TL;DR
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies has announced the installation of four new Leitner Poma lifts across its BC resorts - Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort. Construction begins this spring at Kimberley, with Fernie and Kicking Horse following in 2027. The upgrades include two new high-speed detachable quads at Fernie and a second base-to-alpine access lift at Kicking Horse.
Resorts of the Canadian Rockies is putting four new Leitner Poma lifts into its BC resorts, with construction starting this spring.
The announcement covers Fernie Alpine Resort, Kimberley Alpine Resort, and Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - three of RCR's six Canadian ski areas. All four lifts are being supplied by Leitner Poma, with installation split across 2026 and 2027. Three of the four are high-speed detachable quads, replacing fixed-grip or slower existing infrastructure.
Kimberley Alpine Resort - Tamarack Quad Chair (2026)
Kimberley gets the first cab off the rank. The new Tamarack Quad Chair will be built on the same alignment as the existing Tamarack Double Chair, which is being retired. Construction begins this spring, with the new lift scheduled to open in December 2026 - making it the only one of the four ready for the 2026/2027 season.
Fernie Alpine Resort - Elk Express (2027)
Fernie is receiving two new lifts, both scheduled for the 2027/2028 season. The first is the Elk Express, a high-speed detachable quad replacing the current Elk Quad Chair. The headline number here is a nearly 50% reduction in ride time to mid-mountain - a meaningful improvement on a mountain where getting up efficiently matters. The Elk Express will also serve Fernie's summer operations, where the faster ride time translates directly to a better off-season experience.
Fernie Alpine Resort - Cedar Bowl Express (2027)
The second Fernie lift is arguably the more significant terrain access upgrade. The Cedar Bowl Express will connect the bottom of Cedar Bowl directly to the Bear Chair area at the top - replacing what currently requires three separate lift rides. For anyone who has navigated that sequence on a busy powder day, the logic is obvious. One lift versus three is a significant quality-of-life improvement and will change how guests move around that part of the mountain.
Kicking Horse Mountain Resort - Pioneer Express (2027)
Kicking Horse gets a new base-to-alpine lift in the form of the Pioneer Express, a high-speed quad running from the resort base up into Crystal Bowl to the base of Stairway Chair. Currently, the Golden Eagle Express Gondola is the primary way up from the base. The Pioneer Express gives guests a second option and - more importantly - more than doubles base area lift capacity. On powder days, that capacity difference is felt immediately. The existing Pioneer Lift is being retired. Opening is scheduled for winter 2027/2028.
What It Means for the Resorts
Four lifts across three resorts is a substantial capital commitment. RCR is Canada's largest private ski resort operator, and announcements like this reflect the kind of infrastructure cycle that larger operators can sustain more readily than smaller independents. The Fernie and Kicking Horse upgrades in particular address real friction points - slow mid-mountain access at Fernie and single-point base congestion at Kicking Horse - rather than simply adding terrain or replacing like-for-like.
The real estate component of the announcement - new lots at Fernie's Timberlanding 3 and the final phase of Cedars Mountain Homes at Kicking Horse - sits somewhat separately from the lift news, though it signals RCR's broader confidence in on-mountain development across the portfolio.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
