Snowbird To Replace Chickadee Chairlift

Little Cottonwood Canyon, Utah — One of the first chairlifts installed at Snowbird has closed for good.

On Sunday, Snowbird officially retired the Chickadee chairlift. Installed in 1972, the Thiokol fixed-grip double chairlift was where many learned to ski and ride. It only serves a small amount of beginner terrain, but it also gets guests closer to the Cliff Lodge or to their car if they parked close by. In the summer, the chairlift services the Alpine Slide, summer tubing, and other attractions. It was also used for night skiing, though the Utah ski resort recently discontinued it.

Chickadee will be replaced by a fixed-grip quad chairlift. This SkyTrac chairlift will feature a loading conveyor to streamline the seating process. With it being a quad, it will effectively double the capacity, reducing lift lines. The project will move quickly so they can have it ready for July in order to host summer and fall operations. It will be the first lift replacement for Snowbird since Wilbere in 2024.

Thoughts & Memories

There are some interesting logistical challenges that I’m curious to see how they’re gonna pull off. This includes putting the bottom terminal below the Snowbird Center and removing the old lift tower situated below the relatively new bridge connecting the Snowbird Center and the Cliff Lodge.

I do have some good memories with this chairlift. I worked at Snowbird as a liftie for a winter, and I was based at Chickadee for much of that time. While the surrounding terrain doesn’t appeal to most skiers, it was cool to see a new generation of skiers and riders learning the ropes.

With this replacement, one lift remains from Snowbird’s early years: Mid-Gad. The Tram kinda fits that bill as well, but it’s seen various parts replaced since its inception, such as the cabins.

Image/Video Credits: Snowbird, Beyond the Lodge

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