| Riblet Tramway Company | |
| Type: | Private |
| Hq Location City: | Spokane, Washington |
| Hq Location Country: | United States |
The Riblet Tramway Company of Spokane, Washington,[1] which operated from 1908 to 2003, was once the largest ski chairlift manufacturer in the world.[2]
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, Oregon, and California, and as far away as Australia, New Zealand and Chile; one secondhand American lift has also been relocated to Pakistan.[3] They have the most double chair lifts operating in the U.S.
During Expo '74 Riblet built both the skyride a Gondola tramway over Spokane Falls and the A&W SkyFloat a chairlift that went over the fairgrounds.[4]
After the World's Fair, the chairlift was dismantled and went to Schweitzer Mountain. The Gondola became an one of the attractions at Riverfront Park and was replaced by a new Gondola system in 2005.
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.[5]
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[6] 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.
| Alaska | Alyeska | 1 | 6 | [7] | The last riblet remaining is no longer in use and is no longer on the trail map. | |
| Alaska | Arctic Valley | 2 | 0 | [8] | ||
| Alaska | Eaglecrest | 3 | 0 | [9] | ||
| Alaska | Hilltop | 1 | 0 | [10] | ||
| Arizona | Arizona Snowbowl | 1 | 2 | [11] | ||
| Arizona | Sunrise Park | 0 | 2 | [12] | ||
| California | Alta Sierra | 2 | 0 | [13] | ||
| California | Badger Pass | 0 | 1 | [14] | ||
| California | Bear Mountain | 2 | 1 | [15] | ||
| California | Bear Valley | 4 | 3 | [16] | ||
| California | Boreal | 0 | 5 | [17] | ||
| California | China Peak | 2 | 3 | [18] | ||
| California | Dodge Ridge | 5 | 1 | [19] | ||
| California | Donner Ski Ranch | 5 | 0 | [20] | ||
| California / Nevada | Heavenly | 1 | 3 | [21] | ||
| California | Homewood | 0 | 1 | [22] | ||
| California | June Mountain | 2 | 1 | [23] | ||
| California | Mammoth Mountain | 0 | 3 | [24] | ||
| California | Mountain High | 1 | 0 | [25] | ||
| California | Mt. Shasta | 0 | 2 | [26] | ||
| California | Mt. Waterman | 2 | 0 | [27] | ||
| California | Northstar | 0 | 7 | [28] | ||
| California | Snow Valley | 0 | 1 | [29] | ||
| California | Palisades Tahoe | 0 | 8 | [30] | ||
| California | Sugar Bowl | 0 | 5 | [31] | ||
| Colorado | Aspen Highlands | 0 | 9 | [32] | ||
| Colorado | Aspen Mountain | 1 | 5 | [33] | ||
| Colorado | Breckenridge | 6 | 5 | [34] | ||
| Colorado | Buttermilk | 0 | 3 | [35] | ||
| Colorado | Crested Butte | 0 | 3 | [36] | ||
| Colorado | Cuchara | 3 | 1 | [37] | ||
| Colorado | Eldora | 1 | 0 | [38] | ||
| Colorado | Hesperus | 1 | 0 | [39] | ||
| Colorado | Keystone | 0 | 2 | [40] | ||
| Colorado | Powderhorn | 0 | 1 | [41] | ||
| Colorado | Purgatory | 3 | 2 | [42] | ||
| Colorado | Snowmass | 0 | 12 | [43] | ||
| Colorado | Sunlight | 3 | 0 | [44] | ||
| Colorado | Vail | 0 | 12 | [45] | ||
| Colorado | Winter Park | 1 | 4 | [46] | ||
| Idaho | Bogus Basin | 2 | 2 | [47] | ||
| Idaho | Brundage | 0 | 2 | [48] | ||
| Idaho | Kelly Canyon | 2 | 0 | [49] | ||
| Idaho / Montana | Lookout Pass | 3 | 1 | [50] | ||
| Idaho | Schweitzer | 2 | 7 | [51] | ||
| Idaho | Silver Mountain | 1 | 0 | [52] | ||
| Idaho | Sun Valley - Bald Mountain | 0 | 4 | [53] | ||
| Illinois | Chestnut Mountain | 1 | 0 | [54] | ||
| Indiana | Perfect North Slopes | 5 | 0 | [55] | ||
| Kentucky | Natural Bridge | 1 | 0 | [56] | ||
| Maine | Camden Snowbowl | 1 | 0 | [57] | ||
| Maine | Shawnee Peak | 0 | 1 | [58] | ||
| Massachusetts | Jiminy Peak | 3 | 1 | [59] | ||
| Michigan | Alpine Valley | 3 | 0 | [60] | ||
| Michigan | Big Powderhorn | 9 | 0 | [61] | ||
| Michigan | Bittersweet | 2 | 0 | [62] | ||
| Michigan | Black River Basin (Formerly Blackjack) | 4 | 0 | [63] | ||
| Michigan | Boyne Highlands | 7 | 3 | [64] | ||
| Michigan | Boyne Mountain | 6 | 1 | [65] | ||
| Michigan | Caberfae Peaks | 1 | 0 | [66] | ||
| Michigan | Crystal Mountain | 0 | 1 | [67] | ||
| Michigan | Jackson Creek Summit (Formerly Indianhead) | 2 | 3 | [68] | ||
| Michigan | Marquette Mountain | 3 | 1 | [69] | ||
| Michigan | Mont Ripley | 1 | 0 | [70] | ||
| Michigan | Mt. Bohemia | 2 | 0 | [71] | ||
| Michigan | Mt. Holly | 2 | 0 | [72] | ||
| Michigan | Nub's Nob | 6 | 0 | [73] | ||
| Michigan | Pine Knob | 2 | 2 | [74] | ||
| Michigan | Pine Mountain | 3 | 1 | [75] | ||
| Michigan | Shanty Creek | 2 | 4 | [76] | ||
| Minnesota | Andes Tower Hills | 1 | 0 | [77] | ||
| Minnesota | Coffee Mill | 1 | 0 | [78] | ||
| Minnesota | Detroit Mountain | 0 | 1 | [79] | ||
| Minnesota | Giants Ridge | 3 | 2 | [80] | ||
| Minnesota | Lutsen Mountains | 4 | 1 | [81] | ||
| Minnesota | Mt. Ski Gull | 1 | 0 | [82] | ||
| Minnesota | Powder Ridge | 1 | 0 | [83] | ||
| Minnesota | Welch Village | 4 | 0 | [84] | ||
| Missouri | Hidden Valley | 4 | 0 | [85] | ||
| Montana | Bear Paw | 1 | 0 | [86] | ||
| Montana | Big Sky | 1 | 1 | [87] | ||
| Montana | Bridger Bowl | 0 | 5 | [88] | ||
| Montana | Great Divide | 3 | 0 | [89] | ||
| Montana | Maverick Mountain | 1 | 0 | [90] | ||
| Montana | Montana Snowbowl | 3 | 0 | [91] | ||
| Montana | Red Lodge Mountain | 2 | 1 | [92] | ||
| Montana | Ski Discovery | 3 | 0 | [93] | ||
| Montana | Turner Mountain | 1 | 0 | [94] | ||
| Nevada | Mt. Rose | 0 | 2 | [95] | ||
| New Hampshire | Crotched Mountain | 2 | 1 | [96] | ||
| New Hampshire | Wildcat | 2 | 2 | [97] | ||
| New Mexico | Angel Fire | 3 | 4 | [98] | ||
| New Mexico | Pajarito Mountain | 2 | 0 | [99] | ||
| New Mexico | Red River | 2 | 2 | [100] | ||
| New Mexico | Sandia Peak | 2 | 0 | [101] | ||
| New Mexico | Sipapu | 1 | 0 | [102] | ||
| New Mexico | Ski Apache | 1 | 4 | [103] | ||
| New Mexico | Ski Santa Fe | 1 | 0 | [104] | ||
| New Mexico | Ski Rio | 1 | 0 | [105] | Lost ski resort. | |
| New York | Belleayre | 1 | 0 | [106] | ||
| New York | Gore Mountain | 0 | 3 | [107] | ||
| New York | Song Mountain | 3 | 0 | [108] | ||
| New York | West Mountain | 0 | 1 | [109] | ||
| New York | Whiteface | 0 | 4 | [110] | ||
| North Dakota | Bottineau Winter Park | 1 | 0 | [111] | ||
| Ohio | Boston Mills | 1 | 0 | [112] | ||
| Ohio | Mad River Mountain | 1 | 0 | [113] | ||
| Ohio | Snow Trails | 3 | 0 | [114] | ||
| Oregon | Anthony Lakes | 1 | 1 | [115] | ||
| Oregon | Cooper Spur | 1 | 0 | [116] | ||
| Oregon | Hoodoo | 3 | 2 | [117] | ||
| Oregon | Mt. Ashland | 3 | 0 | [118] | ||
| Oregon | Mt. Bachelor | 0 | 7 | [119] | ||
| Oregon | Mt. Hood Meadows | 2 | 3 | [120] | ||
| Oregon | Mt. Hood Ski Bowl | 4 | 1 | [121] | ||
| Oregon | Summit Ski Area | 1 | 0 | [122] | ||
| Oregon | Timberline Lodge | 0 | 6 | [123] | ||
| Oregon | Willamette Pass | 2 | 4 | [124] | ||
| Pennsylvania | Camelback | 1 | 0 | [125] | ||
| Pennsylvania | Mt. Pleasant of Edinboro | 1 | 0 | [126] | ||
| South Dakota | Deer Mountain | 2 | 0 | [127] | ||
| South Dakota | Rushmore Tramway Adventures | 1 | 0 | [128] | ||
| South Dakota | Terry Peak | 0 | 4 | [129] | ||
| Tennessee | Gatlinburg SkyLift Park | 0 | 2 | [130] | ||
| Tennessee | Ober Gatlinburg | 1 | 0 | [131] | ||
| Utah | Brighton | 0 | 4 | [132] | ||
| Utah | Park City | 0 | 3 | [133] | ||
| Vermont | Bromley | 1 | 2 | [134] | ||
| Vermont | Mt. Snow | 0 | 1 | [135] | ||
| Vermont | Okemo | 0 | 2 | [136] | ||
| Vermont | Stowe | 1 | 2 | [137] | ||
| Washington | 49 Degrees North | 1 | 0 | [138] | ||
| Washington | Central Washington State Fair | 1 | 0 | [139] | ||
| Washington | Crystal Mountain | 0 | 4 | [140] | ||
| Washington | Mission Ridge | 3 | 1 | [141] | ||
| Washington | Mt. Baker | 2 | 5 | [142] | ||
| Washington | Mt. Spokane | 5 | 1 | [143] | ||
| Washington | Sitzmark | 1 | 0 | [144] | ||
| Washington | Spokane Falls Skyride | 0 | 2 | [145] | ||
| Washington | Stevens Pass | 3 | 5 | [146] | ||
| Washington | The Summit at Snoqualmie | 9 | 11 | [147] | ||
| Washington | White Pass | 2 | 2 | [148] | ||
| Wisconsin | Alpine Valley | 2 | 5 | [149] | ||
| Wisconsin | Bruce Mound | 1 | 0 | [150] | ||
| Wisconsin | Devil's Head | 2 | 0 | [151] | ||
| Wisconsin | Granite Peak | 1 | 4 | [152] | ||
| Wisconsin | Little Switzerland | 2 | 0 | [153] | ||
| Wisconsin | Wilmot Mountain | 0 | 2 | [154] | ||
| Wyoming | Antelope Butte | 2 | 0 | [155] | ||
| Wyoming | Grand Targhee | 0 | 1 | [156] | ||
| Wyoming | Hogadon | 1 | 1 | [157] | ||
| Wyoming | Jackson Hole | 0 | 1 | [158] | ||
| Wyoming | Snowy Range | 4 | 0 | [159] |
| Alberta | Castle Mountain | 1 | 0 | [160] | ||
| British Columbia | Apex | 0 | 1 | [161] | ||
| British Columbia | Cypress Mountain | 0 | 1 | [162] | ||
| British Columbia | Kicking Horse | 1 | 0 | [163] | ||
| British Columbia | Whitewater | 0 | 2 | [164] |
Book: Martin J. Wells . Tramway Titan: Byron Riblet, Wire Rope and Western Resource Towns . Trafford Publishing, Victoria . December 2005 . 978-1-4120-5093-7.