While reporting company profits of $116m earlier this year, CEO Rob Katz announced that Vail Resorts would upgrade the Sun Up lift at Vail Mountain to a new high-speed chairlift.
The new lift will reduce the time to reach the top and access the Back Bowls to just 4 minutes and will increase passenger capacity by 40%.
Work began on the new lift earlier this month by removing the old fixed chairlift, known as Chair 17.
Improved access to the Back Bowls
“The new Sun Up Express will dramatically improve how guests are able to move across Vail’s legendary Back Bowls, especially on powder mornings as they head toward the China Bowl complex and Blue Sky Basin,” said Chris Jarnot, Vail’s chief operating officer.
Reduced demand on other lifts
The added benefit of the extra capacity is that there will be reduced demand on the High Noon Express chairlift.
The new lift should be operational by the official opening of Vail Mountain for the new 2016/17 ski season on Friday 18 November.
The introduction of the new Sun Up lift will mean that Vail has added nine new chairlifts over the last ten seasons.
Lodging in Vail
For details of accommodation and lodging in Vail, please contact the Coda Travel team.