Brains
[UPDATED: 6:29 p.m. MST, November 24, 2025]
Ski lifts transport us from the ordinary to the extraordinary every day. These engineering marvels are logistically complex, perilously expensive, and a massive undertaking for the ski resort. Questions like “Will this improve uphill capacity?” and “How does this improve the quality of each person’s experience?” are the obvious questions resorts must answer.
A recent example is Big Sky Resort’s “Big Sky 2025” vision in Montana. This transformational 10+ year vision has encompassed not just lift upgrades, but an entirely new resort experience for their patrons. This December, we will once again enjoy the fruits of their labor with the introduction of their brand-new two-stage Explorer Gondola.
Big Sky may be queuing at the front of the lift line for the most expansive lift network, but its total cost remains undisclosed due to confidentiality terms with their investors. Surely—it isn’t cheap, however.
And so the question of which resort boasts the most expensive ski lift ever built in North America remains. Here are the known top five most expensive ski lifts ever constructed in North America.
#5: $23 Million – Heavenly Gondola, Heavenly Ski Resort, CA
Kicking off our list is the Heavenly Gondola at Heavenly Ski Resort. According to the Tahoe Daily Tribune, the project’s final cost reached $23 million due to the extensive support buildings and stations required, though the gondola lift itself was reported to cost $10 million. Doppelmayr specifically designed this lift with environmental impact mitigation and visual aesthetics as key priorities.
Spanning 2.4 miles, the gondola can carry 2,000 guests per hour and takes approximately 12 minutes for the full ride to the summit. It is rumored to provide the most picturesque view of Lake Tahoe and the surrounding mountains. Guests interested in the scenery can stop halfway up at the Observation Deck to soak in the views ahead of a full day on the slopes.
#4: $31 Million – Aerial Tram; Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, WY
The Jackson Hole Aerial Tram, nicknamed ‘Big Red,’ is one of the most iconic lifts in the world. When completed in 2008, it was the most expensive lift ever built at a U.S. ski resort. From the infamous 20-foot, 50-degree drop into Corbet’s Couloir to the world-famous waffles at Corbet’s Cabin, the tram has a little something for everyone. However, the resort has a special safety message to all the thrill-seekers queuing in line for the tram, attached below:
The experience of riding the tram is also defined by the culture at JMHR. Riders pack tightly into the 100-person tram on powder days, while Guns N’ Roses’ “Welcome to the Jungle” on the speakers adds to the excitement (I swear every time I have been on the tram, this song has been played). The entire 4,139 vertical feet up to Rendezvous Peak takes just 9 minutes, offering a 360-degree view of the Tetons on a clear day. The resort’s marketing team is incredible and has capitalized on its crown jewel, so enjoy a behind-the-scenes look at Big Red.
#3: $41+ Million – Peak 2 Peak Gondola; Whistler Blackcomb Ski Resort, BC
Completed in 2008, before the Vancouver Olympics, the Peak 2 Peak Gondola achieved its core directive: seamlessly connecting Blackcomb Mountain to Whistler Mountain. Complicating matters were steep faces, unsuitable ski terrain, & the Fitzsimmons Creek, making a chairlift impractical.
Despite numerous obstacles, the gondola was completed and has since served its riders and sightseers to two peaks on one ticket. The gondola features 28 cabins with a 28-person capacity (4,100 riders per hour) that deliver riders across the 2.73-mile span between the peaks. Adding to the impressiveness is the sheer size of the terminals that house and power this lift. The two terminal buildings are the world’s two largest lift terminals. Over 5,200 cubic yards of concrete were helicoptered and trucked up each mountain, then poured, to complete this modern marvel.
#2: $52+ Million – Wild Blue Gondola; Steamboat Ski Resort, CO
While ranking #2 for cost, the Wild Blue Gondola is the longest and fastest 10-person gondola in North America. Spanning 3.16 miles, it delivers riders from the base area to Sunshine Peak in just 13 minutes. This dramatically improves the uphill capacity to 10,000 riders per hour, significantly reducing congestion on the mountain.
Fittingly, this incredible project was completed in two sections, which can function independently or together. Adding to the project’s ingenuity, Steamboat repurposed technology from the windmill industry to eliminate traditional gearbox troubleshooting; Wild Blue features the world’s largest direct drive, replacing a traditional gearbox. This gondola was the cornerstone of the $200 million “Full Steam Ahead” initiative to enhance the resort experience.
#1: $65 Million – Base to Base Gondola; Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort, CA
The most expensive lift in North America belongs to Palisades Tahoe Ski Resort. Taking just over 16 minutes and spanning 2.4 miles, the Base to Base Gondola connects Alpine Lodge to the Village at Palisades Tahoe. While critics may point out the longer ride times–especially in high wind conditions–it is far superior to hopping on a shuttle between the two base areas.
Opened in December of 2022, this long-awaited project accomplished the goal of allowing riders to seamlessly enjoy the full terrain of California’s largest ski resort. The gondola system– Featuring 96 cabins holding eight riders in each, the gondola has an uphill capacity of 1,600 riders per hour –can operate individually through its four separate terminals (three with unloading capabilities) or as a single line. However, the fun does not stop there. For added convenience, riders can unload mid-station at the KT-22 chairlift to access expert terrain. Making this feat more impressive were the 177 conditions of approval required to mitigate its environmental impact.
Suffice it to say, the completion of each of these individually impressive feats of engineering and ski lift technology has given us more opportunities to enjoy the mountains and the sport we love.
Disclaimer: This list has been updated since its first publication to reflect published figures.
