6 days ago
Public Comment Window Opens for Vail's Proposed Lift Upgrades
The White River National Forest Service has opened a public comment period over a proposal for Vail Mountain to replace and upgrade several resort has proposed a replacement of the existing Chair 21 (Orient Express), which is a high-speed quad with a 2,400 person per hour capacity. The lift would be replaced by a 6-seater lift with a capacity of 3,600 people per hour in order to improve access to the Back Bowls, and decrease lift-line wait times. Additionally, Vail wants to replace Chair 15, which is currently a three-seater, with a quad chair to increase capacity from 1,400 to 2,400 people per hour. The replacement of Chair 15 would also allow for upgraded snowmaking infrastructure that would extend the chair's length. Vail's proposal also includes grading six acres of terrain along the Two Elk ridgeline between the top of the new Chair 21 and Two Elk Lodge to improve the flow of skier traffic in the area. This grading would eliminate several flat pitches of mountain and allow for Lift 24, which is currently a platter lift, to be removed. Want to keep up with the best stories and photos in skiing? Subscribe to the new Powder To The People newsletter for weekly updates.
All pieces of the proposal are a part of Vail's 2023 Master Development Plan and will take place within the existing boundaries of Vail Mountain Resort. Vail is one of 11 ski areas within the White River National Forest. The Forest Service is seeking public comment on the proposal by June 6, 2025. A decision is predicted to be made by September of 2025 for an estimated project start in June of 2026. Vail Resorts made headlines earlier this week with the announcement that CEO Kristen Lynch would be replaced by former Vail CEO Rob Katz. The resort ownership conglomerate also recently added six new European ski areas to the Epic Pass for 2025/26 including Sölden, Silvretta Montafon, Mayrhofen, Hintertux, Saalbach, and Comment Window Opens for Vail's Proposed Lift Upgrades first appeared on Powder on May 28, 2025
