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Lift Operations Articles

September 2024
Construction 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...
July 2024
Construction 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...
July 2024
Heavy 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.
March 2024
Are 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...
January 2024
Another 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...
January 2024
The 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...
November 2023
New 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...
November 2023
Construction 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.
September 2023
Idea Files :: September 2023

A creative counterweight, conveyor location labels, and inexpensive ski racks. A creative counterweight, conveyor location labels, and inexpensive ski racks.
September 2023
Construction 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.
September 2023
The Training Conundrum

To develop the next generation of mountain ops employees, we must find new ways to provide crucial training and pass along expertise. Raise your hand if you’ve heard the term “YouTube University” thrown around in your shop. Now, keep it raised if you yourself have said it. (Insert raised han To develop the next generation of mountain ops employees, we must find new ways to provide crucial...
July 2023
Building for Efficiency

After Grand Targhee's old maintenance shop collapsed, the resort planned for and built a new shop with all the fixins to help its crew do their jobs right. The basic elements of an efficient maintenance shop have remained constant over the decades, though some shops still lack one or more of these After Grand Targhee's old maintenance shop collapsed, the resort planned for and built a new shop...
July 2023
Construction Site :: July 2023

Resorts got a head start on major lift installations despite weather challenges. ATTITASH MOUNTAIN RESORT, NH Attitash and parent company Vail Resorts said goodbye to one of the most dreaded lifts in New England with a party on April 2. “Thank you for 37 long years,” read a banner c Resorts got a head start on major lift installations despite weather challenges.
January 2023
Lift Construction Survey 2022: In High Demand

The 2022 Lift Construction Survey illustrates what was one crazy summer for lift manufacturers, which installed a whopping 59 aerial lifts in North America—from groundbreaking gondolas and top-of-the-line eight-packs to classic fixed-grip quads. Demand for new lifts surged during winter 2021-22, The 2022 Lift Construction Survey illustrates what was one crazy summer for lift manufacturers,...
November 2022
Construction Site :: November 2022

Details of some of the major overhauls, terrain expansions, new lifts, and employee housing projects underway at resorts across North America. VAIL MOUNTAIN, CO Two of the largest projects in Vail Resorts’ 18-lift “Epic Lift Upgrade” are underway on Vail Mountain, Colo. Leitne Details of some of the major overhauls, terrain expansions, new lifts, and employee housing...
November 2022
Smooth Operations

How to get the most out of today's impressive mountain ops management software. Mountain operations teams have traditionally functioned and stayed organized largely by routine, using paper checklists and clipboards, and relying on institutional knowledge. Introducing a new software platform that p How to get the most out of today's impressive mountain ops management software.
November 2022
Idea Files :: November 2022

Clever solutions from Sunlight, Colo., Camelback, Pa., and Lost Valley, Maine, to solve your signage, lift loading, and cup-holding conundrums. SIGNS OF THE TIMES Resort signage is often high in price and low in value, and not always designed to sufficiently withstand punishing alpine conditions. Clever solutions from Sunlight, Colo., Camelback, Pa., and Lost Valley, Maine, to solve your...
November 2022
Behind the Curtain

Sharing the day-by-day details of mountain operations can be a successful way to create community while marketing your resort. In ski area marketing, we know that a crisp image of a skier slashing a turn through deep snow on a bluebird day will land with guests. But can the day-to-day activities o Sharing the day-by-day details of mountain operations can be a successful way to create community...
September 2022
Construction Site :: September 2022

Several considerable infrastructure upgrades are underway at ski areas big and small across North America. WATERVILLE VALLEY, NH MND Group is building its first ever chairlift in North America at Waterville Valley, N.H. MND previously supplied Waterville with snowmaking equipment, conveyor lift Several considerable infrastructure upgrades are underway at ski areas big and small across North...
September 2022
Staying Grounded

Conveyor lifts require proper maintenance—and safe maintenance procedures—to keep them rolling smoothly. Surface lifts are the great-grandparents in the business of getting people up hill by mechanical means in winter. The first rope tow in the world was put into use in Germany in 1908. In Conveyor lifts require proper maintenance—and safe maintenance procedures—to keep them rolling...