World’s Longest 8 Seat Chairlift Coming to Montana
Hot on the heels of unveiling their new Lone Peak Tram during the 50th anniversary week of the creation of Big Sky Resort, the Montana ski area has announced they’ll be installing their second 8-seater chairlift.
Big Sky will be the first North American resort to operate two eight-seat chairlifts and the new Six Shooter lift will be its third to feature state-of-the-art D-line chairlift replacing the existing Six Shooter lift.
The new eight-place lift will effectively double the uphill capacity while reducing ride time by 30%, offering guests swift and comfortable access to Big Sky Resort’s north side terrain from the Madison Base Area. This lift will also set a new record globally as the longest eight-place installation in the world.
“Replacing Six Shooter has long been an ask of our guests. The lift replacement doubles the uphill capacity at one of our last remaining pinch points, and will enhance what is one of the resort’s coldest lift rides with bubbles and heated seats,” said Troy Nedved, Big Sky Resort’s general manager.
The new lift will be equipped with weatherproof Big Sky Blue bubbles, longer load intervals, ergonomically shaped, extra-wide heated seats, and a height-adjustable loading platform. This lift will also debut two additional guest enhancements: the resort’s first automatic lowering and locking safety bar system, and North America’s first installation of the Fatzer Performa-DT rope which will deliver the smoothest and quietest lift ride possible.
The new lift will follow a nearly identical alignment to the existing Six Shooter six-place lift and will include chair storage in the upper and lower terminals. Construction will begin in summer 2024, with a scheduled opening for the 24/25 winter season.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Lone Mountain Land Company to accelerate the timing of this important lift replacement,” said Nedved, adding, “This new eight-place lift will greatly enhance the ski access to the full north side of the mountain from the Madison Base,” said Matt Kidd, president, Lone Mountain Land Company. “This new lift also connects our Moonlight Basin community and guests of One&Only Moonlight Basin, scheduled to open in winter 2025, with a greatly elevated lift experience, on par with the rest of Big Sky Resort’s modern lift system and expansive terrain.”
“Big Sky Resort is at the forefront of transforming the North American ski experience by adding the most advanced and comfortable lift system to our mountain. This lift replacement, our seventh in as many years, supports our long-standing reputation for having some of the shortest lift lines in the Rockies,” said Nedved.
Although 8 seater chairlifts have been running round the world since the 1990s they have only started to appear in North America in recent years, in part because skier slope density is typically lower than the Alps in Canada and the US so high capacity lifts have not been needed. Historically Big Sky has reputation for some of the lest crowded slopes in America.
