This lift was mothballed for a number of years but returned to service circa 2024.Top Riblet bullwheel and tiny operator house.Tower 15.View down the lift line.Upper part of the line.Loading area.Side view of the motor room and tension carriage.
Three parallel lifts with a combined capacity 6,600 passengers per hour is probably overkill for this mid-sized mountain. The fact that the six-pack is for sale says something about the financial situation.
Willamette Pass only does around 60,000 skier visits a year which is low for an area that supports a high speed lift. I’ve skied it and it has some fun terrain but probably suffers from being too close to Bachelor and also draws from an economically depressed area.
Willamette Pass Resort was getting around 90,000 to 100,000+ skier visits a season in the late 90s, early 2000s, but visits have drastically diminished in recent years. Hoodoo which is of similar size and elevation has had a huge increase in skier visits in the last decade. It should be noted, Willamette Pass has drastically cut back on its offerings, from no longer having a tubing hill to terrain park.
It operates on weekends. Does it get much ridership, no. However, if EPA goes down, Twilight can’t handle the crowds. It turns into a giant mess at Willamette with the lift line going to the lodge. Therefore, it was essential to get Midway back in operation. When Tim owned Willamette, there were times he would actually open up Peak 2, but you had to hike up Success to access the terrain. You basically had your own private ski area when he would do that.
Lift Blog 
Mothballed?
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No, this lift just wasn’t certified or something this year according to my sources.
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Why was it mothballed?
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Three parallel lifts with a combined capacity 6,600 passengers per hour is probably overkill for this mid-sized mountain. The fact that the six-pack is for sale says something about the financial situation.
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Willamette Pass only does around 60,000 skier visits a year which is low for an area that supports a high speed lift. I’ve skied it and it has some fun terrain but probably suffers from being too close to Bachelor and also draws from an economically depressed area.
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Is Eugene economically depressed? Oakridge is, but Eugene?
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Willamette Pass Resort was getting around 90,000 to 100,000+ skier visits a season in the late 90s, early 2000s, but visits have drastically diminished in recent years. Hoodoo which is of similar size and elevation has had a huge increase in skier visits in the last decade. It should be noted, Willamette Pass has drastically cut back on its offerings, from no longer having a tubing hill to terrain park.
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Why is this still listed as operating?
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This lift is currently being recommissioned and is planned to operate for the 23/24 season.
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Glad to hear it! Here’s hoping that this will be a more frequent occurrence in the years to come!
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From their snow report today. “Midway chairlift opens today for the first time in years!” Says it operates daily.
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It operates on weekends. Does it get much ridership, no. However, if EPA goes down, Twilight can’t handle the crowds. It turns into a giant mess at Willamette with the lift line going to the lodge. Therefore, it was essential to get Midway back in operation. When Tim owned Willamette, there were times he would actually open up Peak 2, but you had to hike up Success to access the terrain. You basically had your own private ski area when he would do that.
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