People line up at Lift 1, which is the youngest lift in the fleet at 15 years, during what was to be Purgatory's last day of the season. The resort recently announced plans to reopen this weekend, April 11-12, for what they’re calling bonus days, even offering free lift tickets on Sun., April 12./Photo by Jennaye Derge

Full speed ahead

Purgatory announces new lift, free ski day

by Tracy Chamberlin

With the ink just dry on the purchase of Purgatory Ski Resort, new owner James Coleman revealed the resort would be losing the Durango Mountain Resort moniker and going back to the Purgatory of old.

Now another announcement is coming down the slopes. Coleman and company are planning on replacing the Legends Lift, aka Lift 8, on the backside of the mountain this summer.

The debate over “8” was raging among Durangoans long before the resort’s former owners announced a Mountain Master Plan several years ago, with a Lift 8 replacement at the top of the list.

In one camp, there are those who want a faster ride. For them, it means less time sitting and more time skiing. For others, the slow ride equals small crowds. It provides some solace and a place where locals can have their own space.

Overall, the feedback on the new lift has been extremely positive, according to Kim Oyler, Purgatory’s director of communications.

“People are pumped about the new high-speed quad on the backside,” she said. 

The Legends Lift is being replaced by a Leitner Poma high-speed quad. Manufactured in Grand Junction, it is scheduled to begin being built almost immediately, according to Oyler, and installation at the resort is set to start July 1. The plan is to have it ready to go by next winter, also Purgatory’s 50th anniversary season.

Much of the specs will be the same as the old lift, including a mile-long line with a vertical rise of nearly 1,500 feet. The big difference is the ride time.

Travel to the top is said to take just 5 minutes, cutting the journey of its predecessor by more than half.  Because of the lift’s speed, mid-way loading won’t be available.

What will be available, however, is more terrain. 

The resort plans to open up additional runs on the backside, including three advanced trails to the west of the new high-speed quad.

The new trails will run into Ray’s Ridge at different spots along the trail, and a new Legends Switchback is said to improve access to the bottom area of the lift. Also, the top of the new lift will be re-graded, widening the unloading point.

Finally, Purgatory plans to add snowmaking equipment at the bottom, which they said would provide consistency and coverage.

A homemade cardboard sign sitting on the patio of Purgy's restaurant at Purgatory Resort honors the Legends Lift, also called Lift 8, before it gets replaced this summer./Photo by Jennaye Derge

Oyler said the new lift also creates a platform for additional terrain expansion in the future.

“Giving skiers and snowboarders more time on Purgatory’s best terrain is a top priority for us,” Purgatory Resort CEO Gary Derck said in a statement. “The new Lift 8 achieves this by dramatically shortening the ride time, improving lift capacity, and providing the platform for us to continue expanding terrain serviced by the Legends Lift over time.”

On the heels of announcing the new lift, Coleman, managing partner of Purgatory Resort, is also tacking a couple more days on to the end of the season. And one of them is free.

Purgatory is keeping the gates open this weekend, April 11-12, with free lift tickets available on the closing day, Sunday. Everyone is simply asked to stop by the ticket office in the base area to receive the passes, then they can head up the slopes. Additionally, tickets are discounted for Sat., April 11, at $50 for two.

“This bonus ski weekend is a small thank you to the community for being part of Purgatory’s story,” Coleman said in a statement. “It will be a fantastic weekend to ride Lift 8 one last time.”