Cook County (trfnews.i234.me) — A chairlift at Lutsen Mountains stopped during rising winds on Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026.
Riders were removed by rope in a full evacuation.
The resort said the Raptor Express will stay closed for several days.
Repair parts are being shipped to Lutsen, Minnesota.
What happened
Lutsen Mountains said a chair became stuck while entering the top terminal.
The chair turned sideways as it reached the unload area.
The lift then could not move.
The resort shut the lift down and started an evacuation.
Lift Blog reporter Peter Landsman said the stop led to a rope rescue.
He wrote that the lift is a 2023 Leitner-Poma high-speed six-seat chairlift.
He also reported that the line has 53 chairs.
How riders got down
Resort staff and ski patrol moved along the lift line.
A local fire department ladder truck also helped.
The lift crosses roadways near the base area.
That access let crews reach some chairs with a ladder.
Other riders were lowered from their chairs with ropes.
Lift Blog said the evacuation took several hours.
Resort updates
In its Mountain Report, Lutsen thanked guests for patience and support.
The resort also thanked patrol, lift, and ops teams.
On Monday, Jan. 19, the resort said Raptor Express remained closed.
It said the Bridge Lift would run in its place.
The resort said Bridge provides access to the same terrain.
The report also warned about extreme cold and wind conditions.
It said the gondola was closed due to those warnings.
Injuries and unanswered questions
The resort has not announced any injuries.
Landsman reported he asked the resort about injuries.
As of Monday, no public update confirmed injuries or a fall.
TRF News has requested more details from the resort.
Learn more
Learn about the lift maker at Leitner-Poma of America.
Check lift and weather updates on Lutsen’s Mountain Report.
Read Lift Blog’s report for added details and photos.
I’m Chris Harper reporting for TRF News.