The 9 Oldest Operating Ski Lifts in North America

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 chairs 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 off for another epic run.

• Related: The 11 Most Annoying Things Anyone Can Do on a Chairlift Ride

#9 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 snow 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.

#7 (tie) Whitewater T-Bar, Ski Brule, MI – 1957

The Whitewater T Bar at Ski Brule in Michigan is part of the resort’s long history, which dates back to 1956 when the ski area first opened with a T Bar and single lodge. Today, the Whitewater T Bar is 450 meters long, rises 88 meters, and 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.

#7 (tie) Snow Pocket T-Bar, Snow Ridge Ski Resort, NY – 1957

The Snow Pocket T-Bar at Snow Ridge Ski Resort in Turin, 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.

• Related: The 8 Coldest Ski Lifts in North America

#5 (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 Riblet Tramway Company.

#5 (tie): Bateau T-Bar, Sugarloaf, ME – 1956

Costing a whopping $57,000, according to liftblog.com, it is the only lift at Sugarloaf that can open on windy days. Newenglandskihistory.com lists it at 960 vertical feet and that Leitner designed it. It’s over 60 years old, and it’s the most reliable—no school like the old school.

#4: Single Chair, Mad River Glen, VT – 1948

This lift services 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 loading on the chair. 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, 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 but was put out of use in 1969. In 1974, the lift was sold and moved to Mt. Eyak, Alaska, which sits near 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 fully been 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
• 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.