Historic Aspen Ski Lifts Up for Auction, With an Artistic Twist

This summer, Aspen Mountain, Colorado, is working on a brand new lift, the Nell Bell.

To make room, the ski resort is removing two classic lifts that, together, have served Aspen Mountain for nearly 120 combined years: Little Nell and Bell Mountain. The chairs from those lifts aren’t vanishing into the ether, though. Until July 19, 2026, they’re available in an ongoing auction.

Bidding opened at $250 for the Little Nell chairs and $500 for Bell Mountain chairs, with nationwide shipping available. One hundred Bell Mountain Chairs and 15 Little Nell Chairs are up for auction.

Proceeds from the auction will go toward “strengthening our democracy—funding voter registration, get-out-the-vote efforts, and the protection of voting rights—alongside climate action,” according to Aspen Snowmass.

Aspen Snowmass partnered with Buckhorn Public Arts to reimagine 10 chairs as works of art. One was painted with the colors of the Colorado state flag by Rae Lampe. Another was equipped with plush-looking leather seats by Bryan Bennett, a Colorado-based leather artist. Bids start at $2,500 for the art chairs. 

Aspen Snowmass also donated two dozen chairs to community organizations, including Aspen School District, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES), Aspen Hope Center, Ski Noir, and others. And Aspen One employees are eligible to enter a raffle for 75 chairs, with tickets available for $10 each.

Once complete, the under-construction Nell Bell lift—a high-speed quad—will replace the Little Nell and Bell Mountain and is set to run from the Gondola Plaza to the top of Bell Mountain. 

“The purpose of the proposed project is to enhance the guest experience at Aspen Mountain by providing shorter chairlift ride times, improving skier circulation, and replacing aging infrastructure,” a Forest Service document about the project reads. 

According to the document, the Nell Bell will also take pressure off the Silver Queen Gondola, which experiences long lines during the morning rush and on busy days. 

Aspen Mountain plans to debut the Nell Bell this coming winter season. 

For more information about the Little Nell and Bell Mountain auction, click here.

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