Company:Riblet Tramway Company

Short description: Former Charlift Manufacturer

This article is about the tramway company. For the cut of meat by the same name, see riblets. For the aerodynamic device, see skin friction drag.

Riblet's first chairlift, the Magic Mile at Timberline, as seen in the early 1940s. In the background is Timberline Lodge.

The Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, Washington, which operated from 1908 to 2003, was once the largest ski chairlift manufacturer in the world.

The company was founded by Byron Christian Riblet, who was born in Osage, Iowa, in 1865 and earned a degree in Civil Engineering. Arriving in Spokane in 1885, his first work was laying out railway and streetcar lines. He also built dams and irrigation projects.

In 1896, Riblet was contracted to erect an ore tramway designed by the Finlayson company at the Noble Five silver mine in Sandon, British Columbia, to assist in moving ore down Reco Mountain to the mill at Cody. Apparently Riblet thought he was coming to build a streetcar line. Even so, Riblet decided he could improve the mining tram performance. Over time, Riblet raised more aerial tramways in the booming mining district, building 30 in the next decade. Riblet returned to Spokane in 1908, after working in the Kootenays, to found the Riblet Tramway Company. The company, which specialized in mining tramways, built them in Alaska, Canada, the western United States, and South America.

Riblet built its first chairlift in 1938 at Mount Hood, Oregon. Byron Riblet died in 1952, but the company boomed with the postwar rise of ski resorts. Skiing gained in popularity, and soon ski lifts became the major part of the Riblet Tramway Company's business. They built more than 400 lifts, particularly in Washington (state) , Oregon, and California , and as far away as Australia , New Zealand and Chile ; one secondhand American lift has also been relocated to Pakistan . They have the most double chair lifts operating in the U.S.

The company only built fixed-grip lifts, whose chair grip is woven into the haul rope rather than clamped onto it. But other technologies eventually proved more popular. In early 2003, the firm announced that it was no longer viable and would go out of business.

Installations

Riblet chairlifts can be found in many places still in service, though the majority have been removed. The following tables contain those documented by liftblog.com as of September 5th, 2021. More Riblet chairlifts may be in existence, though some listed below may have already been removed. At least 265 existing Riblet chairlifts still exist and 268 are no longer installed.

United States

Location	Ski area name	Remaining	Removed	Reference	Additional notes
Alaska	Alyeska	1	6	https://liftblog.com/alyeska-ak/	The last riblet remaining is no longer in use and is no longer on the trail map.
Alaska	Arctic Valley	2	0	https://liftblog.com/arctic-valley-ak/
Alaska	Eaglecrest	3	0	https://liftblog.com/eaglecrest-ak/
Alaska	Hilltop	1	0	https://liftblog.com/hilltop-ak/
Arizona	Arizona Snowbowl	1	2	https://liftblog.com/arizona-snowbowl-az/
Arizona	Sunrise Park	0	2	https://liftblog.com/sunrise-park-az/
California	Alta Sierra	2	0	https://liftblog.com/alta-sierra-ca/
California	Badger Pass	0	1	https://liftblog.com/yosemite-ca/
California	Bear Mountain	2	1	https://liftblog.com/bear-mountain-ca/
California	Bear Valley	4	3	https://liftblog.com/bear-valley-ca/
California	Boreal	0	5	https://liftblog.com/boreal-ca/
California	China Peak	2	3	https://liftblog.com/china-peak-ca/
California	Dodge Ridge	5	1	https://liftblog.com/dodge-ridge-ca/
California	Donner Ski Ranch	5	0	https://liftblog.com/donner-ski-ranch-ca/
California / Nevada	Heavenly	2	2	https://liftblog.com/heavenly-canv/
California	Homewood	0	1	https://liftblog.com/homewood-ca/
California	June Mountain	2	1	https://liftblog.com/june-mountain-ca/
California	Mammoth Mountain	0	3	https://liftblog.com/mammoth-mountain-ca/
California	Mountain High	1	0	https://liftblog.com/mountain-high-ca/
California	Mt. Shasta	0	2	https://liftblog.com/mt-shasta-ca/
California	Mt. Waterman	2	0	https://liftblog.com/mt-waterman-ca/
California	Northstar	0	7	https://liftblog.com/northstar-ca/
California	Snow Valley	0	1	https://liftblog.com/snow-valley-ca/
California	Palisades Tahoe	0	8	https://liftblog.com/squaw-valley-ca/
California	Sugar Bowl	0	5	https://liftblog.com/sugar-bowl-ca/
Colorado	Aspen Highlands	0	9	https://liftblog.com/aspen-highlands-co/
Colorado	Aspen Mountain	1	5	https://liftblog.com/aspen-mountain-co/
Colorado	Breckenridge	6	5	https://liftblog.com/breckenridge-co/
Colorado	Buttermilk	0	3	https://liftblog.com/buttermilk-co/
Colorado	Crested Butte	0	3	https://liftblog.com/crested-butte-co/
Colorado	Cuchara	3	1	https://liftblog.com/cuchara-co/
Colorado	Eldora	1	0	https://liftblog.com/eldora-co/
Colorado	Hesperus	1	0	https://liftblog.com/hesperus-co/
Colorado	Keystone	0	2	https://liftblog.com/keystone-co/
Colorado	Powderhorn	0	1	https://liftblog.com/powderhorn-co/
Colorado	Purgatory	3	2	https://liftblog.com/purgatory-co/
Colorado	Snowmass	0	12	https://liftblog.com/snowmass-co/
Colorado	Sunlight	3	0	https://liftblog.com/sunlight-co/
Colorado	Vail	0	12	https://liftblog.com/vail-co/
Colorado	Winter Park	1	4	https://liftblog.com/winter-park-co/
Idaho	Bogus Basin	2	2	https://liftblog.com/bogus-basin-id/
Idaho	Brundage	0	2	https://liftblog.com/brundage-id/
Idaho	Kelly Canyon	2	0	https://liftblog.com/kelly-canyon-id/
Idaho / Montana	Lookout Pass	3	1	https://liftblog.com/lookout-pass-id/
Idaho	Schweitzer	2	7	https://liftblog.com/schweitzer-mountain-resort-id/
Idaho	Silver Mountain	1	0	https://liftblog.com/silver-mountain-id/
Idaho	Sun Valley - Bald Mountain	0	4	https://liftblog.com/sun-valley-bald-mountain-id/
Illinois	Chestnut Mountain	1	0	https://liftblog.com/chestnut-mountain-il/
Indiana	Perfect North Slopes	5	0	https://liftblog.com/perfect-north-slopes-in/
Kentucky	Natural Bridge	1	0	https://liftblog.com/skylift-natural-bridge-ky/
Maine	Camden Snowbowl	1	0	https://liftblog.com/camden-snowbowl-me/
Maine	Shawnee Peak	0	1	https://liftblog.com/shawnee-peak-me/
Massachusetts	Jiminy Peak	3	1	https://liftblog.com/jiminy-peak-ma/
Michigan	Alpine Valley	3	0	https://liftblog.com/alpine-valley-mi/
Michigan	Big Powderhorn	9	0	https://liftblog.com/big-powderhorn-mi/
Michigan	Bittersweet	2	0	https://liftblog.com/bittersweet-mi/
Michigan	Blackjack	4	0	https://liftblog.com/blackjack-mi/
Michigan	Boyne Highlands	7	3	https://liftblog.com/boyne-highlands-mi/
Michigan	Boyne Mountain	6	1	https://liftblog.com/boyne-mountain-mi/
Michigan	Caberfae Peaks	1	0	https://liftblog.com/caberfae-peaks-mi/
Michigan	Crystal Mountain	0	1	https://liftblog.com/crystal-mountain-mi/
Michigan	Indianhead	5	0	https://liftblog.com/indianhead-mi/
Michigan	Marquette Mountain	3	1	https://liftblog.com/marquette-mountain-mi/
Michigan	Mont Ripley	1	0	https://liftblog.com/mont-ripley-mi/
Michigan	Mt. Bohemia	2	0	https://liftblog.com/mt-bohemia-mi/
Michigan	Mt. Holly	2	0	https://liftblog.com/mt-holly-mi/
Michigan	Nub's Nob	6	0	https://liftblog.com/nubs-nob-mi/
Michigan	Pine Knob	2	2	https://liftblog.com/pine-knob-mi/
Michigan	Pine Mountain	3	1	https://liftblog.com/pine-mountain-mi/
Michigan	Shanty Creek	2	4	https://liftblog.com/shanty-creek-mi/
Minnesota	Andes Tower Hills	1	0	https://liftblog.com/andes-tower-hills-mn/
Minnesota	Coffee Mill	1	0	https://liftblog.com/coffee-mill-mn/
Minnesota	Detroit Mountain	0	1	https://liftblog.com/detroit-mountain-mn/
Minnesota	Giants Ridge	3	2	https://liftblog.com/giants-ridge-mn/
Minnesota	Lutsen Mountains	5	0	https://liftblog.com/lutsen-mountains-mn/
Minnesota	Mt. Ski Gull	1	0	https://liftblog.com/mt-ski-gull-mn/
Minnesota	Powder Ridge	1	0	https://liftblog.com/powder-ridge-mn/
Minnesota	Welch Village	4	0	https://liftblog.com/welch-village-mn/
Missouri	Hidden Valley	4	0	https://liftblog.com/hidden-valley-mo/
Montana	Bear Paw	1	0	https://liftblog.com/bear-paw-mt/
Montana	Big Sky	1	1	https://liftblog.com/big-sky-resort-mt/
Montana	Bridger Bowl	0	5	https://liftblog.com/bridger-bowl-mt/
Montana	Great Divide	3	0	https://liftblog.com/great-divide-mt/
Montana	Maverick Mountain	1	0	https://liftblog.com/maverick-mountain-mt/
Montana	Montana Snowbowl	3	0	https://liftblog.com/montana-snowbowl-mt/
Montana	Red Lodge Mountain	3	0	https://liftblog.com/red-lodge-mountain-mt/
Montana	Ski Discovery	3	0	https://liftblog.com/ski-discovery-mt/
Montana	Turner Mountain	1	0	https://liftblog.com/turner-mountain-mt/
Nevada	Mt. Rose	0	2	https://liftblog.com/mt-rose-nv/
New Hampshire	Crotched Mountain	2	1	https://liftblog.com/crotched-mountain-nh/
New Hampshire	Wildcat	2	2	https://liftblog.com/wildcat-nh/
New Mexico	Angel Fire	3	4	https://liftblog.com/angel-fire-nm/
New Mexico	Pajarito Mountain	2	0	https://liftblog.com/pajarito-mountain-nm/
New Mexico	Red River	2	2	https://liftblog.com/red-river-nm/
New Mexico	Sandia Peak	2	0	https://liftblog.com/sandia-peak-nm/
New Mexico	Sipapu	1	0	https://liftblog.com/sipapu-nm/
New Mexico	Ski Apache	1	4	https://liftblog.com/ski-apache-nm/
New Mexico	Ski Santa Fe	1	0	https://liftblog.com/ski-santa-fe-nm/
New Mexico	Ski Rio	1	0	https://www.coloradoskihistory.com/lost/nm_skirio.html	Lost ski resort.
New York	Belleayre	1	0	https://liftblog.com/belleayre-ny/
New York	Gore Mountain	0	3	https://liftblog.com/gore-mountain-ny/
New York	Song Mountain	3	0	https://liftblog.com/song-mountain-ny/
New York	West Mountain	0	1	https://liftblog.com/west-mountain-ny/
New York	Whiteface	0	4	https://liftblog.com/whiteface-ny/
North Dakota	Bottineau Winter Park	1	0	https://liftblog.com/bottineau-winter-park-nd/
Ohio	Boston Mills	1	0	https://liftblog.com/boston-mills-oh/
Ohio	Mad River Mountain	1	0	https://liftblog.com/mad-river-mountain-oh/
Ohio	Snow Trails	3	0	https://liftblog.com/snow-trails-oh/
Oregon	Anthony Lakes	1	1	https://liftblog.com/anthony-lakes-or/
Oregon	Cooper Spur	1	0	https://liftblog.com/cooper-spur-or/
Oregon	Hoodoo	3	2	https://liftblog.com/hoodoo-or/
Oregon	Mt. Ashland	3	0	https://liftblog.com/mt-ashland-or/
Oregon	Mt. Bachelor	0	7	https://liftblog.com/mt-bachelor-or/
Oregon	Mt. Hood Meadows	2	3	https://liftblog.com/mt-hood-meadows-or/
Oregon	Mt. Hood Ski Bowl	4	1	https://liftblog.com/mt-hood-ski-bowl-or/
Oregon	Summit Ski Area	1	0	https://liftblog.com/summit-ski-area-or/
Oregon	Timberline Lodge	0	6	https://liftblog.com/timberline-lodge-or/
Oregon	Willamette Pass	2	4	https://liftblog.com/willamette-pass-or/
Pennsylvania	Camelback	1	0	https://liftblog.com/camelback-pa/
Pennsylvania	Mt. Pleasant of Edinboro	1	0	https://liftblog.com/mt-pleasant-of-edinboro-pa/
South Dakota	Deer Mountain	2	0	https://liftblog.com/deer-mountain-sd/
South Dakota	Rushmore Tramway Adventures	1	0	https://liftblog.com/rushmore-tramway-adventures-sd/
South Dakota	Terry Peak	0	4	https://liftblog.com/terry-peak-sd/
Tennessee	Gatlinburg SkyLift Park	0	2	https://liftblog.com/gatlinburg-skylift-park-tn/
Tennessee	Ober Gatlinburg	1	0	https://liftblog.com/ober-gatlinburg-tn/
Utah	Brighton	0	4	https://liftblog.com/brighton-ut/
Utah	Park City	0	3	https://liftblog.com/park-city-ut/
Vermont	Bromley	1	2	https://liftblog.com/bromley-vt/
Vermont	Mt. Snow	0	1	https://liftblog.com/mt-snow-vt/
Vermont	Okemo	0	2	https://liftblog.com/okemo-vt/
Vermont	Stowe	1	2	https://liftblog.com/stowe-vt/
Washington	49 Degrees North	1	0	https://liftblog.com/49-north-wa/
Washington	Central Washington State Fair	1	0	https://liftblog.com/sundola-yakima-state-fair-wa/
Washington	Crystal Mountain	0	4	https://liftblog.com/crystal-mountain-wa/
Washington	Mission Ridge	3	1	https://liftblog.com/mission-ridge-wa/
Washington	Mt. Baker	2	5	https://liftblog.com/mt-baker-wa/
Washington	Mt. Spokane	5	1	https://liftblog.com/mt-spokane-wa/
Washington	Sitzmark	1	0	https://liftblog.com/sitzmark-wa/
Washington	Spokane Falls Skyride	0	2	https://liftblog.com/2015/05/26/lift-profile-spokane-falls-skyride/
Washington	Stevens Pass	3	5	https://liftblog.com/stevens-pass-wa/
Washington	The Summit at Snoqualmie	9	11	https://liftblog.com/the-summit-at-snoqualmie-wa/
Washington	White Pass	2	2	https://liftblog.com/white-pass-wa/
Wisconsin	Alpine Valley	2	5	https://liftblog.com/alpine-valley-wi/
Wisconsin	Bruce Mound	1	0	https://liftblog.com/bruce-mound-wi/
Wisconsin	Devil's Head	2	0	https://liftblog.com/devils-head-wi/
Wisconsin	Granite Peak	1	4	https://liftblog.com/granite-peak-wi/
Wisconsin	Little Switzerland	2	0	https://liftblog.com/little-switzerland-wi/
Wisconsin	Wilmot Mountain	0	2	https://liftblog.com/wilmot-mountain-wi/
Wyoming	Antelope Butte	2	0	https://liftblog.com/antelope-butte-wy/
Wyoming	Grand Targhee	0	1	https://liftblog.com/grand-targhee-wy/
Wyoming	Hogadon	1	1	https://liftblog.com/hogadon-wy/
Wyoming	Jackson Hole	0	1	https://liftblog.com/jackson-hole-wy/
Wyoming	Snowy Range	4	0	https://liftblog.com/snowy-range-wy/

Canada

Location	Ski area name	Remaining	Removed	Reference	Additional notes
Alberta	Castle Mountain	1	0	https://liftblog.com/castle-mountain-ab/
British Columbia	Apex	0	1	https://liftblog.com/apex-bc/
British Columbia	Cypress Mountain	0	1	https://liftblog.com/cypress-mountain-bc/
British Columbia	Kicking Horse	1	0	https://liftblog.com/kicking-horse-bc/
British Columbia	Whitewater	0	2	https://liftblog.com/whitewater-bc/

See also

• Detachable chairlift: the technological successor to the fixed-grip chairlift
• Magic Mile, Riblet's first chairlift

Sources

Martin J. Wells (December 2005). Tramway Titan: Byron Riblet, Wire Rope and Western Resource Towns. Trafford Publishing, Victoria. ISBN 978-1-4120-5093-7. 

External links

• Company website
• Liftblog.com