Grand Targhee Blackfoot Lift! PC: Ski Lift Blog

According to Teton Valley News, Grand Targhee will retire the current two-seater lift, which has been in operation for 42 years, and replace it with a Dopplemayr fixed-grip quad with foot rests. The Blackfoot lift is at the northern end of the resort and services several blue and black-diamond runs, including Floyd’s Fantasy and Raven Wood. The resort announced this change on Tuesday through a Facebook post that revealed the approved plans. The lift is iconic to the resort and is a great reminder of how far the resort has come.

“It’s definitely going to help make that skiing over in the Blackfoot area better and it’s going to make it more skiable for a lot more people,” said Ken Rider, Targhee’s head of sales and marketing.

The approval! PC: Grand Targhee Facebook

Grand Targhee’s current plan is to have all work completed by opening day for the winter season towards the end of 2016. Crews are expected to begin work as early as this week. One company has already approached Targhee in hopes of purchasing the entire lift. Resort officials said the new lift will decrease ride times by five minutes, from 12 minutes to seven, and increase uphill capacity by 800 passengers per hour. This decrease is substantial when it comes to shredding some of Targhee’s blower pow on their frequent powder days.

“This is maybe the single largest step that we’ve taken recently. It’s going to be able to put quite a few more people up the lift per hour,” Rider said.

Grand Targhee has recently made several capital improvements that may not be apparent to the guest, but they replaced beds and pillows throughout the lodge, built a separate VIP locker room, and even added heating to the plaza area. They are working to improve the guest experience and working to achieve their long-term master plan for the resort. The construction of the new Blackfoot lift will not affect summer lift service, as Blackfoot has traditionally been closed during the summer season. This new lift will provide guests with more efficient access to the 500″ of snow that Targhee receives annually on average.