm6u2rtzfIdfEdhH1iZOZ7KdAv82w9KC_OGpPIXEe31jlWNSEU4U9veoS0DjCab1ZlFm9bZF3Ky4_cY6NXWEIzDgwi6YttzN8MCG6jKkl_GM40blwhe-lddPbthw%3Dw203-h152-k-no!7i4160!8i3120!4m9!3m8!1s0x355a7b31841d9dd7:0xa8d7353e5b85f1f2!8m2!3d34.8158812!4d132.399874!10e5!14m1!1BCgwKCC9tLzA4Nm1oMAE!16s%2Fg%2F1tgb55t_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mizuho+Highland/@34.8155267,132.4007793,20a,54.2y/data=!3m8!1e2!3m6!1sCIHM0ogKEICAgICc2KubvQE!2e10!3e12!6shttps:%2F%2Flh3.googleusercontent.com%2Fgps-cs-s%2FAG0ilSzC6eHICEEusHRAxKNvjuXq6c1uXya78Uysq6AFIuv3PrMHCj0ekb3mGFAA7NNGH6YhZLG9AgQgP-DFEXn69p86dJoGCl_6_Sxp9BGlnt3v_aCdn0ACRt84oMZyXT8YYeAh6k8arQ%3Dw203-h114-k-no!7i1920!8i1080!4m9!3m8!1s0x355a7b31841d9dd7:0xa8d7353e5b85f1f2!8m2!3d34.8158812!4d132.399874!10e5!14m1!1BCgwKCC9tLzA4Nm1oMAE!16s%2Fg%2F1tgb55t_?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTIwMi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D
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It’d be interesting to see if the average lifespan of detchable quad is a function of installation year … it’d be reasonable to expect that newer models might last longer, as the technology has matured. Do we see any mounting evidence the late-90s lifts have survived longer than the late-80s ones?
We’re only starting to have enough longitudinal data to answer that, and it’s all probably muddied by the business cycle. But it’s interesting to consider.
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Another complicating factor: the earliest detachables were typically cornerstone/flagship lifts for major resorts. These were also the lifts most likely to require capacity upgrades (e.g. to 6/8 packs).
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It really varies. Look at Winter Park’s Pioneer Express. It ran for 37 years before getting replaced. While it’s probably not a good idea to run a lift that long, (Pioneer broke down a few times before it was replaced) I think that with enough care and maintenance, a detachable lift could last for 30 years before needing to be replaced.
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Pretty sure eagle at solitude would have lasted longer if it wasnt made with vonroll equipment, which is extremely rare in NA
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Just a few historical corrections and updates: In 1981 Doppelmayr introduced the country’s first high-speed, detachable quad chairlift at Breckenridge. It was replaced in 1999 by a Poma six-person double-loading high-speed detachable lift. The original high-speed quad was relocated to the Owl’s Head area, Quebec.
Steamboat’s first gondola to the top of Thunderhead was a Bell six-passenger bi-cable system installed in 1970. It was replaced in 1986 by Doppelmayr and featured eight-passenger cabins. (“The Silver Bullet.”) This lift was replaced in its entirety in 2019, again by Doppelmayr.
While I’m not a ropeway engineer, I understand that high-speed haul-ropes (cables) have a shorter lifespan due to the crushing/releasing action of the grips.
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Not really. The attach/detach process is very smooth and the grips aren’t slamming closed on the rope. The Flyer at Copper ran its entire lift (32 years) with its original rope, as did Timberline Express (30 years)
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Perhaps “squeezing” rather than “crushing” would have been a better word choice. I was just going with what I’d been told. We’re aware that chairs on fixed-grip lifts are shifted a foot or so, witnessed by paint marks, in the interest of extending the life of the rope.
Bill Fetcher
Steamboat Springs
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