New speedy triple chairlift to debut at The Highlands this ski season

he ramp-up to ski season across Michigan is a lot like unwrapping your holiday presents: What delightful new things are in store for this year?

The Highlands at Harbor Springs is one of a handful of resorts that has promised skiers some new perks this winter. The speedy Interconnect Triple chairlift will be its shiny new toy.

The new Interconnect replaces the older lift of the same name and will offer much faster access to the resort's North Peak region, which is known for its intermediate-level and family-friendly terrain areas.

"With a faster accent and expanded capacity, riders will spend a third less time on the lift, maximizing time spent skiing and riding among the northern end's 14 runs," Highlands staff said. "The new lift also features RFID gates providing hands-free, direct-to-lift access, and a child- and adaptive-friendly height-adjustable loading carpet. The chairs feature bench-style seating, safety bars, and footrests for added comfort for riders of all ages."

You can see more about the Interconnect upgrade on the resort's website here.

The Interconnect's opening, expected sometime in December, will mark the second consecutive year that a new, fast chairlift opened at the resort just east of Harbor Springs.

Last winter saw The Highlands' new Camelot 6, a six-person bubble chairlift billed as the fastest lift in the Midwest, open with a ribbon-cutting and much fanfare.

The old Interconnect was one of the original chairlifts at the resort, which used to be called Boyne Highlands before its rebranding a few years ago. That chairlift had been operating at one spot or another at the resort since its opening in 1963.

In mid-March, skiers were invited to take their last laps on the old Interconnect. In April, construction crews removed the tower bases so the project could get underway. By May, the terminal foundations for the new Interconnect had been poured.

See The Highlands' video of the Interconnect build project here

The ski chairs pulled off the original Interconnect when it was dismantled were sold by The Highlands in a charity auction. It raised more than $70,000 for a handful of local nonprofits.

The original Interconnect also has a really cool backstory that's become a bit of Northern Michigan ski lore.

Interconnect chairs were born from a "Ski Dad" moment

The original Harbor Highlands ski area was founded by a group of local business people in 1955. But within a few years, the venture was in debt and on the brink of closure. Boyne Mountain founder Everett Kircher saw a great opportunity in buying The Highlands, just a short drive north from his first resort. But during the planning process, he noted his chairlifts were just a little too cozy for his growing family.

The resort tells the story this way: "During planning, Kircher, his wife, and 6-year-old son, John, were squeezed together on a double-place chairlift at Boyne Mountain when Kircher thought, 'Wouldn't it be great to have a three-passenger chairlift instead of just a two? A triple?' And so the phone call was made to chairlift manufacturer, Riblet, and they agreed it could be done. When Boyne Highlands opened on December 26, 1963, guests were greeted by not one, but two, of the first triple chairlifts ever built."

The Interconnect was one of those historic lifts. It's also seen some changes in the last few decades. Originally named Little John, it once ran between North and South Challenger. It was relocated in the early 1990s as part of the North Peak expansion.

In 2021, Midwestskiers.com took the history lesson a little deeper with this explanation: "To honor his son and the inspiration for the chairlifts, Everett named one of the triple chairlifts 'Little John.' Although the lift has since moved from its original position and been renamed, there is a run named 'Little John' near the lift's original location. Over the years the original triples 'Heather' and 'Little John' were repositioned, some components replaced/upgraded, and were renamed to 'Interconnect' and 'Valley.' "

The new Interconnect is one of a string of improvements happening as part of The Highland's Transformational Journey initiative.

New & Expanded Seasonal Programs

The new Interconnect's debut is only one of the fresh features being touted by the resort for the upcoming season.

The Highlands is expanding its skiing programs for snow-lovers big and small with the following options: