Whistler Blackcomb’s high-alpine access improvement project is well underway as crews work to replace the vintage Showcase T-Bar with a brand new fixed-grip quad chairlift. The Showcase T-Bar was debuted in 1988 and has been providing guests with high-alpine terrain access on the Blackcomb Glacier for close to 40 years.
Since the project began this spring, crews have completed major excavation, poured the top terminal foundation and the first tower foundations, and are continuing progress down the lift alignment. Steel towers and terminal structures are planned to be installed later this summer.
Glacial recession and shifting snowpack have made the T-Bar a bit unreliable in recent seasons with multiple towers placed directly on the glacial ice. This setup made getting the T-Bar up and running a challenging prospect every year. The new fixed-grip quad will its aligning slightly off the glacier with a state aim to provide “more consistent and improved access to terrain.”
“Protecting the glacier has been a priority from day one. The new lift has been designed so towers and terminals are anchored on exposed bedrock and adjacent ground – not directly on glacier ice – and the project has undergone extensive environmental review and permitting.” –Whistler Blackcomb
When Showcase Chair is operational it will provide faster, easier access to some of Blackcomb’s best alpine terrain and make making it significantly easier to lap the Showcase and Blackcomb Glacier areas. Whistler is also improving trail connections, skier flow, and access into the Blackcomb Glacier zone to create an even better guest experience.
The chairlift replacement is part of Vail Resorts’ $239 million 2026 capital plan and is one of several improvements for Whistler. Whistler is also upgrading the Roundhouse Lodge. The T-Bar replacement project is targeted for completion ahead of the 2026-27 season.
is getting a major lift upgrade: Vail Resorts has announced it will replace the aging Showcase T-Bar with a fixed-grip quad chairlift, citing improved access to glacier terrain and better reliability as key goals.
Construction of the new Showcase fixed-grip quad chairlift (replacing the T-bar) is well underway on Blackcomb Mountain. Since work began this spring, crews have completed major excavation, poured the top terminal foundation and the first tower foundations, and are continuing progress down the lift alignment. Steel towers and terminal structures are planned to be installed later this summer.
Protecting the glacier has been a priority from day one. The new lift has been designed so towers and terminals are anchored on exposed bedrock and adjacent ground – not directly on glacier ice – and the project has undergone extensive environmental review and permitting.
When complete, the Showcase Chair will provide faster, easier access to some of Blackcomb’s best alpine terrain, making it significantly easier to lap the Showcase and Blackcomb Glacier areas. We’re also improving trail connections, skier flow, and access into the Blackcomb Glacier zone to create an even better guest experience.
We’ll continue to share construction updates throughout the summer and fall as we work toward a planned opening for the 2026/27 winter season.
The project is pending regulatory approvals and is targeted for completion ahead of the 2026-27 season.
The lift upgrade is one of several Whistler-specific improvements in Vail Resorts’ announced US$234 to $239 million capital plan for 2026. The company also flagged strategic upgrades to the Roundhouse Lodge as part of a broader dining initiative across its North American resorts. Changes at Roundhouse and restaurants on other Vail Resorts-managed mountains will aim to “improve guest flow, expand seating, introduce modern coffee bars and lively bar experiences, expand menu offerings, and create vibrant social spaces.”
In the same announcement, Vail also reported a net loss of US$186.8 million in its fiscal Q1, which ended Oct. 31. Pass product sales across North America were down two per cent in units but up three per cent in revenue, attributed to a seven-per-cent price increase and stronger final-period sales in destination markets.
In total, about 2.3 million guests are already committed to the 2025-26 season through advance-purchase products.
Despite the seasonal softness, CEO Rob Katz struck an optimistic tone about the company’s strategy.
“We are taking decisive actions to support these priorities, as evidenced by the introduction of our new advanced lift ticket discount… We are encouraged by the initial response to our updated marketing strategy and investments,” Katz said in the company’s earnings release.
Beyond Whistler, the company announced capital projects at Park City, Keystone, and Seven Springs, and teased significant investment in its digital experience—including app improvements and ski school tracking tools.
