Lift Operations Articles
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March 2026Riding High
New aerial transport systems can reshape the future of mountain towns. Anyone who’s lived in a mountain town knows congestion is an issue. Populations increase exponentially during peak winter periods and busy summers, with visitors and locals forced to sit in traffic jams that would be more “ New aerial transport systems can reshape the future of mountain towns.
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January 2026Back Down to Earth
Tariffs and inflation were among the primary causes for a dip in North American lift installations. Lift construction returned to pre-Covid levels in 2025 as ski areas and manufacturers faced headwinds of continued inflation and new tariffs. North American ski areas installed 37 new aerial lifts, Tariffs and inflation were among the primary causes for a dip in North American lift installations.
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January 2026Rope Tow Renaissance
Speed, culture, and economics are pushing resorts to reconsider the most old-school lift on the mountain. It was a cold December evening in 2020 at Hyland Hills, just outside Minneapolis. The sun had just dipped below the horizon, but in true Midwestern fashion, my night of skiing under the lights Speed, culture, and economics are pushing resorts to reconsider the most old-school lift on the...
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November 2025Construction Site :: November 2025
From new (and big) lifts to renovations, terrain expansions, and snowmaking upgrades, these major projects were nearing completion as winter grew closer. Wachusett Mountain, MA Wachusett replaced its Polar Express detachable quad with a Doppelmayr six place this summer. The old lift accumulat From new (and big) lifts to renovations, terrain expansions, and snowmaking upgrades, these major...
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September 2025Wind Hold
Aerial lifts are susceptible to wind, but experience, technology, and teamwork help manage the risks. One of the most confounding realities of the uphill transportation business is that successful operations depend largely on managing variables that are out of your control. That’s why an acute u Aerial lifts are susceptible to wind, but experience, technology, and teamwork help manage the...
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September 2025Construction Site :: September 2025
Projects include new lifts, a rebuilt lodge, and a snowmaking upgrade. Lutsen Mountains, MN A fast-moving fire claimed one of Lutsen’s base village buildings on June 24, 2023. There were no injuries in the early morning blaze, and it spared a nearby gondola. The building, known as Papa Ch Projects include new lifts, a rebuilt lodge, and a snowmaking upgrade.
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July 2025Idea Files :: July 2025
A portable mock control panel for training lift operators. CONTROL PANEL TRAINER Monarch Mountain (Colo.) lift operations supervisor Robert Clarkson wanted to make it easier to train lift operators on the functions of a lift control panel and to practice different scenarios, without disrupting A portable mock control panel for training lift operators.
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July 2025Construction Site :: July 2025
These ski areas got an early start to their major construction projects. Snowshoe, WV Alterra-owned Snowshoe is replacing its Shavers Center lodge this summer. The old facility served for more than 50 years, but was deemed structurally unsound and torn down in 2022. Since then, departments that These ski areas got an early start to their major construction projects.
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January 2025Cooling Off
Despite fewer lifts being built, it was still a busy construction season as ski areas continue to upgrade their on-mountain transport. After two gangbuster years of new lift installations at North American ski areas, 2024 was comparatively slower, yet historically strong with 47 new aerial lifts Despite fewer lifts being built, it was still a busy construction season as ski areas continue to...
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November 2024Construction Site :: November 2024
New lifts and snowmaking upgrades at ski areas big and small, for-profit and nonprofit, across North America. Mont Grand-Fonds, QC Compagnie des Montagnes des ski du Québec (CMSQ), owned by e-Liberty, a Swiss online ski pass retailer, purchased Mont Grand-Fonds in September 2023. Soon after, New lifts and snowmaking upgrades at ski areas big and small, for-profit and nonprofit, across...
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September 2024Construction Site :: September 2024
New lifts, terrain, snowmaking, and lodges will breathe new life into a number of ski areas this winter. HOLIDAY MOUNTAIN, NY Mike Taylor is two years into rebuilding Holiday Mountain, which faced closure when he purchased the property in May 2023. Last summer, he focused on immediate needs suc New lifts, terrain, snowmaking, and lodges will breathe new life into a number of ski areas this...
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July 2024Construction Site :: July 2024
Across North America, a variety of impactful—and, in several cases, difficult—projects got underway before the start of summer. SKI SUNDOWN, CT Ski Sundown began construction of its first new chairlift in 37 years in mid-April. Owner Bob Switzgable chose a fixed-grip quad from Skytrac to re Across North America, a variety of impactful—and, in several cases, difficult—projects got...
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July 2024Heavy Lifting
Insights about operating lifts year-round. For many resorts, adding spring, summer, or fall operations means running lifts thousands of additional hours per year. A Memorial Day to October sightseeing operation can be longer than ski season, adding wear to lifts and reducing maintenance windows. T Insights about operating lifts year-round.
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March 2024Are Used Lifts Good Value?
Purchasing a used lift requires careful consideration of a variety of factors well beyond the initial cost of acquisition. Used ski lifts are still finding new homes at North American ski resorts. But the cost of refurbishment, safety concerns, vanishing engineering knowledge, and increasin Purchasing a used lift requires careful consideration of a variety of factors well beyond the...
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January 2024Another Big Year, Even Bigger Lifts
North American ski areas installed 57 new ropeways in 2023, including some of the biggest lifts ever built on the continent, as manufacturers balanced strong demand with construction capacity. One year ago, the marquee lift story was Vail Resorts’ Epic Lift Upgrade, a scramble to build 18 ne North American ski areas installed 57 new ropeways in 2023, including some of the biggest lifts...
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January 2024The Rise of the Mechtrician
Lift maintenance teams may not need IT people (yet), but lift mechanics—and training—have evolved in response to new tech. It all started with an old pickup truck, a piece of rope, a small slope, and a man with an idea to transport skiers uphill. All you had to do was make sure the truck had Lift maintenance teams may not need IT people (yet), but lift mechanics—and training—have evolved...
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November 2023New HQs for Mountain Ops
Mountain operations have expanded greatly over the decades, and so must the notion of “maintenance shops.” Maintenance shops are one of those capital expense items that are often difficult to fund. The guest doesn’t see them, and they can put a large dent in an area’s budget, knocking the Mountain operations have expanded greatly over the decades, and so must the notion of “maintenance...
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November 2023Construction Site : November 2023
It was a big summer for capital improvements at North American ski areas. CRANMORE, NH When Cranmore tore down its main base lodge in April 2022, it planned to complete the first floor of a new mixed-use building in time for the 2022-23 ski season. Covid supply chain and labor challenges It was a big summer for capital improvements at North American ski areas.
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September 2023Idea Files :: September 2023
A creative counterweight, conveyor location labels, and inexpensive ski racks. A creative counterweight, conveyor location labels, and inexpensive ski racks.
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September 2023Construction Site :: September 2023
Lift and facility upgrades for the 2023-24 season aim to enhance the guest experience. BRUNDAGE MOUNTAIN, ID The summer of 2023 has seen the largest capital investment ever at Brundage, with construction underway on a new detachable quad lift and a 17,000-square-foot skier services building Lift and facility upgrades for the 2023-24 season aim to enhance the guest experience.
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