MWLSAP

mark@mwlsap.org

Midwest Lost Ski Areas Project
 FIRST CHAIRLIFT IN EACH STATE

 

Illinois

First Chairlift: Chestnut Mountain, 1961

http://mwlsap.org/illinois/il.htm#chestnut

Illinois Ski Areas with Chairlifts:

 

Indiana

First Chairlift: Tamarack Mountain Country Club, 1962

http://www.mwlsap.org/indiana/in.htm#tamarack

Private Indiana Country Club Open To Public - Palladium-Item (Richmond, Indiana) · Fri, Feb 7, 1964 - "Tamarack Mountain Club has Indiana's only double chairlift."

New Recreation Area Mid-West Ski Center - Steuben Republican (Angola, Indiana) · Wed, Sep 5, 1962 "Another of Tamarack Country Club 'firsts in Indiana' is a double chairlift . . . ."

Iowa

First Chairlift: Sundown, 1973 double ("Mountaintop", Borvig)

http://www.mwlsap.org/iowa/ia.htm#sundown

Iowa Ski Areas with chairlifts:

  • Sundown - chairlift installed 1973
  • Mt. Crescent (Crescent Hills ) - chairlift installed 1986, double
  • Fun Valley - no chairlift 1979 , chairlift in 1987
  • Seven Oaks - o: 1997 chairlift installed 1997, triple
  • Oak Highlands- chair installed 1982

Skiing in Iowa on the Increase - Sioux City Journal, Jan. 22, 1973 - "There are 19 rope tows, three motor powered, one T-bar and a poma lift."

 

Kansas

First Chairlift: NONE

Michigan

First Chairlift: Boyne installed 1948 began operating Jan. 9, 1949 (Hemlock Chair, single, changed to double, moved from Sun Valley, ID)

Was world's first chairlift when installed at Sun Valley

First chairlift in the Midwest

https://www.midwestskiers.com/post/5-unique-historic-interesting-ski-lifts-in-the-midwest

http://mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#boyne

Minnesota

First Chairlift: Lookout Mountain, 1958 (double, moved to Detroit Mountain in 1972)

https://www.mwlsap.org/minnesota/mn.htm#lookoutmountain

Ski facilities, new, old and changed - Minneapolis Star, Nov. 9, 1972

Second Chairlift: Val Chatel (single)

https://www.mwlsap.org/minnesota/mn.htm#valchatel

Picture

 

Missouri

First Chairlift: Hidden Valley (Eureka, MO) Riblet double in 1982

http://www.mwlsap.org/missouri/mo.htm#hiddenvalley

  • Hidden Valley (Pacific, MO) - no chairlift
  • Rainbow Basin had a chairlift, opened 1982 but without a chairlift
  • Shepard Mountain - no chairlift
  • Snow Bluff had a chairlift, opened 1988
  • Tan-Tar-A - no chairlift
  • Snow Creek - still open with chairlifts - opened 1986 with two triple chairlifts
  • Hidden Valley (Eureka, MO)- still open with chairlifts - opened 1982 with Gateway double (Riblet)

Nebraska

First Chairlift: Devil's Nest 1972

http://www.mwlsap.org/nebraska/ne.htm#devilsnest

  • Devil's Nest - opened 1972
  • Nebraski - opened 1980
  • Prairie Hills - no chairlift

North Dakota

First Chairlift: Frost Fire - a few years after the 1974 season

http://mwlsap.org/northdakota/nd.htm#frostfire

Thank you to Huff Hills Ski Area for their help

  • Open ski areas with chairlifts:
    • Bottineau Winter Park - first chair 1999
    • Huff Hills - first chair installed 1992-1993, ran Jan. 15 1994 (liftblog.com) (https://www.huffhills.com/huff-history)
    • Frost Fire - 3 chairlifts in 1989, added second chair 1988, first chair a few years after the 1974 season
    • Thrill Hills / Fort Ransom / Bear's Den - first chair 1997

     

  • Lost Areas
    • Villa Vsta - no chairlift
    • Twilight Hills - no chairlift (now Huff Hills)
    • Trestle Valley - no chairlift
    • Skyline Skiway - no chairlift
    • Rolla View - no chairlift
    • Nor-Ski - no chairlift
    • Leonards - no chairlift
    • Lamoure - no chairlift

Ohio

First Chairlift: Snow Trails 1962 double

http://www.mwlsap.org/ohio/oh.htm#snowtrails

South Dakota

First Chairlift: Terry Peak 1952 double

http://mwlsap.org/southdakota/sd.htm#terrypeak

Wisconsin

First Chairlift: Wilmot 1961 double

http://mwlsap.org/michigan/mi.htm#wilmot

  • from "Matterhorn of the Midwest: A History of Wilmot Ski Area", Charles C. Roberts Jr., Roberts Publishing, 2001

    "Walter (Stopa) thought a chairlift would be a great idea, since it would significantly increase uphill capacity, allow more terrain for skiing, and make it more comfortable for skiers. Some thought it was absolutely crazy to have a chairlift on such a small hill. Walter followed his instincts and installed chairlift number 1 (C1) in 1961, which was the first in Wisconsin." (pp 62-63)
  • near the location of the current lift 2 (2023) skimap.org
  • Lost Wisconsin Ski Areas Facebook Page - see comments

 

 

 

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