Buy a Piece of Park City history: Sunrise chairlift auction supports local child-care programs

Approximately 50 lift chairs from the original Sunrise Lift will be auctioned off. Twelve chairs will be set aside for artist and nonprofit collaborations. Photo: Park City Mountain Resort.

PARK CITY, Utah — Park City Mountain will auction 41 retired Sunrise chairlift two-seaters next month to raise money for the Park City Community Foundation’s Early Childhood Alliance.

The silent auction opens the evening of June 11 and closes during the foundation’s free Summer Solstice Family Celebration on June 20. Starting bids are set at $500, with an option to secure a chair immediately for $5,000, according to the announcement.

A separate live auction of 12 artist-designed chairs—each paired with a local nonprofit—will run 3–6 p.m. June 11 at Canyons Village, with proceeds directed to the organizations represented on each chair. Remaining chairs will benefit the Early Childhood Alliance’s efforts to expand quality, affordable child care.

The fundraiser builds on a similar 2023 sale of 30 retired Red Pine Gondola cabins that generated more than $400,000 for early-childhood programs, including needs-based scholarships, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, PC Tots, and the Utah Diaper Bank.

Vail Resorts’ EpicPromise program is underwriting the chairlift auction. Sunrise Lift is being replaced by a 10-passenger gondola slated to come online for the 2025-26 ski season.

Auction details and the bidding link will be released closer to the opening date. Families can RSVP now for the June 20 celebration at Canyons Village, where winning bids will be finalized and announced.