TL;DR
Powderhorn Mountain Resort's long-awaited lift upgrade is no longer just a plan. Crews have finished dismantling the 54-year-old West End double, and work has begun on the high-speed quad set to replace it - a refurbished ex-Elk Camp lift from Aspen Snowmass getting a full rebuild from Leitner-Poma. The new Wild West Express will cut the old lift's notorious 13-minute crawl to just six minutes, arriving for Powderhorn's 60th anniversary season in 2026-27. Here's where construction stands.
Powderhorn Mountain Resort's new west-side lift has moved from blueprint to building site.
The Wild West Express, Colorado resort Powderhorn's replacement for the ageing West End double chairlift, is now under active construction ahead of its planned debut for the 2026-27 season - which also marks the resort's 60th anniversary. The West End had served skiers and riders on the Grand Mesa since 1972, and its dismantling over the past few weeks has closed out more than five decades on the mountain. Crews have cleared the towers, haul rope and both terminals from the line, and for the first time in over 50 years the corridor stands open from top to bottom.
From double chair to high-speed quad
The new lift won't be built from scratch. Powderhorn has partnered with Grand Junction-based Leitner-Poma of America to refurbish a high-speed detachable quad that previously operated as Aspen Snowmass' Elk Camp chairlift before being retired there in 2025. The rebuild covers both terminals, a new electrical drive system, fresh grips, and an overhaul of the lift's other mechanical components - work the resort says will leave it functioning as good as new once it's installed.
The upgrade is a significant one for access to Powderhorn's western terrain. The current West End takes riders somewhere in the order of 13 minutes to reach the top; the Wild West Express is expected to cut that to around six.
Where construction stands
With demolition complete, crews have moved into the next phase: felling trees to widen the lift corridor, fabricating tower forms in the resort's main parking lot, and excavating for the new base terminal, described as a garage-sized foundation pit. A full walkthrough of the lift line with the U.S. Forest Service, project engineers and Powderhorn staff has also been completed, covering construction sequencing and environmental considerations along the corridor.
Many of the retired West End double chairs found new homes earlier this year, auctioned off to the public along with certificates of authenticity, with a portion of the proceeds allocated to local community partners.
Installation of the Wild West Express is scheduled for this summer, with the lift set to open to guests for the start of the 2026-27 winter season.
About the author
Michael Fulton
Melbourne-based skier and snowboarder with 50+ resorts across 5 continents. Specialises in Australian resorts and international resort comparisons.
