Industry News
Sun Valley, ID. (Dec. 18, 2023) – Sun Valley Resort is thrilled to announce the unveiling of the new Challenger and Flying Squirrel chairlifts along with the new Lower Flying Squirrel trail, which are all slated to open to the public on Wednesday December 20.
What: Guests are invited to join at the Warm Springs base area for the opening of Challenger and Flying Squirrel chairlifts, and a welcome ceremony hosted by Pete Sonntag, VP and General Manager, and James Grant, Director of Mountain Operations.
When: Wednesday, December 20th, 2023
8 AM: Welcome ceremony with live music from DJ Alex and words from Sun Valley spokespeople.
8:55 AM: The customary bell will ring and the ribbon will be cut.
9 AM: The lifts start rolling and the first chair is away, signaling a new era for the Warm Springs base.
Why: “This undertaking has been one of the most ambitious mountain projects we’ve accomplished in many years, and I could not be more proud of our team and excited to show our guests what we’ve been hard at work on since last spring,” said Pete Sonntag, Sun Valley Resort VP and General Manager. “These two new lift openings mark an exciting next chapter for Sun Valley Resort and we look forward to celebrating with our community, our guests and the entire Sun Valley team.”
How: The Challenger and Greyhawk lifts have been replaced with a cutting-edge Doppelmayr 6-pack, featuring a mid-station unload and covering a distance of 3,138 vertical feet in just 8 minutes. The new lift will honor the same name of its predecessor, Challenger, and will boast the largest vertical rise in North America.
The new Flying Squirrel chairlift, a Doppelmayr 4-pack, transports skiers from the Warm Springs base to mid-mountain, offering access to terrain of all difficulty levels and the River Run base area. Advanced skiers can now conveniently reach Warm Springs via the newly extended Lower Flying Squirrel trail. Check out the new winter 2023-24 trail map.
For the latest Warm Springs Enhancement Project updates please check out The Future Of Sun Valley.
For more information regarding the winter 2023-24 season and events lineup visit here.
