Orange Crush Comes to an End at Nub’s Nob

Last Friday Nub’s Nob confirmed what many longtime visitors had been whispering for months: the resort’s beloved Orange chairlift will be retired after this season. Opened in 1979, the Riblet triple has been a fixture of the hill for nearly half a century, ferrying generations of skiers and riders up to Nub’s Nob South — and leaving behind a particular kind of affection that locals call an orange crush.

The Orange chairlift is more than steel and cable to the people who grew up at Nub’s Nob. For decades the Riblet triple has been the gateway to South’s varied terrain — beginner slopes, intermediate runs, advanced pitches, expert chutes, and glades — and a constant in the seasonal rhythms of the community. Its slow, steady cadence and the orange-painted chairs became a visual shorthand for winter afternoons, first turns, and post-run stories in the lodge.

“You don’t just ride that lift — you remember the conversations, the awkward first dates, the kids learning to ski,” said one regular, voice tinged with nostalgia. “It’s a little sad to see it go.”

Nub’s Nob announced that these are the final days to ride the Orange; after the resort closes for the season next week, crews will begin dismantling the lift. The decision, officials say, is part of a planned upgrade to modernize lift infrastructure and improve capacity and reliability. For many, however, the practical reasons don’t erase the sentimental loss. It will be replaced by a new fixed-grip quad chairlift manufactured by SkyTrac

Longtime visitors described a mix of gratitude and melancholy. Some are making a point of taking one last ride, cameras and mittens in tow, while others are already imagining the new lift’s smoother loading and faster uphill time. The emotional tug, though, remains: the Orange was a constant backdrop to family traditions and local lore.

Resort representatives have framed the replacement as an investment in the mountain’s future: newer technology, improved safety features, and better throughput on busy days. For instructors and patrol, the upgrade promises operational benefits; for weekend warriors and powder chasers, it means shorter lines and more runs.

Still, the transition will require a period of adjustment. The Orange’s removal will change the look and feel of South, and for a while the memory of its orange chairs will be the only reminder of the lift that served Nub’s Nob for nearly 50 years.

As the last season winds down, the mood around Nub’s Nob is quietly celebratory and a little wistful. Riders are trading stories about the lift’s quirks — the way it creaked on cold mornings, the view from the top on a clear day — and taking one more ride to say goodbye.

For those with an orange crush, the end of the Riblet triple is bittersweet: a closing chapter in the mountain’s history, and the start of a new one.