Crystal Mountain Auctioning Chairs From Historic Lift

Originally posted on Powder | By Ian Greenwood | Last updated May 1, 2025 8:29 AM ET

Ever wanted to own a piece of ski history?

Between May 2 and May 16, 2025 Crystal Mountain, Washington, will open bidding for the chairs from its iconic Rainier Express, or REX, lift that is set to be replaced this summer. The chairs will be sold online, and only 50 will be available.

All of the proceeds from the chair sale will benefit the Northwest Avalanche Center (NWAC), an avalanche forecasting team that operates in Oregon and Washington, providing local ski communities with mountain weather, education, and data.

IN 1988, REX became the first high-speed detachable quad chairlift installed in the state of Washington.

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Photo: Karl Weatherly/Getty Images

There will be another way to snag one of the chairs, too.

Visitors who ski or ride a chairlift at Crystal Mountain between May 2 and May 4 will be automatically entered for a chance to win a REX chair. Each ski day counts as a raffle entry.

According to a recent social media post from Crystal Mountain, more details about picking up a REX chair, including pricing, are forthcoming.

To honor the departure of REX, Crystal Mountain is hosting a 1980s-themed party on May 4 with live music, giveaways, and contests at the Midway Yurt, which is located near the base of the chairlift. Vintage outfits with neon and wild patterns are encouraged.

The party, aptly titled The Last Riders of REX 1988, also coincides with the Over the Top Rail Jam, which has been relocated to be visible from REX’s lower terminal.

REX, a Poma high-speed quad, was installed at Crystal Mountain in 1988. It was the first detachable chairlift built in Washington and has since become a staple of Crystal Mountain’s skier access infrastructure, providing access to popular powder day haunts like The Doors and Sunnyside.

In June, the ski resort will begin replacing REX with a new Leitner-Poma high-speed quad that is expected to be complete by December 2025. The construction process won’t interrupt Crystal Mountain’s summer operations, which include the Mount Rainier Scenic Gondola.

This article first appeared on Powder and was syndicated with permission.

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