Steep initial section of the line.Lower station in the Village at Winter Park.Gondolas are added at night for restaurant service and are stored in the building behind the station.Lift line and bottom station.Top station next to the Sunspot.Upper lift line.View down towards The Village at Winter Park.Steep first section.Tower 4.Top station side view.At night, gondola cabins bring riders to the restaurant next door.
One of the masts on the drive terminal was recycled from the Yan triple chairlift built in 1983, which was relocated to replace the Eskimo lift in 1990 following that lift’s destructive testing. (In that relocation, it received Poma Competition chairs, which it retained when it was replaced with the Eskimo Express lift and went up to Jackson Hole and it became Sweetwater)
This lift had reached the end of its service life a lot quicker than other lifts, being run in the summer and winter and also being used in the winter much more than other lifts on the mountain.
Even if it was running on normal operating hours, a lift this old would have reached the end of its lifetime pretty quickly. If they were going to relocate it I’d imagine it wouldn’t have lasted much longer.
My wife and I were married at sunspot and return every year for our anniversary. We named our daughter Zephyr after the Zephyr express. Does anyone know If any of the lift chairs are still available. I am looking to get one for her For our anniversary.
One of the masts on the drive terminal was recycled from the Yan triple chairlift built in 1983, which was relocated to replace the Eskimo lift in 1990 following that lift’s destructive testing. (In that relocation, it received Poma Competition chairs, which it retained when it was replaced with the Eskimo Express lift and went up to Jackson Hole and it became Sweetwater)
LikeLike
They should have relocated this to Sunnyside or even Challenger. It didn’t go very fast but it still could have been useful.
LikeLike
This lift had reached the end of its service life a lot quicker than other lifts, being run in the summer and winter and also being used in the winter much more than other lifts on the mountain.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Also this lift was a prototype that could only go 800 ft a minute so since it’s a prototype it’s service life would reach the end pretty quickly.
LikeLike
Even if it was running on normal operating hours, a lift this old would have reached the end of its lifetime pretty quickly. If they were going to relocate it I’d imagine it wouldn’t have lasted much longer.
LikeLike
Does anybody have pictures of the gondola cabins added at night?
LikeLike
I found one on chairlift.org.
LikeLike
And here’s another picture right before the lift was decommissioned. You can see the gondolas in the background.

LikeLiked by 3 people
My wife and I were married at sunspot and return every year for our anniversary. We named our daughter Zephyr after the Zephyr express. Does anyone know If any of the lift chairs are still available. I am looking to get one for her For our anniversary.
Karnold2@hotmail.com
LikeLike
All the old zephry chairs are around the town now at the bus stops. But they have some of the old zephyr gondolas in the F lot.
LikeLike