Exciting things are happening high above Durango this summer. Helicopter operations have officially begun on a new chairlift being installed at Purgatory Resort, marking a major milestone in the mountain destination’s ongoing expansion and improvement efforts.

The aerial work — a dramatic and technically impressive phase of chairlift construction — involves using helicopters to position lift towers and other heavy components in terrain that would be difficult or impossible to reach by ground equipment alone. It’s a sight that signals real progress toward a finished lift that will serve skiers and snowboarders when the winter season arrives.

Purgatory Resort, located just north of Durango along U.S. Highway 550, has long been a beloved anchor of the region’s outdoor recreation economy. A new chairlift represents a meaningful investment in the resort’s infrastructure, expanding capacity and improving the experience for both local riders and the visitors who travel to the San Juan Mountains each winter season.

For the Durango community, the project carries good news on multiple fronts. Resort improvements help sustain local jobs in hospitality, ski operations, and the broader tourism sector that the Four Corners region depends on year-round. An upgraded Purgatory also strengthens Durango’s reputation as a world-class mountain destination, drawing visitors whose spending supports restaurants, shops, lodging, and other local businesses throughout the season.

Helicopter lift construction is typically completed in carefully coordinated windows, with crews working efficiently to place components with precision. The fact that this phase is now underway suggests the project is on track for completion ahead of the coming ski season — welcome news for anyone already looking forward to fresh powder in the San Juans.

Keep an eye on the skies above Purgatory this summer: those helicopters are hard at work building something the whole community will enjoy come winter.

Sources: KRQE