As Steamboat Ski Resort moves full steam ahead with revitalization projects at the resort, it has also started the removal of Priest Creek lift by beginning to take the chairs off the line on August 18. SSRC has long planned to remove the Priest Creek lift, the oldest chairlift at Steamboat Ski Resort installed in 1972, as the lifts parts are outdated and no longer supported. Instead of having the lift stand dormant, the resort will be taking advantage of crew availability and favorable weather to begin the removal process. Priest Creek lift operated zero days last year and six days over the past three years, and its removal is not expected to impact daily operations.
The public will have a chance to own this special piece of Steamboat Ski Resort history, as the resort will auction chairs with plans for the proceeds to be given to local nonprofit organizations chosen as part of a special selection process. The chairs will be up for auction online from August 24 to 27. All chairs awarded through the auction must be picked up in person on September 10 from 8 am to 12 p.m. Chairs will not be shipped, delivered, or stored beyond this time frame. Funds collected from the auction will go to the Wildlife Habitat Improvement- Local District (WHILD) through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation and the following nonprofit organizations:
Bud Werner Library
CMC Foundation
Come As You Are/Breaking Bonds
Grand Futures
Heeling Friends
High Altitude Basketball
Housing First Alliance of Craig
Humane Society of Moffat County
Mountain Valley Horse Rescue
Northwest Rocky Mountain CASA
Opera Steamboat
Routt County 4-H Council
Routt County Riders
South Routt Education Endowment
Steamboat Creates
Steamboat Dance Theater
Steamboat Springs Youth Hockey Association
Steamboat Reading
Young Tracks
Family Development Center/Discovery Learning Center/Newborn Network
Hayden Totally Kids
Northwest Colorado Center for Independence
Yampa River Botanic Park
More information on the auction will be available at www.blog.steamboat.com/priestcreekliftauction.