Solitude Ski Resort to auction retired lift chairs

BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, Utah — Solitude Ski Resort retired its historic Eagle Express earlier this year. Now, skiers have an opportunity to claim a piece of the lift. 

On Tuesday, August 1, 75 lift chairs will be up for auction. Opening bids start at $500, said a press release from Solitude Ski Resort. 

The auction will close on Monday, August 7. Winners will be able to pick up their lift chairs on August 11.

“Eagle Express has been one of Solitude’s core lifts for more than 30 years and we can’t wait to see these chairs go out to their new homes,” said Amber Broadaway, president and COO of Solitude Ski Resort. 

Historic Eagle Express

The ski lift was installed at Solitude in 1989. It was the first high-speed detachable lift in Utah. During its time at Solitude, the lift served some of Solitude’s signature terrain; Sunshine Bowl, Serenity, and Challenger, said a press release from the resort. 

Solitude chose to retire the lift because parts for it have become obsolete, making it challenging to maintain, according to the resort’s press release. The ski lift is being replaced with a new, modern six-pack lift. A six-pack lift is one that can carry up to six skiers per chair.

The lift is being replaced with a new Doppelmayr chairlift. It is currently under construction, and Solitude said it expects it to be operational by mid-December 2023.

Broadaway said that “since announcing the retirement of Eagle Express last winter, there has been tremendous interest from Utah skiers and snowboarders looking to purchase a chair from the lift.” 

The proceeds of the auction will benefit the Solitude Fund. The fund is a new initiative the resort has created for its staff to provide them with help during times of unexpected hardship. 

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