Loon Mountain Resort to install first eight-person lift in the East

The new Kanc effectively doubles the number of riders per chair at Loon. (Loon Mountain Resort)

Maybe you’re asking yourself, “Who needs an eight-person lift?” 

But anybody who has been to Loon on a mid-winter Saturday morning would probably understand that the Lincoln, N.H. resort is the perfect place to introduce the first chairlift of its kind in New England. 

Loon Mountain Resort announced on Friday the installation of an eight-person, high-speed, bubble chairlift to be installed for the 2020-21 season. The “Kancamagus 8” will have a capacity of 3,500 skiers and riders per hour, a welcome addition at what can be one of the busiest base areas in the Northeast. 

Each of the 62 chairs on the Kancamagus 8 will feature heated, ergonomically-designed, extra-wide seats, and tinted bubbles. The ride will move at a speed of 18 feet per second,  delivering skiers to the top in less than 4 1/2 minutes.

“The Kancamagus 8 chairlift will be a leap into the future of skiing for our guests,” Loon president and general manager Jay Scambio said in a statement. “We are committed to bringing the latest advancements to our guests. This lift  is  the next  example of that.” 

The lift is just one portion of Loon’s new 10-year plan. “Flight Path: 2020” is focused on “transformative modern innovations across the resort to support Loon’s vision to pioneer the New New England.” This timeline also includes a re-imagined West Basin, an upgrade to Lincoln Express, a new summer attraction, and an upgrade of the gondola by 2030. 

The new chairlift will replace the Kancamagus Express Quad (originally installed in 1995) at the base of Loon’s West Basin, next to the Governor Adams Lodge. This lift will showcase Doppelmayr’s advanced new D-Line technology, focused on comfort and quiet operation. This will be only the second eight-person lift in the country. Big Sky Resort in Montana debuted its version in 2018. 

Loon plans to break ground on the lift in April. 

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