Black Chair at Magic Mountain Set to Reopen After Multi-Year Closure
The lift is scheduled to open as a double chair on Saturday morning.
Friday, February 17, 2017, NewEnglandSkiIndustry.com
Ski Lifts Unlimited's George Krueger and Magic Mountains's Geoff Hathaway
After a multi-year closure due to repairs, lack of funds, and changes in ownership, the Black Chair at Magic Mountain has passed state inspection and is scheduled to operate this weekend. According to Magic Mountain's web site, the lift has been certified as a double chairlift, meaning only two people can ride on each three person chair.
The roughly 5,500 foot long by 1,500 foot vertical lift was installed as Magic's first chairlift for the 1962-63 season. Manufactured by Pohlig, the original centerpole double chairs were replaced with Yan triple chairs for the 1985-86 season. The lift was one of only two not removed when Magic was liquidated during its 1990s closure.
The idle Black Chair in 2016
The lift last operated for the public during the 2013-14 season. The State of Vermont then required modifications to the lift in order to reopen to the public. As a result, the Red Chair provided the only lift service to main mountain in subsequent seasons.
In November 2016, Ski Magic LLC, led by former Magic Mountain Marketing Director Geoff Hatheway, purchased the ski area and ramped up repairs and improvements to the mountain's aging infrastructure. The successful inspection of the Black Chair marks the achievement of yet another goal set by the new ownership.
