Lifts

Fifty years from Big Sky Resort’s inaugural opening day in 1973, skiers, snowboarders, and sightseers board the new Lone Peak Tram as it smoothly ascends to the resort’s 11,166-foot summit. The Lone Peak Tram is an engineering marvel positioned to serve as a gateway to experience one of North America’s most spectacular summits on Lone Mountain.

The new tram is a complete replacement of the original jig-back gondola built in 1995. This state-of-the-art aerial tram technology is newly routed to carry more passengers spaciously up 2,142 vertical feet in just under five minutes. After two years of construction and many more years of planning before, the Lone Peak Tram’s debut marks a new era for the resort. The tram complex will evolve in the years ahead, with the addition of a breathtaking observation experience planned at the upper terminal in both the winter and summer season.

The new Lone Peak Tram is part of a base-to-summit lift network that will more fully come to life by the end of the decade, starting with the addition of the Explorer Gondola, scheduled to open for winter 25/26. This new lift network will create improved access to the resort’s premier learning terrain, accessible to pedestrians for the first time ever, and complemented with new food and beverage experiences.

Replacing the Swift Current high-speed quad, Swift Current 6 increases uphill capacity out of the Mountain Village base area by up to 50%. A gearless drive makes for whisper-quiet operations and significantly improves energy efficiency. On the hill, the new 90-degree unload will exit skiers toward the bowl on Jay Walk, creating a smoother skier flow. Equipped with Big Sky Blue weatherproof bubbles, ultrawide heated seats, and individual headrests and footrests, this highly anticipated upgrade offers unrivaled comfort and speed on the mountain.

Progressive safety features include an adjustable loading carpet, automatic locking and unlocking safety bars, and speaker systems at each lift tower for emergency communication. The lift's wind-resistant design further improves efficiency and reliability, and a redesign of the top terminal will enhance the flow of traffic from the Shedhorn area and reduce the number of stops occurring at the offloading ramp.

As the first 8-seat chair in North America, Ramcharger 8 launched lift technology into a new era. Big Sky Resort worked closely with Doppelmayr to utilize their most advanced capabilities to greatly enhance guest comfort, reliability, and safety.

Achievements include the first direct-drive motor in North America, creating significantly increased reliability. the highest possible energy efficiency, and whisper-quiet rides. Equipped with a weatherproof Big Sky Blue Bubble and ultra-wide ergonomic heated seats, guest comfort is optimized while the improved technology eases maintenance. The 30' x 10' high resolution LED screen at the bottom terminal displays weather status, resort information, and promotional material to guests both loading the lift and in the Mountain Village area.

Other features include height-adjustable conveyor loading for safety and efficiency, fully automated chair parking to keep the chairs in optimal condition, and European-style tapered towers which improve structural efficiency. 

In the summer of 2016, Powder Seeker replaced the Lone Peak Triple lift and Challenger transformed from a double to a triple. Both chair upgrades were designed to add access to Big Sky's advanced terrain with comfort and reliability top of mind.

Whisking skiers up to the top of the bowl in only 3 minutes, Powder Seeker 6 takes comfort to a higher level with heated seats, headrests, and a Big Sky Blue Bubble. The upgrade from a 3-place to a 6-place chair also doubled uphill capacity, encouraging skiers to explore Big Sky's expansive terrain.

Challenger 3 might not be as flashy, but the installation of a conveyor loading system allows the chair to run 30% faster than before. Its burly components allow it to run in harsher conditions, allowing consistent access to some of the resort's most coveted advanced terrain.