Construction Continues on New Snowmass Chairlift

At Snowmass, Colorado, one of Aspen Snowmass’ four ski areas, construction continues on the new Coney Express lift.

Slated to open at the start of the 2024-2025 season, the four-person, high-speed lift will function as a replacement for the pre-existing Coney Glade lift.

However, unlike Coney Glade, Coney Express’ path extends all the way to the Snowmass base area. The upper terminal deposits skiers in the same place as Coney Glade.

This alignment, a representative from Aspen Snowmass said, will create “a new access point to the mountain and significantly [increase] Snowmass’ out-of-base capacity."

Another Coney Express feature is a midway angle load station where skiers and snowboarders who don’t want to go to the base can head back up the mountain.

“The lift will also provide unloading for foot traffic at the midway point, allowing access to Lynn Britt Cabin and Spider Sabich Race Arena for foot passengers,” said the representative. “This is a major improvement for providing better access for non-skiers, such as families and friends watching racers at Spider Sabich, or guests visiting Lynn Britt for dining or après.” The mid-unload will only be available for foot passengers accessing the Lynn Britt Cabin during non-peak hours.

The under-construction lift is the first major project associated with the Snowmass Master Development Plan (MDP) proposed in 2022. Further potential upgrades in the MDP include a gondola replacement for the Village Express lift, restaurant remodels, and new gladed areas. All of the MDP projects are within the Snowmass resort boundary.

“One of the plan’s primary goals is to spread people out by better utilizing the terrain and services that are already there,” read an explanation of the MDP published by Aspen Snowmass.

Not everything in the MDP will come to fruition, but those that do could appear at Snowmass over the next decade.

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