Boyne Mountain Opens New Doppelmayr Quad Chairlift

New $1.8 million chairlift is an innovative first in the Midwest

Boyne Falls, Mich. (December 26, 2008) -  Boyne Mountain Resort of Boyne Falls, Michigan celebrated the opening of an all-new Doppelmayr quad chairlift today with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 9 a.m.  The new $1.8 million chairlift is an innovative first in the Midwest featuring Doppelmayr, an industry leading chairlift manufacturer, and a ChairkiD Carpet conveyor belt system. 

The conveyor belt facilitates a seamless snow to seat ride that’s easier for skiers and snowboarders and allows the chairs to move at a higher speed.  The expedited four-minute journey to the mountain’s top is now the second fastest ride on the mountain.

“The new Meadows chairlift also extends further down the mountain,” said Ed Grice, Boyne Mountain’s general manager.  “BOYNE season pass holders and multi-day lift ticket holders can now easily access the east side of the mountain’s terrain from day visitor parking areas.”

The original Meadows chairlift, one of many resort firsts, was the world’s inaugural quad installed in 1964.  The Midwest’s first chairlift, Hemlock, was installed at Boyne Mountain in 1948.  In 1992, Boyne Mountain unveiled America's first 6-seat high-speed chairlift, the Mountain Express.  Other notable firsts for Boyne Resorts and founder, Everett Kircher, include the world's first triple chairlift during the 1963-64 season and Michigan's first high-speed detachable quad lift in 1990, both at sister resort Boyne Highlands; the invention of the Boyne Snowmaker, the first efficient snowmaker for marginal temperatures, and many innovations in snow grooming equipment.

“Boyne Resorts has a long legacy of firsts,” said Stephen Kircher, president of Boyne Resorts’ eastern operations.  “To celebrate another first in the Midwest during Boyne Mountain’s 60th season makes this new lift all the more exciting.”