Before the Chairlift

• Recreational skiing existed before the invention of the chairlift. While some skiers found a slope they enjoyed and simply rode down and hiked back up, many technological advances were adopted in the search for finding a faster and more comfortable way up the mountain. Trains, cable cars and gondolas were all used, particularly in Europe. Steam powered a "tow rope" that ran in a constant loop up and down slopes, and skiers could grab hold and be pulled up the slope. While this is still in use today, it is only effective on gentle slopes at short distances and is generally not favored. The J bar, T bar or tow bar was slightly more advanced and featured a cable running up and down the slope about 6 feet high, carrying a hooked or flat bar upon which skiers could sit. It is also still occasionally in use, but is being phased out.
  
  

Union Pacific Railroad

• The first chairlift was erected in Sun Valley, Idaho. Union Pacific Railroad opened Sun Valley as a winter sports destination, accessible by its rail lines. A team of Union Pacific engineers were put to work in Omaha, Nebraska, to figure out a new way to bring passengers up the mountain. While this was happening, a ski lodge was being built in Sun Valley.
  
  

The Idea

• Jim Curran, an engineer, had the initial idea that lead to the chairlift. His notion was to adopt a system that had been used to hook and carry bunches of bananas onto cargo ships. He would add chairs to transport people. His peers thought the idea of suspending skiers above the slopes was too dangerous. Charlie Proctor, a famous skier who had been brought in as a consultant, however, saw Curran's design and recommended it.
  
  

The Chairlift

• Once the idea was agreed upon, the design began. Prototypes were built in Omaha, using the banana lift as a starting point. Tests were conducted with engineers on roller skates, using a lift chair attached to the side of a truck, to determine the best speed for loading and unloading passengers. Once the chairlift was ready, the parts were shipped to Idaho.
  
  

Sun Valley

• Sun Valley opened as a ski resort with the world's first chairlifts in December 1936, a banner year for skiing. That year, SKI magazine started publication, the first ski instructor was certified in the United States, and the Third Olympic Winter Games hosted the first ever alpine skiing events. While the new chairlifts took a little getting used to, skiers quickly grew to love this convenient and comparatively high-speed transportation system.
  
  

Modern Chairlifts

• While the original chairlifts were simply two wooden seats hanging from a bar, chairlifts continue to grow more advanced. High-speed chair lifts are common, primarily for use in areas where skiers are accustomed to the technology, as these travel significantly faster than the original models. Hoods are available in some areas that keep skiers covered and warm as they ride up the mountain. Ski resorts have also adopted three- and four-seat chair models to serve more skiers at a time.