Little Switzerland builds new bigger and faster lift system

SLINGER, Wis. — As the temperature gets colder, Little Switzerland Ski Area in Slinger is ready to debut their brand new ski and snowboard lift system this month. Staff tore down their 1964 system after the end of the last season, started building the new lifts in May and completed the project in early November. The new chairs have more padding and fit four people instead of two, like the old machine. Marcus Aarsvold “It was from 1964, maybe a little bit dated of an infrastructure, now we’ve got a brand new shiny lift," general manager Brandon Wagner said. "There are really nice pads on the things and it leans back a little as well. It’s just a nicer and smoother ride for anyone to enjoy.” Marcus Aarsvold The new lifts include big red terminals that house the main machines above ground, rather than below ground, as well as updated battery/electric powered engines. “Now, we have two unload terminals," Wagner said. "Which means it’s going to reduce stoppage time, cut that in half and make overall capacity here in Little Switzerland even better.” He said it is the biggest and most expensive project they've ever completed. It cost $4 million to build, but he and co-owner Mike Schmitz said it was needed. “It’s an electric backup motor, so it’s totally battery back up as opposed to our old diesel or propane generate you had to do," Schmitz said. "In case something were to fail, you’ve got a back up system. It’s a pretty neat system.” Marcus Aarsvold Wagner said the new lift passed the load test and now it's ready for the first snow and opening day. “Once the time comes," he said. "We’ll be ready to let it fly.” Depending on the weather, they plan to open on November 27th. They will also run a social media campaign with their followers to see who will get to use the lift first. Let's talk: Hey there! At TMJ4 News, we're all about listening to our audience and tackling the stuff that really matters to you. Got a story idea, tip, or just want to chat about this piece? Hit us up using the form below. For more ways to get in touch, head over to tmj4.com/tips. Name Email Phone number Story you're commenting on Message Verification: Submit It’s about time to watch on your time. Stream local news and weather 24/7 by searching for “TMJ4” on your device. Available for download on Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV, and more. Report a typo or error // Submit a news tip