Westminster, Mass — If you’re a ski resort (or have a property with lots of land in your backyard) that’s in desperate need of a high-speed chairlift, there’s one that’s likely being offered for a price much lower than buying new.
In a listing on Ski Area Management, Wa-Wa-Wachusett Mountain is selling a detachable high-speed chairlift that was removed in 2025. The Polar Express was constructed in 1994, but was removed last offseason for a new Doppelmayr high-speed six-pack chairlift. This is why Wachusett is selling the old Polar Express chairlift. While the price isn’t listed, its likely much lower than buying a new one.
Here’s the catch: it’s pretty old and had an extensive operating schedule. The lift operated during the day and evening thanks to lights on the slopes. It also operated in the summer, albeit less frequently. The vertical drop on this is a bit smaller than most high-speed chairlifts, so someone with a bigger scope would need to find a few towers.
The new owner would likely need to do an extensive refurbishment, which would add to the cost. However, this is something that is being done more often by ski resorts, with some examples being Castle Mountain, Loon, Pleasant Mountain, Purgatory, and Sugarloaf.
If you’re interested in this Polar beast, you can reach out to Alex Arcangeli at alex@wachusett.com or 978-464-2300 ext. 3601.
Technical Specs
- Manufacturer: Doppelmayr
- Year: 1994
- Chair Size: Quad
- Capacity: 2,000 PPH (People Per Hour)
- Inclined Length: 4,415 ft
- Vertical Rise: 944 ft
- Gearbox: Lohman 210 Series III (2013)
- Grip Type: DS 104
- Number of Carriers: 81
- Tension: Return Station
- Haul Rope Diameter: 35 mm (1.375″)
- Rope Gauge: 4.8 m
- Line Speed: 950 FPM
- Loading Interval: 7.2 seconds
- Drive: ABB DCS 800
- Electric Motor: GE 500 HP
- Evacuation Drive: Cummins 4BT 3.9L
- Towers: 15
- Sheaves: 400 mm
- Rope Monitoring: RPD, Break Fork
Image/Video Credits: Wachusett Mountain, Beyond the Lodge
