Colorado skiers and mountain memorabilia collectors will soon have a rare chance to own a piece of alpine history.

Loveland Ski Area announced it will retire Lift 7, one of its oldest and most beloved chairlifts, at the close of the 2024/25 ski season — and in a nostalgic twist, the resort will open a public lottery for fans to buy the original lift chairs.

Installed in 1982, Lift 7 has served generations of skiers and riders as a fixed-grip double chair. After 42 years of hauling snow lovers up Loveland’s high-alpine terrain, the lift will be replaced by a Leitner Poma fixed-grip quad chair ahead of the 2025/26 season.

Chairlift Lottery: What You Need to Know

Starting Tuesday, May 27, Loveland will begin accepting entries for a lottery to purchase the original double chairs from Lift 7.

• Price per chair: $650

• Registration window opens: May 27

• Winners notified: May 30

Interested buyers must register online to be entered into the random drawing. The chairs — rugged, utilitarian, and coated in decades of ski-season patina — are expected to be popular among collectors and longtime Loveland patrons alike.

From Function to Keepsake

Loveland’s announcement sparked immediate buzz on social media, as Coloradans fondly recalled memories riding Lift 7 over the decades. For many, the lift represents an era of simpler skiing — before high-speed quads, RFID passes, and mega-resort mergers.

“These old double chairs aren’t just gear. They’re emotional artifacts,” said one longtime Loveland season pass holder in a community Facebook group. “We raised our kids on that lift.”

The $650 price tag includes both the chair and the mounting bar, making it suitable for backyard swings, porch décor, or ski lodge displays.

Upgrading the Experience

The incoming Leitner Poma quad chair is expected to increase uphill capacity, reduce wait times, and modernize access in that part of the mountain. While the change aligns Loveland with broader industry trends, the resort is careful to retain its independent, throwback character — a draw for those seeking an alternative to mega-resorts along the I-70 corridor.

Loveland remains one of the few independently owned ski areas in Colorado, with a reputation for reliable snowfall, affordable pricing, and a no-frills mountain experience.

Chair Sales: A Growing Trend

Loveland’s chairlift lottery follows similar efforts by other resorts to monetize nostalgia. In 2023, Vail Resorts sold chairs from Keystone’s Montezuma Express for $750 each, while Taos Ski Valley auctioned off vintage chairs to raise money for local nonprofits.

With the ski industry seeing increasing consolidation and modernization, vintage lift chairs have become status symbols among ski culture enthusiasts — and physical reminders of a vanishing era.