Skiers and snowboarders can now own a chair from a historic lift at a beloved Colorado ski area.
Loveland Ski Area recently announced it will be removing its iconic Chair 5 over the summer. But not all is lost—ski history buffs can enter Loveland’s lottery for a chance to win one of the lift’s double chairs. Interested buyers must act quickly, as Loveland is only auctioning off a limited quantity. Lottery tickets cost $650, and buyers can make entries on Loveland’s website.
To be eligible for the auction, interested buyers must be a 2026-27 season pass holder.
Chair 5 served Loveland’s skiers for nearly 30 years, first spinning in the winter of 1975 before shutting down in 2001. The half-mile-long double chair, manufactured by Heron Poma, famously carried skiers over Highway 6, linking Loveland Basin and Loveland Valley base areas together. The lift was also known for its safety net underneath the lift, designed to protect skiers from falling and cars from falling objects. It was a fixed-grip chairlift, and its ride took roughly seven minutes and 20 seconds, with a carrying capacity of 1,000 skiers per hour.
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Loveland retired Chair 5 in 2001 following 26 years of operation. A chairlift’s lifespan typically lasts between 25 and 30 years before a necessary replacement. Over time, chairlifts degrade from component fatigue, parts going out of date, poor operations in windy or icy conditions, and other reasons. Loveland has not released an official statement detailing why it shut down Chair 5. But today, the legendary lift is over 50 years old, and its small carrying capacity, speed, and age have made the lift obsolete.
Despite sitting idly for years, Chair 5 has maintained its legendary status among Loveland skiers, and a chance to win one of the lift’s chairs is a unique way to remember the resort’s history.
Loveland recommends lottery winners bring a friend to help move and load the chair into a truck or trailer big enough for the chair. Each chair weighs 110 pounds and is 110 inches long, 43 inches wide, and 20 inches deep. Loveland will not provide any tie-downs, straps, or assistance. Employees are unable to “provide assistance in any shape or form with the chair,” the resort wrote, so bring a buddy and be ready for some heavy lifting.
Registration for the lottery is now open and goes through July 22. Winners will be notified by Thursday, July 23, receiving a redemption code to pay for their chair online. If selected, the winner has one week to make their purchase. Chair pick-up will happen in early August.
