Projects & Plans

Several New Lifts Eyed for Aspen Highlands

Peter Landsman8 Comments

Aspen Highlands could join the year-round gondola club alongside Aspen Mountain and Snowmass under a new plan submitted to the Forest Service. Over the past ten seasons, Aspen Highlands averaged 210,000 skier visits with occasional long lines in the base area and a lack of lift redundancy. To address these challenges, the Aspen Highlands 2025 Master Development Plan envisions replacing two of Highlands’ oldest lifts as well as building an infill lift called Apple Strudel. The out-of-base lift experience would change dramatically with a higher capacity ten place gondola replacing the four place Exhibition lift. The new Maroon Bells Gondola would feature a mid-station just below the current Exhibition top terminal with full cabin parking. The gondola would then continue higher and unload at the popular Cloud Nine Alpine Bistro, elevation 10,840 feet. Maroon Bells Gondola would rise a total of 2,750 vertical feet with just under 12,000 feet of slope length. Both the Merry-Go-Round restaurant at the mid-station and Cloud Nine at the top would be expanded and could open year-round. The gondola could also enable early- and late-season skiing on the upper mountain with downloading.

Next door to the new gondola, the Thunderbowl triple would be upgraded to a detachable quad, increasing capacity from 1,200 to 1,800 skiers per hour. This would become a more attractive out-of-base option than the current fixed grip lift and better serve Goldenhorn race terrain.

Finally a new Apple Strudel lift would debut for those looking to lap mid-mountain terrain. This would also create redundancy in case the gondola went down. One interesting aspect of this proposal is a Pomalift called Grand Prix used to run a similar alignment from the 1970s until the early 1990s. The new version would be a detachable quad rising 976 vertical feet in just 4.7 minutes. Apple Strudel would carry 1,800 riders per hour, equal to the nearby Cloud Nine detachable quad.

If all lifts on the plan are completed, Highlands will operate a mostly-detachable fleet including a two stage gondola and four detachable quads. Two fixed grip lifts – Five Trees and Deep Temerity – will continue to spin on the periphery of the mountain. The Forest Service hasn’t yet accepted the new master plan and all projects will require review under the National Environmental Policy Act.

A final, interesting tidbit from the master plan is Aspen Snowmass seeks to connect some or all of its four mountains via lifts. “The technology exists to connect ski areas by aerial tramways, and there are multiple successful examples of these systems in operation in both resort and urban contexts throughout Europe as well as in North and South America,” SE Group notes. “However, the land use complexity, infrastructure costs and construction logistics in the Roaring Fork Valley are such that implementing a linked aerial tramway system across all four ski areas at Aspen/Snowmass provides a tremendous challenge. With that said, conditions are evolving to the point where constructing an aerial tramway connecting Aspen Highlands to Aspen Mountain, to Buttermilk and/or to nodes on the valley floor may prove feasible in the nearer term.”

More Lifts Coming to Powder Mountain for 26-27

Peter Landsman6 Comments

Powder Mountain plans to invest $40 million on the public side of the resort over the next two years with a focus on the Sundown zone. Under new majority owner Reed Hastings, Powder operates a public-private model, with lifts on the eastern half of the resort open only to homeowners. So far, Hastings has added five new lifts since 2023 with up to five more on deck.

DMI expansion on the backside of James Peak seen last summer.

Sundown lies within the public western half of the resort with a variety of terrain for both day and night skiing. By fall 2026, Skytrac will complete a new public lift called DMI, serving 1,000 acres of steeps on the backside of Sundown. Construction began last summer on the triple chair, which will rise 1,796 feet and rank among Skytrac’s steepest-ever lifts. On the front side, Leitner-Poma will replace the existing Sundown quad with a detachable. Powder’s fourth high speed quad will expand both capacity and hours. The old Sundown chair will then move to become a beginner chairlift called Doodle. “Doodle allows beginners and ski school students of all ages to get efficient laps on a gentle, dedicated pitch,” said Powder. In addition to three new lifts, the Sundown Lodge will be replaced with a modern 15,000 square foot facility featuring ski school, rentals and dining for 2027-28. “This development plan is a demonstration of our commitment to keeping Powder a thriving public ski resort for generations to come,” said Powder President Brandi Hammon. “As a local and an avid skier, the team and I are committed to our community and season passholders and will continue investing in their on-mountain experience.”

PowMow didn’t announce specifics for the private side known as Powder Haven, though construction began on a new Half Pint chairlift last summer that could also be completed this year. For this project, Powder opted to repurpose equipment from the old Paradise quad for a new high-alpine neighborhood. Powder’s master plan also calls for a new lift up Cobabe Canyon, which could eventually replace the aging Sunrise Poma. For now, Powder Mountain says the Sunrise lift will remain publicly accessible for the 2026/27 season regardless of further lift development on the private side.

Powder Haven Half Pint lift under construction last summer.

Developers Unite in Bid to Resurrect Fortress Mountain

Peter Landsman11 Comments

One of North America’s largest lost ski areas could reopen in a few years under a plan submitted to the Province of Alberta last week. Kelowna-based Ridge North America and Calgary-based Western Securities Limited would join forces to acquire Fortress Mountain Holdings and eventually construct up to 14 lifts. Fortress wouldn’t be another Kicking Horse or Revelstoke but rather a year-round resort and recreation hub with a modest ski component. Real estate forms a key aspect of the plan along with summer activities like mountain coasters, downhill biking and zip lines.

Fortress Mountain trail map circa 2004. Note: lifts E and F were actually one T-Bar that ran in a triangle with downhill portions not shown.

Fortress first opened as Snowridge in 1967 with an all-Doppelmayr fleet consisting of two T-Bars and one double. Doppelmayr supplied two additional chairlifts in the mid-1970s, creating a mid-sized mountain with skiing on three aspects. Though surrounded by towering peaks, vertical at Fortress was never huge with the biggest chair rising 1,070 feet. The ski area declared bankruptcy and closed several times through the second half of the 20th century. At one point Aspen Skiing Company acquired a 50 percent stake and funded the two newest lifts. The company that would later become Resorts of the Canadian Rockies bought Fortress in 1986 but put it up for sale 15 years later as part of its own bankruptcy. RCR continued operating the mountain in bankruptcy until shuttering Fortress in 2004.

Banff Rail Company, headed by Zrinko Amerl, bought the lease in 2005 and ran lifts for a few months in 2006 before the province condemned several buildings. By late 2006, regulators ordered Amerl to stop advertising services he couldn’t provide and forbid pass sales for the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons. BRC sold the mountain to Fortress Mountain Holdings in 2010. Both T-Bars were removed in 2012 but the chairlifts remain standing. Today the property is off limits to the public with a limited cat skiing and movie shoot operations. With no maintenance in decades, all three chairlifts are expected to be removed and replaced in new alignments.

Whistler-based Ecosign prepared the resort’s latest master plan, which encompasses 3,500 acres of crown land. “The Fortress All Season Resort Master Plan presents a long-term vision to develop a modern, world class destination in one of Alberta’s most spectacular mountain contexts,” Ecosign notes. Phase one includes no ski lifts but rather three sightseeing gondolas similar to one Ridge is currently constructing near Kelowna. Each gondola would service distinct adventure nodes with activities like a cliff walk, paragliding and paddleboarding.

Lift-served downhill skiing would resume in phase two with chairlifts on Fortress’ traditional front and backside terrain. A fixed quad and two conveyors would serve the front with a detachable six pack on the back. Phase three envisions a fixed quad on the former Farside terrain plus a beginner platter and third conveyor. A second six pack is earmarked for Whiskey Bowl in phase four, plus a cabriolet lift connecting the resort core to parking and a surface lift on Mt. Baldy. The final phase would include a quad chair on the backside of Mt. Baldy and a second parking cabriolet. At full buildout, the resort could accommodate 6,780 skiers and 9,650 total visitors per day.

The ambitious vision faces several challenges. First, terrain is scenic but limited with significant competition from nearby ski areas with far more vertical. Ridge and Western Securities have significant experience building attractions and commercial buildings but have never operated a ski resort. Many have failed here before. On the plus side, the current plan wisely focus on activities beyond skiing which appeal to broad audiences. Ridge and Western Securities are well-capitalized and experienced developers. Alberta is booming with 4.2 million people visiting nearby Banff National Park last year. Fortress lies just outside the park, however, making large-scale development more practical than at existing ski areas like Lake Louise or Sunshine. In 2024, Alberta passed the All Seasons Resort Act, aiming to double visitor spending to CA$25 billion annually by 2035. Last year Alberta designated Fortress, Nakiska and Castle the first three mountains targeted for possible development. These policies place Alberta among the most pro-development jurisdictions in North America.

The Province will accept public comments on the proposal through February 27th. Developers also launched a survey to guide further refinements to the plan. If approved, full buildout is expected to take 14 years and last through 2040.

Sir Sam’s, Ontario to Build New Quad

Peter Landsman2 Comments

Central Ontario gem Sir Sam’s plans to build its first new chairlift in 34 years next summer, part of a strategic modernization plan. Doppelmayr Canada will construct the fixed-grip quad chair on the front side of the mountain. It will replace the former Eagle View double, which retired this fall after 42 seasons. “The sleigh bells are ringing, and we’re delivering more than just cheer,” the mountain announced on social media. “Our shareholders want to give you, our patrons, supporters, and followers a special holiday gift.” The yet-to-be-named lift will open in time for the 2026-27 ski season.

Next year is already shaping up to be a strong construction season in Canada with projects in the works across British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario and Quebec.

Vail Resorts Announces New Lifts for Blackcomb & Seven Springs

Peter Landsman22 Comments

The world’s largest mountain operator today revealed two incremental lift projects for 2026, bringing the total to three. At Whistler Blackcomb, Vail plans to replace the Showcase T-Bar with a fixed grip chairlift, subject to government approval. Across the continent, another fixed quad will replace the Blitzen triple at Seven Springs, Pennsylvania. The two projects join the previously-announced Canyons Village gondola at Park City as part of Vail’s $234 to $239 million capital plan for ’26. By comparison, Vail built four new detachable lifts in 2025 at Perisher, Australia; Andermatt-Sedrun, Switzerland and Park City, Utah as part of a $249 million to $254 million capital plan. Vail operates just over 300 overhead cable lifts at 42 resorts as of this winter.

Opened in 1988, the Showcase T-Bar crests the upper part of Horstman Glacier near Blackcomb Peak. For much of its history, the T-Bar ran throughout winter, spring and summer; servicing a wide variety of terrain. In recent years, glacial recession caused the Doppelmayr T-Bar to operate sporadically. Three of Showcase’s towers are pinned on ice, requiring periodic maintenance and repair. When snow levels drop too low, the track becomes too steep for safe riding. Vail removed the nearby Horstman T-Bar without replacement in 2020 due to recession on the lower part of the glacier.

Now Whistler Blackcomb has a long-term plan. The new chairlift will follow a longer alignment off the ice. It will shift north and continue to service the glacier without running on top of it. The lift is expected to be in place by the beginning of the 2026-27 ski season.

A world away in western Pennsylvania, Vail plans to retire Seven Springs’ oldest lift and only remaining Thiokol called Blitzen. The classic triple dates back to 1975 and services a variety of beginner to advanced terrain. The new quad will be Vail’s first project at Seven Springs since acquiring the resort in 2021.

Manufacturer(s) have not been announced for any of Vail’s 2026 projects. Alongside today’s lift news, the company announced its fiscal first quarter results. Season pass sales declined 2 percent in units but increased 3 percent in dollars compared to a year ago. The company expects to welcome approximately 2.3 million passholders this season representing 74 percent of skier visits. Vail reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 guidance, including net income of $201 million to $276 million and Resort Reported EBITDA of $842 million to $898 million.

Anakeesta Announces New Gondola

Peter Landsman2 Comments

Tennessee mountaintop theme park Anakeesta will debut a detachable gondola next year, part of a $100 million expansion called Making More Magic. The high-speed, six place lift will replace Anakeesta’s fixed grip chondola, which has carried millions of guests from downtown Gatlinburg to the park over the past nine years. The current lift moves only 200 feet per minute, leading to long ride times and limited capacity. Leitner-Poma designed the new gondola to move more people with 56 Diamond Evo cabins featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and glass floors. “Designed to offer panoramic, 360-degree views of the Great Smoky Mountains, each cabin transforms a simple ride into an unforgettable experience,” said Anakeesta. “As guests glide gently upward during the four-minute ascent, the world unfolds beneath the cabin—lush forests, native wildlife and the charming skyline of downtown Gatlinburg.” This will be the first true gondola in Gatlinburg, a bustling town with no fewer than five scenic chairlifts and an aerial tramway.

Construction will begin this month and the existing lift will spin through the Christmas holiday period. Anakeesta will close completely on January 5th and reopen in March with alternative transportation. The upgraded gondola will follow later in the spring alongside a reimagined mountaintop village and expanded treetop skywalk.

Killington to Replace Snowdon Triple

Peter Landsman26 Comments

Killington Resort’s new, independent owners plan to spend $22 million on improvements next year, including construction of a new chairlift. Projects will include the fixed grip quad replacing the Snowdon triple, a lodge expansion, $2 million in snowmaking improvements and $2 million for new snowcats. The news comes at the end of a $38 million summer with Killington replacing the Superstar Express, installing new cabins on the Skyeship Gondola and rebuilding Skyeship’s cabin parking facility this offseason. By this time next year, The Beast’s new owners will have invested $60 million since purchasing Killington and Pico from Powdr in 2024.

The $6.5 million Snowdon Quad will load in a slightly different spot but follow roughly the same line as the outgoing triple, a Heron-Poma dating back to 1973. “The lift will feature fixed-grip chairs as opposed to detachable ones to help it stay operational during tougher weather events,” Killington noted. “This is part of a long-term strategy to maintain our network of fixed-grip lifts, ensuring reliable lift access to all areas of the mountain, even during inclement New England weather.” From the top of Snowdon, guests can access both the North Ridge Quad and Canyon Quad even if the nearby K-1 Gondola and Snowdon Six Express are closed. A manufacturer for the new lift was not announced though Doppelmayr built the new Superstar six pack this summer. Otherwise Killington operates an extensive fleet of Leitner-Poma equipment.

New Sigma Diamond cabins for the Skyeship Gondola awaiting installation.

Construction will begin in the spring and the Snowdon Quad is expected to open for the 2026-2027 ski season.

Caberfae Peaks Announces Green Mountain Expansion

Peter Landsman4 Comments

Caberfae, Michigan will build a Doppelmayr triple in 2027, servicing several new beginner trails on Green Mountain. The project follows construction of similar Doppelmayr triples on North Peak in 2016 and East Peak in 2022. This new lift will bridge a progression gap between the learning area and more difficult terrain on East Peak. “We are thrilled to begin this terrain expansion,” said mountain manager Pete Meyer. “Our skiers and riders will now have a dedicated, lift-served area to build confidence and skills before moving on to larger, more challenging slopes.”

Construction is already underway with planning, lift line clearing and grading completed in 2025, foundation and snowmaking installation planned for 2026 and steel erection following in 2027. The new terrain and Green Mountain Triple are expected to debut for the 2027-28 ski season.

Powderhorn Announces West End Replacement

Peter Landsman20 Comments

Powderhorn, Colorado will welcome a new lift for its 60th season, expanding detachable access to 100 percent of terrain in 2026. The new Wild West Express will replace the venerable West End double, which has served the western half of the resort since 1972. The new lift will cut ride time by more than half from 13-plus minutes to about six. Pending Forest Service approval, Wild West will follow a shorter alignment terminating 700 feet below the current top station.

Leitner-Poma of America, headquartered in nearby Grand Junction, will realize the project utilizing parts from the former Elk Camp lift at Snowmass. LPOA plans to overhaul both terminals, rebuild sheave assemblies, replace the electrical drive system and supply new grips. Leitner-Poma and Powderhorn completed a similar refurbishment to create Powderhorn’s other detachable, the Flat Top Flyer, in 2015. That project included used equipment from Marble Mountain in Newfoundland, Canada. Interestingly Poma constructed both Elk Camp and the Marble lift in 1995 and the two machines will reunite at Powderhorn 30 years later. “Powderhorn has a special place in my heart, both personally and professionally,” said Daren Cole, President and CEO of Leitner-Poma and former Powderhorn general manager. “Our teams are excited to work on our hometown mountain. Once the lift goes through our rigorous refurbishment process, it will feel like a brand-new installation. Powderhorn is an essential asset for this community, and we are honored to be a part of their future.”

Powderhorn is one of six regional mountains operated by Pacific Group Resorts and a new detachable is a big deal for the company which last built a lift eleven years ago. “This is a major step forward for Powderhorn,” noted Powderhorn General Manager Ryan Schramm. “Installing a high-speed lift on the west side of the resort will feel like opening new terrain,” he continued. “The old West End lift was long enough that most people only did a run or two before returning to the Flat Top Flyer. This upgrade marks the next chapter in our commitment to invest in the resort’s future and enhance the guest experience across the mountain.” Construction is expected to commence in summer 2026 with opening planned for the 2026-27 ski season.

Powder Mountain Announces Several More Lifts

Peter Landsman22 Comments

Three more chairlifts are coming to Utah’s Powder Mountain over the next two years, though you’ll need to purchase a house or know someone with one to ride two of them. First, a bit of background. Ever since Powder Mountain’s founding in 1971, the ski area struggled to generate enough cash for growth and capital improvements. The volume of skiers venturing beyond more accessible resorts like Park City and Snowbird was never enough to match the ambition and available terrain at PowMow. Not a single new lift was constructed from 1976 to 1993 while dozens popped up across the Wasatch including an entire new ski area named Deer Valley. Fixed grip doubles and triples serviced the bulk of Powder Mountain’s terrain well into the mid-2000s. A couple different owners tried their hands at PowMow over the following years with only modest growth.

Fast forward to 2023 and Netflix co-founder and chairman Reed Hastings purchased a controlling stake in Powder for $100 million. He quickly pivoted to a bifurcated model where real estate sales and private skiing would subsidize a smaller public mountain. The public side would continue to be known as Powder Mountain with the private complex dubbed Powder Haven. Two existing lifts, Village and Mary’s, were removed from the public area and reserved for homeowners only. Last year, Hastings constructed four new lifts, three of which opened to the public. Raintree became the first all-new lift to be reserved exclusively for real estate owners. The public gained new access to Lightning Ridge. This season Powder will span 8,000 acres, making it the largest mountain in North America (with several caveats.)

Powder Haven Davenport expansion and Primetime lift alignment.

Powder broke ground on three more lifts this summer, one of which will be public and two private. I’m told the initial plan was for all three to be completed this summer but permitting delays recently pushed two to next year. The first to open will be Primetime, a Leitner-Poma detachable quad servicing the all-new Davenport territory and topping out next to Raintree. Davenport makes up “1,000 gnarly acres of powdery glades and cut runs on the northeast face of the mountain,” notes Powder Haven’s sales site. “Serviced by a new high-speed detachable lift, Davenport is ready and waiting for those ready to push their limits and let it rip on some of North America’s most uniquely challenging terrain.” Primetime will become the first detachable quad at Powder open exclusively to homeowners and their guests. It will also be the lowest elevation lift at Powder, increasing the mountain’s vertical to 3,346 vertical feet – if you have means to access it.

Powder Haven Half Pint lift line.

Next summer a fixed grip quad will rise to service the private Shelter Hill neighborhood. Its 39 homesites will encompass “a blend of family retreats and bespoke enclaves, each one rare and distinctive in its own way,” the sales deck notes. Skytrac will install the lift, called Half Pint, utilizing CTEC equipment from the former Paradise quad. “Private ski slopes glide down the mountain below,” says the website. “All around, panoramic views and a closeness with the wild world around you.”

By next season Powder Haven will swell to 2,700 private acres, making it larger than most US ski areas with five dedicated chairlifts. A 73,000 square foot lodge is set to open for winter 2027-28, designed by the same architect as the Yellowstone Club, Spanish Peaks and the Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch. The private facility will include a rock climbing wall, thermal pools and omakase experience, among other amenities.

Powder Mountain DMI expansion

The public can look forward to a new DMI lift, scheduled to open for winter 2026-27. This Skytrac triple will service some of the steepest terrain at PowMow, currently accessed only via guided expedition. The lift will rises out of Wolf Canyon and terminate at the top of Sundown. DMI will add 900 acres of lift-served and 147 acres of hike-to access, for a total of 1,047 acres of public advanced terrain. With the addition of DMI, Powder Mountain’s public lift fleet will span two detachable quads, four modern fixed grip chairlifts and several surface lifts. The future of the Sunrise Poma is unclear, woefully under capacity with equipment over 30 years old and a potentially private Cobabe lift earmarked for the same vicinity.

Powder continues to buck industry trends, shunning multi-mountain passes and reserving peak weekends for season passholders again this season. “Escape the Masses,” Powder’s public homepage proclaims. I hit Powder Mountain several times last winter and its was indeed uncrowded and powder-filled, even on weekends. In a letter to passholders last year, Hastings wrote “the previous business model was failing. While we’ve historically been uncrowded and inexpensive, we’ve been losing money, not upgrading lifts or lodges, and building up debt,” he said, simultaneously announcing increased prices but eliminating a cap on the number of season passes sold. “The rise of Epic and Ikon have made the independent ski resort business very challenging, and we likely would have been acquired by one of the mega pass owners had we stayed on the old model…Our Wolf Canyon expansion, alongside limiting day ticket sales and not accepting mega passes, continues to fulfill our promise of keeping Powder Mountain uncrowded, independent, and truly a special experience for generations to come.”