Lifts 1975

It will not come as any surprise that lift construction was down again in 1975. In the past, a great snow year such as the industry enjoyed last season would have triggered a sharp upturn in construction. But today, this does not necessarily happen. First of all, environmental constraints mean much longer lead times between inspiration and reality. Then, too, funding is not that readily available for expansion, and is even scarcer for new ventures. In the east and midwest, last year’s welcome cash had to be used to ease the accumulated pressures from the two horrible previous seasons.

All in all, then, the story of this year’s lift construction is however you wish to interpret the charts and tabulations on these pages — and the bottom line is probabably not as bad as you had thought. Also, the encouraging element is the number of new lifts that are fairly far along in the planning stages for next year. Given a few weather breaks and the graphs on these pages in next year’s issue will begin to point upward again.

We again use VTFH in much of our presentation. It stands for vertical transport feet per hour, and when applied to uphill transportation is the number of skiers who can be carried 1,000 feet vertically in an hour. It is the accepted measurement of the real magnitude of an installation. However, it should be remembered it is a measure of capability only. There is many a lift with modest VTFH which turns a handsome dollar compared to an under-used giant.

As in the past, the primary source of information on new lifts and new areas is the lift manufacturer. They key data verification involves making sure that the lift is primarily for skiing, and that it has not previously been reported and put into the statistical data. Sometimes, magazine deadlines being what they are, a lift is included in one year’s statistics in the expectation of its being open for that year. But, for various reasons, the opening is postponed to the following season. That lift will not be re-listed for reasons of cumulative statistical accuracy. Also, there are fine lines to be drawn in deciding whether a major modification or rebuilding of a lift constitutes a new installation or not. Errors of fact and of judgment inevitably creep into a compilation such as this. We will, as always, attempt to correct these and keep the cumulative data as accurate as possible.

New 1975 Installations by Manufacturer

Manufacturer	1969	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	Total
Ski Facilities	12	11	19	24	15	7	0	88
Mueller						5	0	5
Staedeli	8	11	16	14	9	8	5	71
Samson				1				1
Harusch			7	6	2	0	9	24
Total	20	22	42	45	26	20	14	189

Region	New Areas	New VTFH	New Lifts: Surface	New Lifts: Chair	New Lifts: Gondola	New Lifts: Total
East	3	12,923	2	14	0	16
Midwest	2	4,901	1	12	0	13
West	2	24,927	7	30	0	37
Canada	3	17,534	21	9	1	31
Total	10	60,285	31	65	1	97

Region	New Lifts ’75	New Lifts ’74	New Lifts ’73	New Lifts ’72	VTFH ’75	VTFH ’74	VTFH ’73	VTFH ’72
East	16	21	23	58	12,923	13,431	13,078	21,868
Midwest	13	7	11	38	4,901	2,436	4,398	13,049
West	37	50	53	70	24,927	41,335	52,025	65,045
Canada	31	28	44	54	17,534	11,521	17,758	31,545
Totals	97	106	131	220	60,285	68,723	87,259	131,507

Manufacturer	Surface	Chair	Gondola	Total
Borvig	1	14	0	15
Cana Poma	2	1	0	3
Doppelmayr	9	3	0	12
Hall	0	13	0	13
Harusch	4	0	0	4
Lift Engineering	3	8	0	11
Mueller	2	2	1	5
Poma Aerial	2	0	0	2
Riblet	0	17	0	17
Rice	1	0	0	1
Samson	6	0	0	6
Skyway Engineering	1	0	0	1
Staedeli	0	0	0	0
Thiokol	0	7	0	7
Total	31	65	1	97

Region	Surface	Chair	Gondola & Tramway	Total
East	539	455	17	1011
Midwest	182	323	0	414
West	376	578	22	976
Canada	432	159	5	596
Total	1529	1424	44	2997

Manufacturer	Total Aerial: No.	Total Aerial: VTFH	Total Surface: No.	Total Surface: VTFH	Percent Aerial: No.	Percent Aerial: VTFH	Percent Surface: No.	Percent Surface: VTFH
Borving	14	9579	1	93	21.1	18.8	3.2	1.0
Cana-Poma	1	744	2	625	1.5	1.5	6.5	6.7
Doppelmayr	3	4446	9	3313	4.5	8.7	29.0	35.6
Hall	13	7225			20.0	14.2
Harusch			4	759			12.8	8.2
Lift Eng	8	4468	3	110	12.2	8.8	9.7	1.2
Mueller	3	3055	2	514	4.5	6.0	6.5	5.5
Poma Aerial			2	1006			6.5	10.8
Riblet	17	16253			25.7	31.9
Rice			1	284			3.2	3.1
Samson			6	2149			19.4	23.1
Skyway Eng			1	449			3.2	4.8
Thiokol	7	5211			10.6	10.2
Total	66	50981	31	9302	100.0	100.0	100.0	100.0

New Lifts by State

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Length	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
MAINE
Camden Snow Bowl, Camden	2 Chair	Hall	3124	694	630	465
	T-Bar	Hall	973	218	750	340
Sugarloaf, Kingfield	2 Chair	Borvig	4020	1454	1200	500
MASSACHUSETTS
Butternut Basin, Great Barrington	3 Chair	Thiokol	3230	721	1800	450
NEW JERSEY
Hidden Valley Vernon	3 Chair	Borvig	2460	576	1800	450
NEW YORK
Big Tupper, Tupper Lake	2 Chair	Hall	2669	578	1440	500
Cockaigne, Cherry Creek	J-Bar	Hall	722	97	600	275
Woods Valley, Westernville	2 CHAIR	Hall	1068	143	1000	340
PENNSYLVANIA
Blue Knob, Claysburg	Platter	Doppelmayr	1270	150	720	370
Shawnee Ski Area, Shawnee	2 Chair	Borvig	3170	671	1200	450
	2 Chair	Borvig	961	156	1200	450
Seven Springs, Champion	3 Chair	Thiokol	2050	430	1800	425
Ski Liberty, Fairfield	2 Chair	Hall	1921	233	1200	400
VIRGINIA
Wintergreen, Nellysford	3 Chair	Borvig	2442	409	1800	400
	3 Chair	Borvig	1734	530	1800	400
	2 Chair	Borvig	730	117	1000	300
VERMONT
Killington, Killington	2 Chair	Hall	5998	1639	1500	550
Pico Peak, Rutland	2 Chair	Hall	3860	658	1200	460
Quechee Lakes, Quechee	T-Bar	Poma Aerial	1400	275	750	466
Suicide Six, Woodstock	2 Chair	Borvig	1946	610	1200	450

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Length	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
ILLINOIS
Chestnut Mt. Galena	3 Chair	Borvig	1741	401	1800	450
Villa Olivia Bartlett	4 Chair	Borvig	932	126	2400	400
MICHIGAN
Caberfae Ski Resort, Cadillac	T-Bar	Hall	983	125	800	450
Mt. Holly, Holly	3 Chair	Hall	1648	283	1500	460
Mt. Maria, Spruce	2 Chair	Hall	1059	231	1380	460
Schuss Mt., Mancellona	T-Bar	Rice	1100	237	1200	470
MINNESOTA
Afton Alps, Hastings	2 Chair	Hall	1232	230	1200	400
	3 Chair	Hall	983	235	1800	400
Buena Vista, Bemidji	2 Chair	Borvig	667	105	1200	450
Welch Village, Welch	2 Chair	Hall	1788	323	1500	460
SOUTH DAKOTA
Terry Peak	2 Chair	Riblet	3320	642	1080	500
WISCONSIN
Alpine Valley, East Troy	3 Chair	Hall	1155	163	1500	375
Devils Head, Merrimac	3 Chair	Hall	1651	335	1315	375
Little Switzerland, Slinger	4 Chair	Borvig	747	94	2400	400
Mt. Morris Ski Hill, Wild Rose	Platter	Poma Aerial	771	83	900	413
Nordic Hills, Wild Rose	3 Chair	Hall	1214	199	1800	400

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Length	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
ALASKA
Clearly Summit, Fairbanks	Platter	Dopplemayr	1099	201	717	470
Eagle Crest, Juneau	Platter	Dopplemayr	875	110	800	470
	2 Chair	Riblet	4880	1403	800	500
ARIZONA
Sunrise, McNary	2 Chair	Riblet	1628	410	1000	350
CALIFORNIA
Alpine Meadows	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	1810	445	1200	475
Homewood	Platter	Lift Engineering	465	80	500	300
	Platter	Lift Engineering	465	80	500	300
Lassen Community College, Coppervale	Platter	Poma Aerial	1767	572	550	440
Mammoth Mt., Mommoth Lakes	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	3325	990	1100	450
	Platter	Lift Engineering	650	56	540	365
Mt. Waterman, La Canada	2 Chair	Riblet	2059	811	1200	400
Sierra Ski Rnch, Twin Brdgs	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	1170	113	1000	350
Snow Summit, Big Bear Lake	4 Chair	Hall	983	153	2400	400
Snow Valley, Running Sprgs	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	1240	207	1200	400
Squaw Valley, Olympic Valley	2 Chair	Riblet	4864	1747	1100	500
	2 Chair	Riblet	1024	240	1200	350
	2 Chair	Riblet	2463	869	1010	500
Sugar Bowl, Norden	2 Chair	Thiokol	960	173	800	295
COLORADO
Aspen Highlands, Aspen	2 Chair	Riblet	1787	606	1200	450
Breckenridge, Breckenridge	2 Chair	Riblet	2968	297	1200	488
	3 Chair	Riblet	4684	621	1800	450
Buttermilk, Aspen	2 Chair	Riblet	5975	1160	825	500
Conquistador, Canyon City	J-Bar	Borvig	1263	186	500	287
Lake Eldora, Nederland	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	1647	346	1200	425
Raton Ski Basin	2 Chair	Thiokol	1950	504	900	435
Snowmass, Aspen	2 Chair	Riblet	8123	2057	1010	535
Telluride, Telluride	2 Chair	Riblet	4796	1838	1040	500
Vail, Vail	3 Chair	Lift Engineering	2390	510	1800	450
	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	822	111	1200	350
IDAHO
Pomerelle, Albion	2 Chair	Riblet	3048	597	1200	500
MONTANA
The Big Mountain Whitefish	3 Chair	Thiokol	2452	443	1200	440
NEW MEXICO
Powder Puff, Red River	2 Chair	Hall	403	87	1000	350
Sipapu Lodge, Vadito	Platter	Poma Aerial	2900	800	1000	793
OREGON
Multorpor Ski Bowl, Government Camp	2 Chair	Riblet	1904	751	1150	450
	2 Chair	Riblet	5975	1160	1120	450
UTAH
Park City, Park City	2 Chair	Lift Engineering	2800	850	1200	500
Powder Mt., Eden	2 Chair	Borvig	5594	1275	1200	500
Sundance Resort, Provo	3 Chair	Thiokol	2648	1115	1400	500
WASHINGTON
Ski Acres, Seattle	2 Chair	Riblet	1384	261	1200	350
Snoqualmie Pass, Seattle	3 Chair	Thiokol	1120	284	1600	350

New Lifts by Province

Location	Type	Manufacturer	Length	Vert.	Cap.	Speed
ALBERTA
Drayton Valley Ski Club, Drayton	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	920	190	970	550
Fortress Mt. Kanaskis	3 Chair	Doppelmayr	2604	825	1800	450
Paskapoo, Calgary	T-Bar	Hall	1322	265	1200	450
Red Deer	T-Bar	Harusch	700	100	1000	480
Tawatinaw, West Lock	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	1770	189	1400	590
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Grouse Mt., Vancouver	2-Chair	Mueller	2450	955	1440	—
Harper Mt., Kamloops	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	1470	275	1010	570
Kimberly Ski Area, Kimberly	3 Chair	Doppelmayr	3404	1250	1100	500
Kitsumkalin Terrace	2 Chair	Mueller	4800	1100	800	—
MacKenzie	Platter	Harusch	700	150	600	480
Mt. Becher, Courtenay	T-Bar	Mueller	1760	250	1000	—
Mt. Hays, Prince Rupert	Gondola	Mueller	4000	1600	500	—
	T-Bar	Mueller	2250	440	600	—
100 Mile House	T-Bar	Harusch	2100	540	600	480
Panorama Mt., Inveremere	2 Chair	Doppelmayr	4620	1586	1000	500
Silver King Ski Club, Nelson	2 Chair	Riblet	3088	1242	1000	500
Snow Valley, Fernile	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	2135	464	1210	570
MANITOBA
Ski Valley	T-Bar	Cana-Poma	1225	228	1200	480
NEW BRUNSWICK
Poley Mt. Development, Sussex	T-Bar	Skyway Eng.	1630	374	1200	450
ONTARIO
Devils Elbow, Bethany	2 Chair	Borvig	1582	257	1400	450
Glen Eden, Milton	T-Bar	Skyway Eng.	1100	240	1200	450
Laurentian Ski Club, North Bay	2 Chair	Cana-Poma	2700	620	1200	480
Mansfield, Mansfield	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	1385	342	1212	470
QUEBEC
Avila Ski Center, Piedmont	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	2562	606	1200	570
	T-Bar	Doppelmayr	2562	606	1200	570
Domaine Sportif Clairval LaTerriere	T-Bar	Samson	1100	260	1100	450
Ferme Chez Herve, Mascouche	T-Bar	Samson	500	64	800	420
Mont Bailleboust, Ste. Beatrix	T-Bar	Samson	1485	305	1200	450
Mont Pontriand, Rawdon	T-Bar	Samson	2035	415	1200	450
Mont Trinite, St. Michel des Saints	T-Bar	Samson	1688	452	900	450
Radisson, James Bay	T-Bar	Samson	2708	451	1200	466
Ski Montcalm, Rawdon	T-Bar	Cana-Poma	2060	351	1000	420
SASKATCHEWAN
Cypress Hill, Maple Creek	T-Bar	Harusch	1900	350	700	480