While a slow lift can be a nice break after a long mogul run, let's be honest, most of us are eager beavers on slower ski lifts. Especially on a pow day. But not to worry, many ski resorts in North America are beginning to expand and upgrade new ski lifts and gondolas for the 2026-27 ski season. Below is a list of resorts making progress to make more terrain accessible and convenient for your next ski season.
Canada
Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia
Vail Resorts, which owns Whistler Blackcomb, is planning to replace the historic Showcase T-Bar with a fixed-grip four-person chairlift. The T-bar was installed in 1988 and led riders to the upper part of Horstman Glacier near Blackcomb Peak. Historically, the T-bar ran year-round, but due to warming winters, it began running sporadically as the Glacier began to recede. In 2020, Vail removed the nearby Horstman T-bar without replacement due to the extreme recession of the lower part of the Glacier. The new Showcase chairlift will shift north, allowing a longer path without running on top of the glacier. According to Ski Resort Info, the lift's transit time will be approximately 3:50 minutes. The new lift is expected to be running at the beginning of the 2026-27 ski season.
Kimberley Alpine Resort, British Columbia
Leitner Poma will manufacture the first modern lift for Kimberley Alpine Resort, which is scheduled to open in December 2026. Kimberley's new lift, the Tamarack Quad Chair, will replace the Tamarack Double Chair. The lift will be built on the same alignment as the retired chair lift. The ski lift company will also be manufacturing three more lifts at Fernie and Kicking Horse Resort, but they won't be ready until the 2027-28 season.
United Sates
Park City has a busy 2026 summer season ahead of them. The resort is expected to have a new gondola and two new lifts for the 2026-27 ski season, if permits are approved.
A new 10-person high-speed gondola, with floor-to-ceiling windows, will replace the Cabriolet Lift as a pivotal new connecting point for guests. The lift will serve as a central connecting point, linking guests from the Lower Village to Canyons Village and slopes. According to the Park Record, the gondola will also feature a mid-station to provide more accessible access for homeowners and lodging properties in that area. Construction began in late March 2026, with plans to finish in time for the start of the 2026-27 ski season.
Park City Planning Commission, city staffers and resort representatives met earlier this May to discuss proposed upgrades. The upgrades include plans to replace the Eagle and Eaglets lifts, and upgrade the Silverlode Express chairlifts. The new charlifts is set to replace the 30-year-old Eagle and Eaglet lifts with a high-speed, six-passenger detachable chairlift with a mid-station stop. The new lift would be called the Eagle Express. The Silverlode Express is getting an upgrade from a six-passenger lift to an eight-passenger lift.
The Mountain is seeking a conditional use permit. But many critics are concerned that these new upgrades could impact traffic and guest congestion. Others like Tracy Meier, the National Ability Center’s Chief Program and Education Officer, say that these improvements could “ensure that outdoor recreation is available for everyone,” according to the Park Record. Commissioners voted to meet again Wednesday to discuss these matters and to take final action on the permit request.
According to Ski Resort Info, the upgraded Silverlode Express will have a transit time of approximately 8 minutes, and the Eagle Express will take approximately 4 minutes.
Deer Valley, Utah
As part of Deer Valley's huge expansion efforts this past season, which showcased seven new chairlifts and 80 new runs, another chairlift is being built to continue the progress of this project for the 2026-27 ski season. Hail Peak Express will be a new high-speed four-person chairlift that will help expand the resort's eastern side. This new lift will be followed by future developments on South Peak in later phases, according to the Deer Valley website.
Sun Valley also has a busy summer ahead of them. Construction plans are set to replace both Christmas Lift and Lookout Express beginning in April. The Christmas Lift will be replaced with a new high-speed detachable quad that will take approximately 4.5 minutes to ride. The Lookout Express detachable quad will be replaced with a new high-speed six-person lift, cutting the ride time to approximately 8.5 minutes. Pete Sonntag, Chief Operating Officer at Sun Valley Resort, stated that the replacement of both lifts is another major milestone in modernizing lift networks at Sun Valley, as both play a critical role in getting skiers and riders to the top of Bald Mountain, according to Sun Valley’s website.
After upgrading the old Superstar quad to a six-person lift, the new Marquee Lift opened to the public in April. But the resort's last day to ski was this Monday. So, the new Marquee Lift won't truly be enjoyed till next season. But, the re-opening of this lift in April did allow Killington to keep its reign of being the “king” of spring skiing on the East Coast.
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