Silver Star Roundabout Gets New Lift Chairs

January 21 2026 - A new gateway feature is now in place along Silver Star Road as it winds toward SilverStar Mountain Resort, with retired ski lift chairs installed in the centre of the new roundabout at Silver Star Road and Phoenix Drive.

The centerpiece forms part of the Phoenix Drive–Silver Star Road roundabout project and was approved by Vernon council on September 2, 2025, following a report from City infrastructure staff recommending the addition of a visual feature in the centre of the intersection.

The lift chairs were donated by SilverStar Mountain Resort and incorporated into a gateway feature intended to enhance the area’s visual appeal, reinforce community identity, and support tourism as a recognizable entrance to the resort corridor.

While the City has not publicly detailed the specific origin of the chairs, their design appears consistent with fixed-grip double chairlifts commonly used at North American ski resorts from the late 1970s through the 1990s.

That style aligns with chairlift designs referenced in past SilverStar upgrade announcements, when older double chairs were replaced as the resort modernized its lift system.

The centerpiece feature carries an estimated cost of $60,000, which the City says is fully accommodated within the roundabout project’s existing approved budget.

The overall roundabout project is funded through Development Cost Charges (DCCs), with council also authorizing any donations received for the centerpiece to be applied directly to the project.

City staff have said ongoing maintenance of the feature will be comparable to that of a standard landscaped roundabout. Safety considerations were reviewed with municipal insurers, with signage planned to discourage climbing on the structure.

Construction of the roundabout itself was completed in 2025, with the centerpiece installation delayed into early 2026 due to fabrication timelines.

The lift chairs and supporting elements are now fully installed at the intersection.