Want To Own a Piece of Lake Tahoe History? Iconic Chairlift Hits Auction Block

California's Homewood is bidding farewell to its iconic Madden Chair to make way for a new generation of lift.



The Yan triple chair has served Homewood's terrain since 1982, when it replaced the original Madden Ridge double chair. Since then, it's become one of California's oldest chairlifts and delivered some of the most beautiful views of the Tahoe Basin.



While its removal is certainly bittersweet, lovers of the Madden chair now have the chance to own a piece of it. Homewood is auctioning off 100 of the lift's historic chairs to the public. A portion of the auction proceeds will be donated to Sierra Community House to support hunger relief, family resources, and legal assistance in the local community.



The auction opened on April 15 and will run until April 26, 2026, at 5 p.m. PDT. Chairs are being auctioned individually, with bids starting at $650.



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In place of the Madden chair, Homewood is building a new 8-person gondola from Doppelmayr.



The new gondola is slated to open in 2026. Homewood also recently upgraded its snowmaking system to a state-of-the-art, fully automated system, which will hopefully result in a longer, more consistent seasonal snowpack.



Homewood closed for the 2025/26 season on March 17 due to low snowfall and warm temperatures. Clearly, preparations are already well underway for the 2026/27 season and the debut of the resort's brand-new gondola.

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This story was originally published April 17, 2026 at 3:21 AM.