Update on Holiday Valley’s 6PK Lift
Update on Holiday Valley’s 6PK Lift
New Mardi Gras Lift on Schedule to Open Fall Fest Weekend
Photos / Holiday Valley
At 4,500 feet long with a capacity of 2,800 people per hour, Holiday Valley’s new six-passenger chairlift is the first in the region, and soon it will be ready to hold its first passengers! Holiday Valley’s biggest lift project, the lift has been under construction since the summer of 2022. Marketing Director Dash Hegeman said, “The Mountain Operations Team has been doing a great job and working very hard. The goal has always been to have the lift operational for Fall Fest weekend so that people can ride the new lift to the top of Mardi Gras.”
The decision to upgrade the Mardi Gras lift is well-aligned with the resort’s goals. “Holiday Valley has a long history of reinvesting back into the infrastructure of the resort - from lodges to landscaping to lifts and everything in-between,” Hegeman explained. “The experience of visiting Holiday Valley is a fantastic one for our guests and we want to ensure that vibe continues. Upgrading the Mardi Gras lift was something that the team here felt was important for our guests, especially those who visit us on busy weekends. We want people getting as much time and enjoyment on snow as possible and this new lift will help make that happen.”
The new lift is made by Doppelmayr, which is based in Salt Lake City but has its global headquarters in Austria, according to Hegeman. Compared to the original Mardi Gras lift, the new one has a capacity of 400 more people per hour. “The towers and every component of this new lift are brand new and are a much larger gauge than the old lift,” he added.
Even compared to Yodeler lift, the new six-passenger lift is larger in every way, including capacity and length, as it is 2,500 feet longer than Yodeler. “Yodeler was steeper terrain to work on and my guess is the Mountain Operations Team would say they had to manage a lot worse weather that year, but this project is definitely a massive one for the team and unlike any build they’ve done here at the resort,” Hegeman explained. “Jim Curtis, the Mountain Operations Manager, has worked on 22 lift builds here at Holiday Valley, which is a really impressive accomplishment and speaks to one of the many reasons that his team is able to complete projects like this.”
Construction began last summer with the installation of concrete foundations for 10 of the 11 lift towers. Starting early allowed the team to begin deconstructing the old Mardi Gras lift right after the end of ski season this past spring. The project has been progressing well this summer, and Hegeman is enthusiastic about completing the project in time for Ellicottville’s Fall Festival. In addition to providing gorgeous fall views, the lift is sure to be a game changer come ski season. “On busy days, it’s going to do a nice job of efficiently getting people out of the base area and to the top, where they can spread out across the resort, thus cutting down on wait time at the base of Mardi Gras,” said Hegeman. “Less time waiting means more time skiing and riding, which is a win-win for everyone.”
Anticipation is definitely building as the completion date draws near. This will be the first “six-pack” lift in the area, and Hegeman said Holiday Valley’s social media channels have been buzzing with excitement. Keep up with the latest developments by following Holiday Valley on social media and visiting www.holidayvalley.com.
