Big Sky’s Trick New Lift Upgrades

Big Sky Resort is in the middle of a major transformation. The Montana ski area is building what it hopes will be the most advanced lift network in the United States. The project is the ripening fruit of an ambitious plan, began in 2016, to add 12 new lifts.

The project began with a update to the Challenger lift, which serves the middle of the mountain. The resort turned the lift from a double to a triple chair, now able withstand brutal storms and thus reliably delivering riders to some of Big Sky's iconic steeps. Later that year, the resort unveiled Powder Seeker 6, a high-speed, heated six-pack bubble chair replacing the Lone Peak Triple. The new lift cut ride time in half and brought cozy storm protection to the Big Sky Bowl, home to classic runs like Upper Morningstar and Iron Horse.

Two years later, Big Sky made headlines with Ramcharger 8—North America’s first 8-person chairlift and the most advanced lift on the continent at the time. Ramcharger 8 shuttles skiers from Mountain Village to the base of Everest 8,800 Lodge, featuring a state-of-the-art conveyor loading system and double the capacity of the quad it replaced. The original Ramcharger was repurposed in lieu of the Shedhorn double lift, doubling its capacity.

Three upgrades later, Big Sky wasn't finished. In 2021, they installed Swift Current 6, the world’s longest D-Line lift at the time, boasting a quiet, gear-less drive and wind-resistant engineering.

In 2023, Big Sky gave the legendary Lone Peak Tram a complete overhaul, introducing 75-passenger cabins that send guests from 2,100 feet to 11,167 feet in under five minutes. The new tram not only serves Big Sky’s gnarliest terrain but also offers summit access for non-skier visitors.

Then in 2024 came Madison 8, a heated bubble lift replacing Six Shooter. With double the uphill capacity and a 30% reduction in ride time, Madison 8 is a game changer for blue-square cruisers seeking a cozy ride up the hill.

This winter, Big Sky is set to open the highly anticipated Explorer Gondola, a base-to-bowl project replacing the aging Explorer 2 chair. The gondola will include a mid-station at Morningstar, complete with a new beginner area and two magic carpets. Its top terminal will sit next to the Lone Peak Tram, allowing riders and visitors access Lone Peak’s summit with a seamless gondola-tram connection for the first time ever.

With every upgrade, Big Sky edges closer to its dreams of lift tech supremacy. From heated bubble chairs to 8-person lifts and a next-generation tram, these improvements will certainly alter skier experience.

When the Explorer Gondola goes online this season, Big Sky’s 10 year overhaul will be nearly complete. The last bits of revamp for Big Sky are food and beverage upgrades and a short course golf installation. The result: a resort that serves big-mountain terrain with the cutting-edge lift infrastructure.

Just think— no more chilly lift rides!