Already dreaming of Idaho ski season? Brundage Mountain to put in high-speed chairlift
With temperatures expected to hit 106 degrees this week, some Idahoans may already be looking forward to winter days spent hitting the slopes.
Starting in the 2023-24 season, skiers will be able to get to the top of one nearby mountain faster than ever.
Brundage Mountain Resort in McCall has announced plans to replace the Centennial Triple Chair with a high-speed detachable quad chairlift next year. Dubbed the Centennial Express, the Doppelmayr 4-CLD will take skiers from the bottom of the mountain to the top terminal in just six minutes — more than halving the current 14-minute ride, according to a news release.
That means slower wait times and more opportunities to ski. And the number of people the lift can carry will increase from 1,300 to 1,800.
Construction of the lift, which will have a 1,616-foot vertical rise, is set to begin next summer.
The resort said in its release that the new lift will replace one that has been in place since 1990.
“Upgrading the Centennial lift to a high-speed quad does more than just cut down the ride time,” Brundage Mountain General Manager Ken Rider said in the release. “The loading experience will be so much smoother — especially for families — which will make some of our best terrain infinitely more accessible.”
The project is part of a major update the resort’s new owners have planned. Also in the works are a new Ski Patrol facility, employee housing, mountain bike trails and an updated ski school.
“The front side lift upgrade is a key part of the resort’s 10-year improvement plan, which includes a new, modern, day lodge, on-site lodging and an extensive list of on-mountain recreation upgrades,” the resort’s release said.
Brundage Mountain said it “plans to invest between $25 to $30 million dollars in the resort over the next two to three years” and will announce additional projects soon.
