World’s Longest 8-Seater Chairlift Opens in Montana

Big Sky Resort in Montana, USA has made history with the grand opening of their Madison 8 chairlift.

The new lift furthers the resort’s current reputation as the home of North America’s most technologically advanced lift infrastructure.
At an inclined length of 8,631 feet (2,630m), Madison 8 now holds a record as the world’s longest eight-place chairlift installation.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony and traditional Doppelmayr bell ringing celebrated the debut of the state-of-the-art D-line chairlift.

Madison 8 replaces the former Six Shooter lift on the resort's Moonlight Basin side. This installation makes Big Sky Resort the only North American ski destination with three bubble D-line lifts and two eight-place lifts.

"Since Big Sky 2025 was announced nine years ago, we’ve had an ambition to create North America’s most technologically advanced lift network," said Troy Nedved, the resort’s president and COO. “Madison 8, our twelfth new lift installed since 2016, certainly makes this a reality.”

The festivities also celebrated the grand opening of the One&Only Moonlight Basin gondola. A live DJ at the base of Madison 8 elevated the celebratory spirit while MAP Brewing offered samples of their latest collaboration in honor of the new lift – the specially crafted M8 Mountain Lager.