SAM Magazine—Mesa, Colo., Sept. 25, 2025—Subject to approval of the U.S. Forest Service, Powderhorn Mountain Resort will replace the 1972 West End double chairlift with a high-speed detachable quad lift in the summer of 2026.The upper terminal for the planned West End Express will be lower than the existing double to ease terrain access. Source: Liftblog.com The quad is the former Elk Camp chair at Snowmass and is being completely refurbished by Leitner-Poma of America (LPOA) at its Grand Junction, Colo., headquarters. 

“This is a major step forward for Powderhorn,” said Powderhorn general manager Ryan Schramm. “Installing a high-speed lift on the west side of the resort will feel like opening new terrain. The old West End lift [ride] was long enough that most people only did a run or two before returning to the Flat Top Flyer.” Flat Top Flyer is a detachable quad installed in 2015 after being relocated from Marble Mountain in Newfoundland, Canada.

The new lift will follow the same alignment as the existing double, just with a slightly shorter total length. The upper terminal will be relocated downhill to eliminate the need to traverse a flat section at the very top. The new location will make it easier to access the same terrain without losing vertical. Ride time will be cut from about 13 minutes to roughly 6 minutes. 

LPOA has been contracted to completely refurbish the lift, which was originally installed at Snowmass by Poma in 1995. The refurbishment will include a new electrical drive system, overhauls of the tower sheave trains, replacement of chair grips, and complete upgrades to the top and bottom terminals. Nearly everything except for the carriers, towers, and other support infrastructure will be replaced. The haul rope will be inspected to determine whether it needs replacement. 

“Powderhorn has a special place in my heart, both personally and professionally,” said Leitner-Poma of America president and CEO Daren Cole, who also served as Powderhorn general manager from 2011 to 2014. “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.”

While only a handful of detachable chairlifts have been removed in recent years, very few have been refurbished and relocated to other ski areas. The only project of this kind in 2025 is at Alberta’s Castle Mountain, which last year purchased a 1988 Poma detachable quad from Banff Sunshine Village in Alberta and refurbished it in-house with the help of other partners. That installation is scheduled to be complete for the 2025-26 ski season. 

This will likely be the last winter for the 1972 West End double chair. The Powderhorn project is a major investment for the ski area and owner Pacific Group Resorts, of course, but it will still be a big cost savings compared to a new lift, and LPOA’s involvement shows a willingness by the manufacturer to take on detachable lift refurbishments if the circumstances are right. The vintage, condition, and source of a used detachable are certainly factors the manufacturers consider. Helping existing customers, like Doppelmayr has done with detachable relocations for Boyne Resorts in the past few years, is a factor as well. 

Pending USFS approval, the Wild West Express, as the lift will be named, is expected to be ready to carry skiers and riders by December 2026. 

For this winter, Powderhorn will introduce a new restaurant, new rental shop, a new snowcat, and additional parking capacity.