Sunlight Mountain’s Iconic Lift Upgrade
Glenwood Springs, CO – [Immediate Release] Sunlight Mountain Resort is delighted to announce a significant upgrade to its infrastructure with the simultaneous replacement of the iconic Primo and Segundo chair lifts, marking the largest investment in the resort’s history. This upgrade will enhance the skiing experience at Sunlight for years to come, with the project slated for completion by fall 2025 and ready for the 2025/26 ski season. Visitors can expect the same unique character, community spirit, and personalized service that define Sunlight, along with the improved infrastructure of the new lifts. Primo Lift – Elevating the Experience The legendary Primo lift, a fixed-grip double chair that has long been the main route to the top of Sunlight Mountain Resort, will be replaced with a state-of-the-art quad lift featuring the industry’s latest technology. This enhancement promises to increase lift capacity, keep the lift lines short, and maximize time on the slopes for skiers and snowboarders. While this project is pending final approval from the forest service, we are moving forward confidently and excitedly. Segundo’s Legacy – A Historic Chair Lift’s Final Chapter The historic Segundo lift, the oldest operational lift in Colorado, is also receiving a significant upgrade. Originally serving skiers in Aspen from 1954 to 1969, Segundo has been a cherished part of Sunlight since 1973. Its replacement with a triple chair lift is not just an upgrade but a historic milestone for both the resort and the Colorado skiing community. For over five decades, Segundo has faithfully transported skiers and snowboarders to the west side of the mountain. This upgraded lift will enhance the skiing experience while honoring the legacy of a piece of Colorado history. 2024/25 Season: A Farewell Celebration The 2024/25 season will be the last chance to ride Segundo, Colorado’s oldest chair lift. Sunlight Mountain Resort plans to celebrate this historic farewell with a season full of special activities and promotions. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this unique moment and bid goodbye to a piece of skiing heritage. Looking Forward A spokesperson for Sunlight Mountain Resort shared, “The replacement of Primo and Segundo signifies a new era for our resort. We are excited about the increased capacity and efficiency these new lifts will bring, while also honoring the legacy of Segundo, a beloved fixture of our mountain for over 50 years. Our goal is to offer an incredible and personalized experience, ensuring that while our infrastructure evolves, the essence of Sunlight remains unchanged. This transformation enables us to honor our roots and preserve our unique character, ensuring the welcoming atmosphere our guests love remains intact, while also enhancing the Sunlight experience with the new lifts.” Additionally, we are excited to work with the White River National Forest on this transformative project. Plans are still in the works and will be announced soon for what Sunlight plans to do with the chairs from both Primo and Segundo lifts. Construction Timeline Initial steps in the construction process will begin in the summer of 2024, with the removal and installation of the new lifts occurring during the summer of 2025. While some activities, such as disc golf, will be temporarily closed during the main construction phase in summer 2025, Sunlight Mountain Resort will remain open for committed events, including weddings. However, we ask the public to stay away immediately after the close of the 2024/25 season as our parking lots will be full and construction will occupy the bulk of the space. We appreciate the community’s understanding and cooperation in ensuring a smooth construction process. While we are incredibly excited about this project, we also acknowledge that obstacles such as weather, further supply chain disruptions, and other unforeseen circumstances may cause delays. Despite possible challenges, our commitment to enhancing our guests’ experience at Sunlight Mountain Resort remains unwavering. About Sunlight Mountain Resort Located in the heart of Colorado, Sunlight Mountain Resort offers a unique, family-friendly atmosphere with a wide variety of terrain for all skill levels. Known for its stunning views, welcoming community, and exceptional snow, Sunlight provides a quintessential Colorado skiing experience without the crowds.
Sunlight Mountain Welcomes New CEO, Cindy Dady
Sunlight Mountain Resort Welcomes New CEO, Cindy Dady Glenwood Springs, CO – [Immediate Release] – Sunlight Mountain Resort is delighted to announce the appointment of Cindy Dady as its new CEO. Cindy brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of leadership within the ski industry, promising more exciting times ahead for the resort. Cindy’s career in the ski industry began in the 1980s at Greek Peak Ski Resort in New York. Since then, she has held pivotal leadership positions at Intrawest, Echo Mountain, and Mammoth Resorts. Her broad expertise covers areas such as Kids Ski & Ride Operations, health and safety management, and overall resort management. Cindy’s tenure in these roles has been marked by significant achievements in safety and operational excellence. At Mammoth Resorts, Cindy spearheaded health and safety initiatives, earning recognition for her commitment to creating safe and enjoyable environments for both guests and employees. Under her leadership, Mammoth Resorts was awarded NSAA’s Best Overall Safety Program for resorts over 500,000 visits in 2018 and again in 2019. She then served as Risk Manager for the New York State Olympic Regional Development Authority (ORDA), where she developed innovative safety protocols and contributed to establishing COVID-19 guidelines for ski areas in New York State. Cindy joins a growing list of female leaders in the Colorado ski industry, highlighting the increasing presence of women in leadership roles within this field. Her appointment is a testament to her dedication to advancing the industry and fostering a culture of excellence and safety. Cindy will officially start on August 5th. Her first week will be action-packed with a full schedule of events and community engagements. From meet-and-greet sessions with local members of the community to strategic meetings with community leaders, Cindy’s inaugural week promises to be dynamic and invigorating. These events are designed to continue to foster a deeper connection between the resort and its guests, ensuring that Cindy’s visionary leadership is felt from day one. Cindy is thrilled to return to Colorado and collaborate with the exceptional team at Sunlight Mountain Resort. She looks forward to being an integral part of driving the resort’s continued success and being closer to her family in the state. Sunlight Mountain Resort is excited to embark on this new chapter with Cindy at the helm, confident that her vision and leadership will elevate the guest experience and operational excellence to new heights.
Sunlight Mountain’s Lift Replacement Project
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 Sunlight Mountain Resort threw a retirement party for Segundo on March 28th. April 1, 2025 – USFS Final Approval 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. 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. Live Auction Tickets Auction Website Passholder Drawing 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