Solitude’s newest chairlift is taking flight next week. Yesterday, the Utah ski resort announced that they’ll be opening the new Eagle Express chairlift on Wednesday, December 20th. The opening ceremony will begin at 8 a.m. with a DJ and complimentary cookies at the base of the Eagle Express chairlift. At 9 a.m., they’ll have the official ribbon-cutting
The new Doppelmayr chairlift is replacing the old Eagle Express, which was constructed back in 1989. The high-speed detachable six-pack chairlift will have a vertical rise of 1337 feet and a ride time of around six minutes.
For more information, check out Solitude’s official press release below.
SOLITUDE TO UNVEIL NEW CHAIRLIFT, EAGLE EXPRESS WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20
BIG COTTONWOOD CANYON, UTAH, Dec. 14, 2023 – Solitude Mountain Resort’s newly completed Eagle Express chairlift will open to the public this Wednesday, December 20 at 9:00 a.m. The new high-speed 6-pack chairlift has replaced the original Eagle Express that was built in 1989.
With improved uphill capacity, the new Eagle Express will enhance access to signature runs such as Sunshine Bowl, Inspiration, and Challenger.
“Guests will love the convenient access that Eagle provides to some of our best intermediate and advanced groomed runs straight from the parking lot. We know that this lift is where so many of our locals will start and end their day, and it’s crucial that we’re able to get them up onto the hill efficiently,” says Amber L. Broadaway Solitude’s president & COO. “I’m tremendously proud of our team and their hard work and effort that has gone into this chair.”
Festivities will begin at 8:00 a.m. Wednesday morning with a DJ and complimentary cookies at the base of the lift. A ribbon cutting and first-chair ceremony will be held at 9:00 a.m. to commemorate the new chairlift as it opens for the 23/24 season.
This new chairlift is part of $16 million in capital improvements taking place at Solitude. Other projects included Solitude Bike Park (opened September 2023) and three new Wyssen remote avalanche control systems (completed October 2023).
Eagle Express stats and facts
- Vertical rise: 1,337 feet
- Rope speed: 1000 feet/minute
- Ride time: 6 minutes
- Manufacturer: Doppelmayr
About Solitude Mountain Resort
Located in Big Cottonwood Canyon, just 30 miles from Salt Lake City International Airport, Solitude is a playground of discovery in the heart of Utah’s famed Wasatch Mountains. It offers eight chairlifts, 82 runs, and 500 annual inches of snow spread over 1,200 acres with 20 km of groomed Nordic track and 10 km of snowshoe trails. Home to the legendary Honeycomb Canyon and locals’ best-kept secrets, Solitude reveals more fun and challenging lines with every day you choose to explore. Eleven bars and restaurants offer unique chef-driven cuisine, and slopeside lodging options set the stage for mountain memories. In summer, Solitude beckons to locals and travelers alike with lift-served mountain biking, hiking, dining, and a renowned 18-hole mountainside disc golf course. Solitude is owned by Alterra Mountain Company and offers unlimited access to Ikon Pass holders.
Image/Video Credits: Solitude Mountain Resort
