The Mount Ashland Ski Area has announced a transformative infrastructure project to replace two of its most iconic chairlifts.
After more than four decades of service, Ariel and Windsor Chairlifts are set to be replaced with new, state-of-the-art fixed-grip triple chairs, with the project set to begin in Spring 2026.
Ariel Chairlift, in operation since 1964, and Windsor Chairlift, which began service in 1978, have been cornerstones of Mount Ashland Ski Area, providing generations of skiers and snowboarders with access to more than half of the mountain's terrain.
Despite years of diligent care and maintenance, both lifts are at the end of their serviceable lives, and the increasing costs to maintain, difficulty in sourcing parts and decreasing efficiency by modern standards have made the need for upgrades increasingly evident. The original chairlifts will continue to operate until their replacements are installed.
The new chairlifts will be better equipped to meet the needs of today's skiers and snowboarders by enhancing access to key terrain, reducing lift lines, improving operational efficiency, and ensuring a consistent and comfortable experience for guests of all abilities. In addition, these modern lifts will be more energy-efficient and resilient to wind and weather.
Mount Ashland also plans to widen the lift corridors to modern standards by removing trees along approximately 150 feet of the lift lines for improved safety and operational efficiency. The work on both chairlift upgrades is confined to existing previously disturbed lift corridors. No new terrain is being developed.
