Two New Independent Quad Chairlifts to Replace 1-2

Red cable car station in snowy landscape under a clear blue sky.

$4 Million Investment this Summer

Little Switzerland Ski Area is thrilled to announce its largest single capital
project to date with the installation of two brand new Skytrac quad chairlifts. This significant $4
million investment will replace the resort’s original Lifts 1 and 2 double chairs, marking a major
milestone in the hill’s history and setting the stage for a dramatically improved guest experience.

Red cable car station with large windows and metal platform.

Skytrac Quad Chairs

The two new chairlifts will feature red terminals at both the top and bottom matching the Little Switzerland brand colors.  The replacement of the historic "up-and-over" 1-2 chairlift, believed to be the first of its kind in the country, will double the capacity, lessen lift lines, and it will also provide less starts and stops!  Anytime the 1-2 had a stop it not only affected the front it also affected those on the back.  This will provide more time on the slopes and less time in lines or on the chairlift themselves.  

Ski lift station on a snowy slope under a clear blue sky.

Project Timeline

The transition from 1-2 to the two new chairlifts will begin immediate once we close the doors on the 2025-2026 ski season in March.  Our team will be working side by side with representatives of Skytrac on the installation of the new chair but first we will have to take down the 1-2 chairlift.  In order to do so chairs will need to come off haul ropes, sheave trains will be removed, and of course the towers will need to come down.  All of this is much easier to do while we still have some snow left on the hill allowing our staff the uses of our grooming machines to do some heavy lifting and moving of rather large pieces of equipment.  

Once we remove the major pieces of the chairlift we will wait until the hill melts out and drains before major construction begins.  

We plan to document the entire project within this blog site with consistent updates, photos, videos and more but the timeline has us doing load testing in the fall of 2026 well before the start of the ski season.  

 

Man sitting on a ski lift bench indoors near a large window and banner display.

Skytrac

Skytrac has a rich history in aerial lift technology with roots going back nearly four decades as the only new North American aerial ropeway manufacturer to be founded in more than 30 years. Skytrac has lifts across the country and many here in the midwest in Minnesota, Michigan, and Wisconsin.  

In the fall our owner Rick had the pleasure of touring the headquarters for Skytrac which is apart of a larger corporation that includes Leitner-Poma (lifts), Prinoth (grooming machines), & HKD (snowmaking) - all major players in the ski industry! Check out some photos below.  

Photos from the Skytrac Factory

Office reception with a logo display on the wall behind a desk.
Industrial workshop with large metal machinery.
Gray metal wheels on a concrete floor in an industrial setting.
Large circular metal structure in an industrial workshop.
Bullwheel Construction
Industrial room with large equipment pieces on the floor, walls are gray, and lit by ceiling lights.
Various lift parts getting some finishing touches
White modular room with glass doors in a warehouse setting.
Lift Shack
Two people standing in a warehouse under a large American flag.
Rick Schmitz (co-owner Little Switz) with Sales Engineer for Skytrac Bobby Langlands.
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Bulldozer moving a large red pipe on a grassy field.

Lift 1-2 Teardown Begins

The next phase of our $4 million lift project is officially underway.

Following the close of the 2025/26 season, crews have begun dismantling the historic 1-2 Chairlift — a ride that served generations of skiers and riders since 1964. Chairs are being removed, towers are being prepped, and major components are starting to come down as we make way for two brand-new Skytrac quad chairlifts.

This is a major undertaking, with heavy equipment and our grooming fleet helping move materials safely across the hill. Every piece removed is another step toward the future of Little Switz.

 

A group stands on a grassy hill under a clear blue sky, near a wooden building.

Walk Around With the Skytrac Team

 

 

We recently completed an on-site walkaround with the Skytrac team to map out the full layout of the project. Stakes are now in place for key locations including terminals, towers, load zones, unload zones, and other major components. With the layout finalized, the vision is becoming reality and the plan is officially taking shape.

A large flatbed truck with cargo in a gravel lot under a cloudy sky.

The First Shipment Has Arrived

 

 

The first major shipment for our new Skytrac quad chairlifts has arrived. This delivery includes tower components and materials-- the building blocks for what's next at Little Switz.

Red and black metal structures on a sunny road beside a brick wall.

Chair 1 Enclosure is Finished and Painted

The Chair 1 enclosure for our new Skytract quad chairlift has officially been finished and painted at the factory. This enclosure will serve as the lower terminal housing for Chair 1.

Construction site with rebar, dirt mounds, and trees under a clear sky.

Rebar and Footing are Coming Together

Rebar structures and spread footings are now in place for both unload terminals. This weekend, we'll be pouring concrete to fill the footings.

Wooden construction frame in grassy field under blue sky.

The Vertical Rebar is Set

A lot of work into creating this structure and once we pour concrete Friday, we will take everything off. We'll be left with just a solid concrete column with our studs sticking up to mount the return.

Grassy hillside with construction equipment and excavated soil, under a cloudy sky.

Load 1 Terminal Has Broken Ground

Markers have been placed and we've broken ground on all aspect of Lift 1's placement.

Construction site with workers and a yellow crane truck.

New Lift Drive Columns are Going Up

The new lift drive columns are being poured, one yesterday and one tentatively scheduled for Friday afternoon.

Blue forklift lifting a large metal frame with three workers around it.

Tower Sheave Assemblies are All Put Together

All tower sheave assemblies have been put together after a massive team effort and countless precision details coming together. The assemblies have now been transported down to the lift area for final staging.

Workers installing chairlift in a forest clearing, with crane and safety gear.

Lift Towers are in the Air

Yesterday, crews used a crane to set four lift towers into place -- two on the front and two on the back. For the first time, you can truly see the new quad taking shape.

Red cable car installation near a lodge, with a blue crane and grassy terrain.

The Red Drive Terminal Has Been Placed

The foundational parts for the red drive terminal arrived yesterday and our team got right to work with the crane already on site.