Brains
The up is never as fun as the down. The chairlift is just a means to get that next face shot or to continue the hunt for the perfect turn. No one ever talks about how insane the tram is as they’re about to crap themselves when they realize how psycho Corbet’s Couloir truly is. No. The magic of floating up a mountain is lost. It’s time we appreciate just how special this sport is that we can sit on our butts for half the time.
This list names the nine lifts (plus a few bonus ones) that have been cradling backsides the longest and are still in operation. If you’re privileged enough to take one of these classics for a spin, pause to appreciate its grace as it thanklessly shuttles you up for another epic run.
#10/11 (tie) East T-Bar, Snowriver Mountain Resort, MI – 1959
Installed in 1959, the East T-Bar at Snowriver Mountain Resort is one of the oldest ski lifts still operating in North America. Located on the Jackson Creek Summit, the old-school lift serves steep, natural terrain and offers skiers a taste of the resort’s early days. Despite Snowriver’s modern upgrades, the East T-Bar remains a piece of living ski history and a favorite for those who appreciate classic lifts.
#10/11 (tie) Willow Creek Riblet, Red Lodge, MT – 1959
The Willow Creek double chairlift at Red Lodge Mountain was built in 1959 by Riblet Tramway Company and has been operating since 1960. Although it was shortened from its original length over the decades, the historic lift still runs to provide extra capacity on peak days. Today, it stands as one of the oldest functioning ski lifts in Montana, combining vintage charm with modern safety updates.
#8 (tie) Whitewater T-Bar, Ski Brule, MI – 1957
The Whitewater T Bar at Ski Brule, Michigan, is part of the resort’s long history, when the ski area first opened with a T Bar and single lodge. Today, the Whitewater T Bar can carry up to 1,000 skiers per hour. It remains one of two T-Bars operating at Ski Brule, a rarity at a modern ski area and a reminder of the Upper Peninsula’s old-school skiing heritage.
#8 (tie) Snow Pocket T-Bar, Snow Ridge Ski Resort, NY – 1957
The Snow Pocket T-Bar at Snow Ridge Ski Resort, New York, dates back to 1957. The historic surface lift serves the Snow Pocket, a secluded area known for holding deep lake-effect snow, and remains one of the resort’s most unique throwbacks to classic East Coast skiing.
#6 (tie): Chair 1/Vista Cruiser, Mt. Spokane, WA – 1956
This Riblet-style double services the advanced terrain near Lodge 1 at Mt. Spokane. Riblet refers to the way the lift attaches to the haul rope. It is attached to a clip inserted into the haul rope rather than a clamp that most chairlifts have today. Byron Christian Riblet founded the Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, WA, in 1896 when he began building lifts in Nelson, BC, according to the Riblet Tramway Company.
#6 (tie): Bateau T-Bar, Sugarloaf, ME – 1956
Costing a whopping $57,000, according to liftblog.com, this lift is the only lift at Sugarloaf that can open on windy days. Newenglandskihistory.com lists it at 960 vertical feet and notes that Leitner designed it. It’s over 60 years old, and it’s the most reliable—no school like the old school.
#4 (tie) North American Chair, Mt. Norquay, AB – 1948
At Mt. Norquay, ski history is still turning every winter. The North American Chairlift, known locally as the “Big Chair,” has been carrying skiers up the mountain since 1948, providing access to some of the area’s most challenging terrain and spectacular views. For skiers who ride it today, the Big Chair is more than just a way to reach the top. It is a living piece of ski history that has carried generations of skiers up the mountain.
#4 (tie) Single Chair, Mad River Glen, VT – 1948
This lift serves one of the three mountains in the country that bans snowboarding, and this lift is the reason for the ban. Mad River Glen was one of the first resorts to allow snowboarding in the 1980s but then banned snowboarders from the Single Chair only because of safety concerns while unloading the chair that caused derailment problems. According to Mad River Glen, a confrontation between the owner, Betsey Pratt, and some local riders led to snowboarders being banned entirely in the 1991-1992 season. You know a lift is legendary if it leads to an entire sport being banned from a mountain.
#3: Single Chair, Mt. Eyak, AK – 1939
Similar to the Hemlock Chair at Boyne Mountain (see #2 on our list), Mt. Eyak’s single chair was one of the oldest chairlifts originally built at Sun Valley, ID. This single lift originally served on Mt. Baldy, ID, but was put out of use in 1969. In 1974, the lift was sold and moved to Mt. Eyak, Alaska, which is located in Cordova, AK, where it still operates today.
#2 Hemlock Chair, Boyne Mountain, MI – 1936
While most people know of the first-ever single ski lift at Sun Valley, ID, in 1947, many do not realize that this lift is still in use today. The first-ever chairlift was put up for sale by Sun Valley in 1946 and was purchased for $2000 by Boyne Mountain, MI, where it can now be found. While this lift has undergone several repurposes and improvements, such as being converted from a single chair to a double chair in 1960, some parts of the top and bottom loading stations are still original, meaning that the first-ever chairlift has never been fully replaced.
#1: J-Bar, Black Mountain, NH – 1935
Originally installed as a rope tow by Moody’s Inn to service their small ski hill back in 1935. The current configuration as a J-Bar was put into place by Black Mountain Ski Resort in 1954 to make riding the lift easier. Over the years, the J-Bar has seen numerous refurbishments and repairs, and in 2022, it was restored to its original appearance and colors.
Bonus
- 7th Heaven, Stevens Pass, WA – 1960
- T-Bar 1, Titcomb Mountain, ME – 1960
- T-Bar, Arctic Valley, AK – 1961
- Route 66, Blue Knob, PA – 1963
- Festival, Powder Ridge, CT – 1964
These lifts may not be the fastest, smoothest, or most comfortable rides on the mountain, but that is exactly what makes them special. They are living pieces of ski history, carrying generations of skiers and riders back to the top for another run. So the next time you find yourself sitting on one of these old-school lifts, resist the urge to stare at your phone or complain about the slow ride. Take a look around, enjoy the view, and appreciate the fact that you are riding a piece of history.
The exhibition single at Baldy was still operating in 1973. I rode it and competed in the western national freestyle championship. I recall Suzy Chaffee being pelted by snowballs while riding above the crowd there, and a streaker wearing only a knapsack standing calmly on a chair, riding over the crowd while dozens of snowballs missed. I’d love to get to Cordova and ski Mt. Eyak and ride the old chair once again.
Mt Baldy, CA. Those chairs were installed in 1952. Still operating today.
Mad River Glenn’s single chair is now dated 2007. Not 1948 as this article incorrectly states. Please remove it from this list if you are going to repost old stories that were written from years ago.
Thanks,
Bryce
While the single chair at Mad River Glen underwent a major historic restoration and rebuild in 2007, the lift retains its original 1948 alignment and heritage.
Thanks for replying Joseph. I would add Secundo lift in Colorado is still running this year and originally built in 1954, as Aspen chair 3. It will be replaced in 2024. Some of the best powder Aspen glade skiing in the world off Segundo chair.
It is operating.
Mt eyak in cordova ak has the oldest opperating single chair, built in 1939 by american wire and steel, removed from sun valley, and installed on mt eyak in 1974. Owned by the city of cordova ,opperated by sherridan ski club.
You forgot Ski bowl in Mt. Hood, Oregon. I am researching chairs and would like to petition to get hem to upgrade. They have a chair there from 1929.
It still operates. Usually a few times each winter.
This list is so far off, but it never seems like they actually do all their research for these types of articles.
First of all, this list doesn’t even mention rope tows, but it gets a pass for that because it’s often very difficult to determine how old a rope tow is.
Second, the MRG Single was almost completely replaced less than 10 years ago.
Third, Whitney’s J-Bar at Black, NH is significantly older than any lift on this list (it originally opened in 1935).
Fourth, there are many other lifts which fit in this list that completely skips over. For example, the T-bar which is now at Veterans Memorial was originally built in 1953.
In short, this article has little to no credibility, although it does highlight a few old lifts.
Very informative study of the history of ski lifts. I learned a great deal.
Chair 2 at white pass rarely operates. And when I say rarely I mean almost never. It’s just kept around as a backup in case the HSQ is down so i wouldn’t classify it as operational. Also, I believe 7th heaven at Stevens has had some significant upgrades in recent years. But vista cruiser at Mt Spo is the real deal. Old and scary and still running. The fact that so many of these lifts are in the PNW tells you something about the ski culture here.
How about the Hemlock chair at Boyne Mountain, Michigan? The FIRST chairlift, 1936. With an asterisk for some minor upgrades and relocation since. While visiting the Boyne resorts, try the world’s first triple and quad chairlifts, too.
Thanks for mentioning this one Grant! After sifting through articles and comments on liftblogs.com I decided that this lift has been modified and overhauled too many times to consider it the original lift that was built in Sun Valley, ID. It appears that it was originally a single chair, converted to a double chair, and then completely overhauled by Riblet in the 60’s and 70’s.
The first Red Chair at Red Mountain first ran in 1947.
According to rosslandmuseum.ca the original Red Chair was replaced in 1973. An iconic chair nonetheless!
Yes that’s correct.
What about Collins lift Alta ? January 15, 1939
Geoffrey I thought the same thing originally. According to the Alta Historical Society the original Collins and Germania lifts were replaced by the newly built Collins lift in 2004.
What about the shovel handle j-bar at Black mtn. in Jackson NH ?.
I believe the j-bar is no longer operational. Pictures that I found on liftblog.com show the j-bars are no longer attached to the cable, and the comments led me to believe that it hasn’t been operational for some time. However, it is very cool that the structure is still standing!
I think it is liftblog.com, not liftblogs.com, but nice article!
You’re right! Thanks for the heads up. I have made the corrections.