The cost of a new chairlift has more than doubled in the last five years , with prices spiking alongside most infrastructure costs.

“It’s a real challenge right now for small operators,” said Christian Knapp with Pacific Group Resorts, which acquired a majority interest in the Powderhorn ski area earlier this year .

A new high-speed chairlift could top $8 million. So Powderhorn, taking a page from the ranchers who shaped the Western Slope economy, are recycling a chair coming from Snowmass. The old Elk Camp chair being yanked out of Snowmass isn’t heading to the scrap yard after 30 years of service.

Instead, Leitner-Poma in Grand Junction is going to overhaul the detachable four-pack and install it at Powderhorn. The Grand Mesa ski hill is saving more than $3 million by retrofitting

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