From The Ski Hill To The Pool Deck

Preserving History & Honoring Memory

This project started with something special: an old chair lift from the mid-1960s, originally from Heavenly’s North Side. The owner’s father-in-law had been restoring it for years, with the dream of eventually turning it into a functional bench. After sitting for decades, the project was finally ready to move forward—and that’s when it came to us.

They had an idea in mind: a bench, possibly with an umbrella, that could live as a unique piece of patio furniture. While the vision wasn’t fully defined yet, they knew they wanted it to be both functional and meaningful.

Designing with Structure and Style in Mind

Because the design wasn’t locked in, we had the opportunity to step back and really think through what would work best—not just visually, but structurally as well.

We:

• Cut off part of the hanging arm to improve balance and stability

• Added new legs and feet, converting the chair lift into a free-standing bench that could sit securely on the ground

• Applied primer to the legs for protection and longevity

• Drilled holes for adjustable feet, allowing the bench to sit level on uneven ground

• Added caps to the feet to keep out the spiders and snakes

  
  

Every modification was made with care, preserving the character of the original chair lift while giving it a new purpose.

A New Life, Grounded

What was once suspended high above the snow is now grounded as one-of-a-kind bench—something that tells a story while still being practical. Projects like this are some of our favorites: creative, personal, and rooted in history.