Mt. Hood Meadows retires Blue chairlift with lottery and farewell party

After nearly six decades in operation, Mt. Hood Meadows is saying goodbye to its original Blue chairlift. Installed in 1968, the fixed-grip Riblet two-seater was one of the ski area’s inaugural lifts and has served generations of Pacific Northwest skiers.

Photo: Courtesy Mt. Hood Meadows

In recent years, Blue’s role has been increasingly phased out. The installation of the Mt. Hood Express in 1994, and its upgrade to a high-speed six-seater in 2023, made the slower lift largely obsolete. Now, Meadows is removing Blue’s chairs and haul rope, though the towers and terminals will remain in place for now.

To commemorate the lift’s retirement, Mt. Hood Meadows is hosting a public lottery to sell 142 of the original chairs for $900 apiece. The lottery will be open from May 1 to May 31, with winners drawn shortly after June 3. Chair pickups will take place by June 15 in the main parking lot. A small number of chairs are being set aside for charitable auctions.

The resort is also throwing a farewell celebration called the Last Blu-Rah on April 19. Guests are encouraged to show up in 1960s attire, snap photos on the lift, and share stories from Blue’s long tenure.

Photo: Courtesy Mt. Hood Meadows

Mt. Hood Meadows plans to operate through May 3, with an end-of-season rail jam on April 26. Timberline Lodge, just up the road, will continue to offer skiing into the summer months. Updates on the chair pickup process and event details will be posted on the Mt. Hood Meadows website and social media channels.