Fitzsimmons 8 Express Opening Dates
Fitzsimmons 8 Express normally runs from Whistler Mountain’s opening day. The current eight-person lift debuted mid-season on 12 December 2023 and has been part of the early-season package since. For 2026-27 expect it from 20 November 2026.
Where Fitzsimmons 8 Express sits in the opening order
Fitzsimmons 8 is the lift from Skier’s Plaza in Whistler Village up to Olympic Station. It was North America’s first eight-person chairlift for Vail Resorts when it opened in December 2023, and it carries a large share of the village-side traffic alongside the Village Gondola.
Because it runs below treeline on the sheltered north side and serves beginner and lower-mountain terrain, it is not usually a snow-limited lift. Its predecessor was an opening-day lift in 2022-23.
A quirk worth knowing: its red terminals are because the machine was originally ordered as Silverlode 8 for Park City.
Fitzsimmons 8 Express at a glance
| Lift type | Eight-person high-speed detachable, Doppelmayr D-Line |
|---|---|
| Built | 2023, replacing the 1999 Fitzsimmons Express quad |
| Vertical rise | 347 m |
| Length | 1,745 m |
| Ride time | About 6 minutes 20 seconds |
| Capacity | 3,300 people per hour |
| Terrain served | Village base to Olympic Station — beginner and lower-mountain green and blue terrain, north-facing |
| Summer | Runs for the bike park, carrying five bikes per chair |
Historical opening dates
Whistler Blackcomb does not publish a per-lift opening archive, so these dates come from the resort’s own Terrain Alert announcements and from archived snapshots of its lift status feed.
| Season | Opened | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2022-23 | 24 November 2022 | Opening-day lift (the old Fitzsimmons Express quad) |
| 2023-24 | 12 December 2023 | Mid-season debut of the new eight-pack at 9:30 am |
| 2024-25 | By 26 December 2024 | Running through the season |
| 2025-26 | By 1 January 2026 | Still closed on 2 December |
| 2026-27 | 20 November 2026 expected | Target opening day |
What Fitzsimmons 8 Express needs to open
Fitzsimmons runs below treeline on sheltered north-facing terrain and benefits from snowmaking, so it is rarely the lift holding up an opening. Its lower runs do need cover, so in a very thin start it may lag the Village Gondola by a few days.
What to expect for 2026-27
Whistler Blackcomb has confirmed a target opening day of Friday 20 November 2026, conditions permitting.
Treat every date on this page as a planning window rather than a fixed commitment. Lift openings are decided on the morning, on the basis of snow depth, avalanche control work, wind and visibility.
When does Fitzsimmons 8 Express close?
Fitzsimmons closes with Whistler Mountain, in recent years between 14 and 21 April. It then runs through summer for the Whistler Mountain Bike Park, typically opening in May.
Common questions
When does Fitzsimmons Express open at Whistler?
Normally on Whistler Mountain’s opening day. The current eight-person lift debuted mid-season on 12 December 2023 because it was a new build; in a normal season expect it from opening day.
Why are the Fitzsimmons chairs red?
The lift was originally ordered as Silverlode 8 for Park City, which is why its terminals and chairs arrived in red rather than Whistler Blackcomb’s usual colours.
Does Fitzsimmons run in summer?
Yes. It serves the Whistler Mountain Bike Park through the summer, carrying five bikes per chair.