The ski season may be over, but the summer work at Mount Ashland, Oregon, is just getting started.
Mount Ashland has been operating its Ariel and Windsor chairlifts since 1964 and 1978, respectively. Despite the history of these two-person lifts serving Mount Ashland’s skiers for over 45 years, both chairs have become outdated and costly to maintain. Now, the southern Oregon ski area is ready to move on and is currently seeking donations for replacing the two lifts.
Mount Ashland will be replacing Ariel and Windsor with two new fixed-grip chairlifts. The new lifts will help improve access to key terrain, reduce lift lines, improve resort operations, and provide a more comfortable experience for resort guests. The new lifts will also be more energy-efficient and resilient to windy conditions.
Recent inspections of the old chairlifts have shown that their vital components are at the end of their lives, according to a Mount Ashland release. Aging has specifically affected the Windsor lift, with the ski area citing a dire need to replace it. Because of its condition, Mount Ashland has made replacing Windsor its priority.
With payments due in the near future, unless the necessary funds can be raised in time, the replacement of Windsor will happen in 2026. Ariel’s replacement will have to wait a year, coming in 2027. “This is not ideal, but this decision will need to be made to sustain the ski area’s financial integrity,” the ski area admitted in the press release.
Windsor’s replacement will require the complete removal of its existing above-ground structure, with the new chairlift built using the same alignment and footprint. The new lift’s project area will be approximately 6.5 acres, with ground disturbance limited to lift terminal areas and tower footprints. The construction is estimated at eight months. As a nod to the old Windsor lift, the bottom terminal will be forest green.
Like Windsor, Ariel’s replacement will see the complete removal of its above-ground infrastructure. It will also be built with the same alignment and footprint as the old lift. Its project area will be approximately 9.3 acres, slightly larger than the new Windsor’s. Construction is estimated to take 20 months, and the lift’s bottom terminal will be red.
Both Ariel and Windsor are a vital part of Mount Ashland’s roots. Ariel has been spinning since the ski area first opened its doors to guests on December 11, 1964. Nicknamed “Big Red,” Ariel is the oldest unmodified chairlift in Oregon, serving Mount Ashland’s most difficult terrain.
Recognized as Mount Ashland’s “portal to the mountain,” the Windsor chairlift provided access to the majority of the ski area’s terrain.
Mount Ashland is a nonprofit ski area sitting entirely on National Forest System land. The National Forest Service is currently accepting public comments regarding the new lifts during their scoping period.
Mount Ashland is accepting donations for its new lifts and will match donations up to $500,000. Donations can be made on the ski area’s website.
