Industry News
The ski season may be over, but the summer work at Mount Ashland, Oregon, is just getting started.
Mount Ashland has been operating its Ariel and Windsor chairlifts since 1964 and 1978, respectively. Despite the history of these two-person lifts serving Mount Ashland’s skiers for over 45 years, both chairs have become outdated and costly to maintain. Now, the southern Oregon ski area is ready to move on and is currently seeking donations for replacing the two lifts.
Mount Ashland will be replacing Ariel and Windsor with two new fixed-grip chairlifts. The new lifts will help improve access to key terrain, reduce lift lines, improve resort operations, and provide a more comfortable experience for resort guests. The new lifts will also be more energy-efficient and resilient to windy conditions.
Based on a recent routine inspection, vital components of Windsor have reached the end of their service life. With the impending need to replace these critical components and the seven-figure cost of repairs, the Mount Ashland Association has deemed the replacement of Windsor Chairlift a more urgent and essential upgrade.
Mount Ashland Association first launched its Chairlift Replacement Campaign in 2025, but was unable to secure the funding necessary to complete the first installation during the summer of 2026. The organization aims to raise just over $1.87 million before May 2027 to fund the remaining costs associated with the Windsor replacement, while continuing fundraising efforts to support Ariel’s replacement the following year.
Windsor’s replacement will require the complete removal of its existing above-ground structure, with the new chairlift built using the same alignment and footprint. The new lift’s project area will be approximately 6.5 acres, with ground disturbance limited to lift terminal areas and tower footprints. The construction is estimated at eight months. As a nod to the old Windsor lift, the bottom terminal will be forest green.
Like Windsor, Ariel’s replacement will see the complete removal of its above-ground infrastructure. It will also be built with the same alignment and footprint as the old lift. Its project area will be approximately 9.3 acres, slightly larger than the new Windsor’s. Construction is estimated to take 20 months, and the lift’s bottom terminal will be red.
Both Ariel and Windsor are a vital part of Mount Ashland’s roots. Ariel has been spinning since the ski area first opened its doors to guests on January 11, 1964. Nicknamed “Big Red,” Ariel is the oldest unmodified chairlift in Oregon, serving Mount Ashland’s most difficult terrain.
Recognized as Mount Ashland’s “portal to the mountain,” the Windsor chairlift provided access to the majority of the ski area’s terrain.
Mount Ashland is a nonprofit ski area sitting entirely on National Forest System land. The ski area is accepting donations for its new lifts and will match donations up to $500,000. Donations can be made on the ski area’s website.
This article was updated at 12:53 p.m. EST on June 20, 2026 because it contained inaccuracies.
