Powderhorn Resort: Wild West Express construction begins
02/July/2026
Construction crews at Powderhorn Mountain Resort have cleared a massive milestone in the development of the highly anticipated Wild West Express, transforming what was once a blueprint into an active mountain construction zone.
The highlight of last week was a key step in the Wild West Express master plan: a successful hike of the full lift line with representatives from the U.S. Forest Service, project engineers, logging crews, and Powderhorn staff. Starting near the top of the Mesa and working down to the base area, the group reviewed upcoming construction, corridor management, environmental considerations, and the many details needed to keep a project of this scale moving forward.
Following the successful site walkthrough, logging operations officially commenced. Crews are now on the mountain widening the trail corridor to accommodate the high-speed detachable quad. While the timber clearing may appear straightforward from the base, resort officials emphasized that the process requires intricate, behind-the-scenes planning and coordination to protect the surrounding environment.
Logging operations are now underway as crews widen the corridor for the new detachable quad. Like much of this project, the work may look straightforward from a distance, but requires careful planning and coordination behind the scenes.
At the top of the mountain, the final West End lift towers came down, bringing an end to the familiar skyline that defined Powderhorn’s west side for decades. For the first time in over 50 years, the entire line stands open from top to bottom—offering a clear view of where the West End has been, and where the Wild West Express is headed.
But the line won’t stand empty for long. Final tower forms are being built in the parking lot, and a garage-sized pit has been dug for the foundation of the new bottom terminal. With all towers now on the ground, logging underway, and terminal work beginning, the Wild West Express is starting to feel less like a plan and more like a construction project.
The new lift is set to completely reshape how skiers and snowboarders experience Powderhorn’s western slopes. For decades, the area was served by the fixed-grip West End double chairlift, notorious for its grueling 13-plus-minute ride time. The Wild West Express—repurposed from a fully refurbished lift from Snowmass—will run at twice the speed, cutting that travel time down to roughly six minutes.
A Skyline Reborn after 50 Years
At the top of the mountain, a piece of resort history officially dissolved. Crews successfully dismantled the final towers of the legacy West End lift, completely changing a skyline that had defined the mountain's west side since 1972.
For the first time in over 50 years, the entire lift line stands completely open from the summit to the base, offering a stark, unobstructed view of the resort's history and its future.
Foundations Taking Shape
The line will not stay empty for long. While logging crews expand the trail corridor, infrastructure work is ramping up at the base of the mountain:
Tower Fabrication: Final tower forms are actively being constructed and assembled within the main parking lot.
Terminal Digging: Excavation crews have dug a massive, garage-sized pit to serve as the foundation for the new lower terminal.
With the old towers cleared, logging underway, and terminal foundations being poured, the Wild West Express project is quickly transitioning from a plan into reality ahead of its scheduled debut for the 2026-27 ski season.
