Iconic Pink Chairlifts To Be Sold From Former Montanan Ski Resort
Marshall Mountain, a small ski resort just outside Missoula, Montana, closed in 2002, unable to keep up with its steeper and larger competitor, Snowbowl.
Since its closure, the resort's land has changed hands, eventually becoming the subject of a planned public land expansion that local officials hope will be finalized by this winter.
In the meantime, Marshall has become a popular destination for human-powered summer and winter recreation, accommodating backcountry skiers and mountain bikers. While the resort hasn't operated for roughly 20 years, its signature trait -- a pink three-seater chairlift -- remains as a reminder of what was.
I should say "remained," though, as plans to sell the chairs from the iconic -- dare I say Barbie-themed -- lift are moving forward.
The lifts from Marshall's three-seater have been removed since this September 13th Instagram post, although further details of the Friends of Marshall Mountain-led chair auction are yet to be released. Stay tuned.
Ian Greenwood
As for the upcoming auction, I don't think I'm wrong in assuming that this is the only chance to purchase and own a pink chairlift in North America, or perhaps the world, for that matter.
When I first toured up Marshall years ago after moving to Missoula, I was taken by the three-seater. Yes, the snow sucked. Yes, I was out of breath because my fitness wasn't up to par.
Ian Greenwood
But a glimpse of that chairlift was all it took to set me right.
Gone were my days spent feeling like human cattle in an enormous lift line at Whistler Blackcomb, British Columbia. I was somewhere off the beaten path. Somewhere different. Somewhere funky. And even if I wasn't skiing world-class terrain, that change of pace felt like coming home.
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