Primo & Segundo Lift Replacement Project
Stay Up-to-Date on Sunlight’s Lift Construction
Project Approvals & Construction Updates
Final U.S. Forest Service (USFS) approval for both lifts has been secured, with a signed Decision Memo for Primo received on April 1, 2025. Construction officially began in mid-April 2025. Key early construction milestones include the removal of chairs and haul ropes from Primo and Segundo, which allow for full lift disassembly. The project is on schedule for completion by Opening Day for the 25-26 Season.
The Mountain and Base Area will remain closed until the project is complete. For your safety, please respect all closures. Babbish Gulch will remain open, but be cautious of increased truck traffic in the parking lot.
March 28, 2025 - Segundo Day
April 1, 2025 - USFS Final Approval
April 6, 2025 - Closing Day
Sunlight Mountain Resort celebrated the last rides on Primo and Segundo on closing day, April 6, 2025. Thank you to all that showed up for one last spin on Primo and Segundo.
May 1, 2025 - Chair Removal
Chairs on Primo and Segundo have been removed and safely stored in anticipation for a Chair Drawing and Auction later in the summer. Stay tuned for updates on how to own a piece of Sunlight history!
May 12, 2025 - Construction Update
Construction officially began in mid-April 2025. Key early construction milestones include the removal of haul ropes from Primo and Segundo the week of May 19, which will allow for full lift disassembly. The project is on schedule for completion by Opening Day for the 25-26 Season.
Primo and Segundo Chairs will be auctioned off June 16-19, 2025. Stay tuned for updates.
June 10, 2025 - Tower Removal and Auction Update
Over the past few weeks, our crews have been hard at work removing haul ropes and preparing the lift towers for removal. On June 9th, helicopter operations successfully removed all towers from the mountain. With that major step complete, our team is now focused on preparing for the installation of the new towers and motor rooms.
Reminder: For your safety, mountain access is currently closed. Our Building & Grounds and Trail Maintenance crews are also busy with base area improvements, including resealing concrete, painting exterior walls, and updating signage. Please respect all closures on the mountain and in the base area.
Babbish Gulch remains open for hiking, but access to Ute from Babbish is currently closed.
Our Marketing Team has been hard at work prepping for the Season Passholder Drawing, Online Auction, and Live Auction events. Get all the details below!
The countdown is on, and the moment we’ve all been waiting for is almost here! Get ready for not one, but three chances to claim your very own piece of Sunlight Mountain history. Whether you’re a longtime local, a dedicated passholder, or a collector of mountain memories, these upcoming events are your golden opportunity to own a truly iconic part of the resort.
The first event is the Season Passholder chair drawing on June 16th. This event will be live streamed at 5PM. Check our lift update page on SunlightMTN.com to be directed to the live streams. If you are a winner, you will receive an email with an invoice and further directions on how to pick up your chair. To enter the drawing for a chance to purchase a chair, you must email PrimoSegundoDrawing@SunlightMTN.com no later than 11:59PM June 15th.
The online auction will open up for bidding on June 17th at 9AM and close at 9PM on the 18th. You can browse the auction site (SunlightChairAuction.com) now, but bidding will not open up until the 17th. There will be 183 chairs available to bid on from Segundo Chair and Primo Chair. You will be able to bid on a specific chair from a specific lift. Click the “Online Auction” link below to check out the auction site.
Lastly, Sunlight is hosting a live auction at Morgridge Commons in Glenwood Springs on Thursday June 19th. The doors will open at 4:30PM and the auction will start at 5:00PM. A ticket is required to attend the live auction. You can purchase your ticket for $25 by following the link below. Food, catered by Zhengs, and drinks are included in the ticket price.
June 16, 2025 - Season Passholder Chair Drawing
Congratulations to all of our Season Passholder Chair winners! Winners of our Passholder Drawing on June 16th will receive an email by the end of the day on June 17th, which will include an invoice for payment and the chair number they’ve won.
June 18, 2025 - Public Chair Auction
Thank you to everyone that participated in our Online Chair Auction and congratulations to the winners! Please check your emails for details on how to pay your invoice and when to pick up your chair. Questions? Please reach out to info@sunlightmtn.com.
June 19, 2025 - Live Chair Auction
Thank you to everyone that participated at our Live Chair Auction and congratulations to the winners! Please check your emails for details on how and when to pick up your chair. Questions? Please reach out to info@sunlightmtn.com.
July 18, 2025 - Construction Update
Major Progress on Segundo and Primo Chairlift Replacements
Sunlight Mountain Resort is thrilled to share the latest updates on our extensive lift replacement projects for the Segundo and Primo chairlifts. Construction is progressing on schedule as we work to deliver a smoother and more modern experience for our guests this winter.
Segundo Lift Progress
Construction on the Segundo replacement is approximately 60% complete for the concrete phase. Crews are actively working on the lift line foundations, with all concrete expected to be poured and set by the first week of August.
Throughout the project, Sunlight Mountain Resort is committed to best management practices to protect the surrounding environment. Measures including wattles, sediment fences, and other sediment control systems are in place to prevent runoff into nearby waterways. Revegetation of disturbed areas will begin when the region enters a wetter precipitation cycle, ensuring the best chance of sustainable regrowth given current dry conditions.
Once the concrete work is complete, crews will move on to erecting towers and installing cross arms along the lift line.
Primo Lift Progress
Significant strides have also been made on the Primo lift replacement. To date, six tower foundations have been poured. The foundation for the bottom terminal is scheduled to be completed by the end of this week. Work will then shift to excavation and preparation for the top terminal.
Utility lines at the top of Primo have already been successfully rerouted to support the new lift infrastructure.
We are pleased to report that all part deliveries from POMA, our lift manufacturer partner, continue to arrive on schedule.
Both lift projects remain firmly on track for completion in the fall, ahead of the upcoming ski season.
A Message from Cindy
I am incredibly proud of our Sunlight team and the progress they are making alongside the POMA construction crew. We’re so excited to share these improvements with our community at our Skier Picnic on October 18th. I can’t wait for you and your families to enjoy the new chairs this winter.
Stay tuned for more information about the Skier Picnic on October 18th.
August 15, 2025 - Towers Going Up
Towers Start Going Up on Primo Line
Our crews have been hard at work getting foundations ready to start erecting towers on both lift lines. With numerous helicopter assists for concrete pours, we’re stoked to see towers going up on the Mountain!
August 26, 2025 - Retaining Walls, Towers, and a Newspaper Article
Project is On-Track as of the end of August
The Lift Replacement Project is on track, even with the rainy weather this week. The hot and dry weather over the summer has served the project well, allowing a lot of progress on tower erection, trail clearing, and retaining walls at both load stations. Progress is moving along as we prepare to get the rest of the towers in this coming month.
Check out the project update with the Post Independent.
Please remember the Mountain and Base Area are closed to all hiking and biking. The Mountain will remain closed until Opening Day. Leaf-peeping in Babbish Gulch is quite the treat, so please head there for your hikes this fall!
September 2, 2025 - Bottom Terminals Placed
Bottom Terminals Placed at Both Lifts
Both bottom terminals have been placed at Segundo and Primo! Our crews are preparing to finish all lift towers soon!
We’re more than three-quarters of the way, with the project expected to be complete by end of November. Opening Day is planned for December 12th, but if snow should deliver, we’ll do everything we can to get you on the slopes sooner.
Check out the most recent Letter from Your CEO, Cindy Dady with lift updates and upcoming event news!
September 19, 2025 - Primo Engine Housing Delivered to the Top
Primo’s Engine Housing has been delivered to the top of the Mountain! Check out our Instagram post for more information:
View this post on Instagram
October 4, 2025 - Lift Towers and Terminals in Place
Almost all of your lift towers are now in place and both engine terminals are up. We’re getting closer and closer to getting chairs in the air! Your trail and maintenance crews are also hard at work on the ground getting the lodge and trails ready for the season!
Come join us at the Skier’s Picnic on October 18th to see all the work the Sunlight crew is putting in!
October 21, 2025 - Haul Rope on Primo
Primo’s haul rope is on! Our crew is still making great progress this fall and all is on track despite the wet weather we’ve had this month. Up next: Segundo haul rope, chairs, and testing!
Come visit us October 25th for the annual Ski Swap at Sunlight Ski & Bike. Still need your pass? Our Ticket Office will be available Oct 25-31 to help you purchase or print your passes and 6 packs. Season pass prices go up on November 1st, so don’t wait to get your pass!
Please continue to obey all posted closures. We have a lot of machinery and projects going on on the Mountain at the moment. When snow falls, please keep in mind that uphill access is closed until snowmaking is complete.
Lift Upgrades
Primo Lift: The former fixed-grip double chair will be replaced by a brand new, state-of-the-art quad lift, dramatically increasing capacity and reducing lift lines. This new lift will feature the latest technology, including safety bars and footrests.
Segundo Lift: The oldest operational lift in Colorado, which originally served Aspen in the 1950s and started spinning at Sunlight in 1974, will be replaced by Arapahoe Basin’s former Lenawee Chair, a triple chair lift. This upgrade honors Segundo’s rich legacy while enhancing access and safety on the west side of the mountain.
Both lifts will retain their original names to honor their heritage, and the new installations are designed to maintain Sunlight’s authentic, family-friendly vibe.
Chair Drawing & Auctions
All chairs from Primo and Segundo have been removed and were offered through:
- A season passholder drawing (June 16);
- A public online auction (June 17-18);
- A public live auction (June 19) at Morgridge Commons (Glenwood Springs Library).
Proceeds will fund resort upgrades and launch a new scholarship program for Ski Patrol and Ski School staff.
Thank you to all who participated in our season passholder drawing and auction events, and congratulations to all the winners. We’re so excited to see pieces of Sunlight history finding new homes in the community!
Winners of our drawing and auction events should have received an email with details on how to pay their invoice, as well as when and how to pick up their chairs. Questions? Please reach out to info@sunlightmtn.com.
Drawing and Auction Information
Season Passholder Drawing
Winners of our Passholder Drawing on June 16th will receive an email by the end of the day on June 17th, which will include an invoice for payment and the chair number they’ve won.
For our Season Pass Holders we have saved 100 chairs of preselected numbers. Lift and chair number will be assigned at time of purchase, and not selected by the purchaser. The Season Pass Chair Drawing will take place on June 16th behind closed doors. Join us live online as we celebrate our lucky season passholder winners and share the excitement with the entire mountain community! There will be no in-person event for this drawing.
Season Pass Holders will have to email PrimoSegundoDrawing@SunlightMTN.com no later than 11:59PM June 15th to be entered into the drawing. Pass Holders are not automatically entered, you must email the above email address to be entered for a chance to purchase.
To qualify, you must be a 2024/25 passholder OR have already purchased your 2025/26 pass. All season pass holder emails will be cross checked in our database. If your name is drawn, you will receive an email from PrimoSegundoDrawing@SunlightMTN.com with an invoice and pick up information. There will be multiple dates available for pick up.
We kindly ask that if you do not intend to purchase a chair for the set price of $1,000 that you do not enter the drawing.
Public Online Auction
On June 17th through June 18th, we will open up an online silent auction for the chance to bid on a chair from either Segundo or Primo. There will be 183 chairs available between the 2 lifts, and the cost to bid will start at $1,000. You will be able to bid on a specific chair number from a specific lift.
Check out the link below for access to the auction website. From June 6th through June 16th you will be able to view the available chairs, but not bid. Bidding will be open from 9AM on June 17th through 9PM on June 18th.
A generous pickup window will be provided for all chair buyers. The pick up information will be posted on the auction website and will also be relayed via purchase confirmation email.
Live Auction
The Live Auction will take place at Morgridge Commons (located in Glenwood Springs Library) on Thursday, June 19th. Doors will open at 4:30PM and the live auction will be held from 5PM to 8:30PM. The live auction will feature 25 highly sought after chair numbers. Those who wish to attend will need to purchase a ticket. There will be 150 tickets available. Tickets can be purchased online at the link below. Food and beverages will be included in the ticket price. Those who cannot attend the live auction in person will be able to virtually attend via the auction website. Virtual attendance does not require a ticket.
Use the link below to preview the available chairs and take part in the Live Auction event!
Last Chair Customs
Meet Last Chair Customs
Last Chair Customs is your partner in bringing a piece of Sunlight home.
We’re thrilled to partner with Last Chair Customs to help give your new retired lift chairs a second life! At Last Chair Customs, they specialize in transforming authentic ski lift chairs into custom-crafted benches, swings, and one-of-a-kind statement pieces that carry the soul of the mountain into your home, cabin, or business.
If you’re a Sunlight chair auction winner, they make it easy—their team will be on-site during pick-up days to transport your chair to their shop to refinish. From there, they take care of everything, from expert restoration in their Boulder workshop to local delivery or prepping for shipping nationwide. Review their customized price sheet and Q&A sheet for additional information!
