Let it ride: Arizona Snowbowl announces state’s first six-person chairlift

PHOENIX — The ski season just came to a close this past weekend, but one Arizona resort is already announcing improvements for next year.

Arizona Snowbowl said in a release Wednesday that it plans to build a high-speed chairlift that can hold up to six people at one time. It will be the first such chairlift in the state.

The six-seater comes shortly after the resort opened a high-speed, four-person chairlift ahead of the 2015 holiday season and is part of another large improvement investment.

“With an additional $10 million for capital projects this coming year and Snowbowl’s first high-speed lift, we continue our commitment to transform the overall mountain experience for all our guests,” managing partner James Coleman said in a release.

The newer, larger lift, tabbed the Grand Canyon Express, will haul snow lovers up the mountain in about six minutes.

“Coupled with our snowmaking system that provides reliable mountain conditions, the new high-speed six-pack is a huge milestone for Snowbowl and will give our guests excellent access to some of the best skiing in the state,” partner Eric Borowsky said in the same release.

Snowbowl said it expects the new lift to open in time for the 2016-2017 ski season.

In addition to the lift, Snowbowl reminded skiiers and snowboarders it would again be selling annual passes that are good at the Arizona mountain as well as others in Colorado and New Mexico.

Prices for annual passes are not changing.

Follow @KTAR923