The first ski lift was built in 1908 by Robert Winterhalder in Schollach, Austria. However, this was mainly a prototype — he first used the same mechanism to reach the upper floor of his farmhouse via an endless wire rope powered by a water wheel. After visitors came to use the lift to reach the slopes, he launched it officially on February 14, 1908.
The American Story
The first U.S. ski area as we know it today was inaugurated in 1915 in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. But the chairlift system was yet to come. Some frozen mountains were only frequented by the most adventurous hikers — those brave enough to climb to the top with all their equipment. Then the unthinkable happened: a lift chair was attached to the side of a truck to test a ski lift prototype.
The Union Pacific Innovation
The revolutionary chairlift was designed and developed in Idaho by Union Pacific Railroad. One young engineer, Jim Curran, had a different idea. Prior to joining the railroad, Curran had worked as a structural engineer for an ironworks company. His inspiration came from a system used to load bunches of bananas onto boats — he replaced the banana hooks with chairs on which people could sit while being transported up the mountain, even while wearing skis.
The two original single chairs were fabricated in the rail yards of Omaha and installed at Dollar and Proctor Mountains in time for the 1936–37 ski season. After this invention, it became standard for ski resorts to add lifts, and the US became prominently positioned in downhill skiing as the sport grew in popularity.
The Legacy
Today, skiing is one of the most enjoyable, family-friendly activities for people who live in winter places with snowy peaks. It was only possible with a great idea and great minds working together. The next time you step onto a chairlift at Killington, you're riding the direct descendant of a banana-loading system from Idaho.