Blue Mountain Ski Resort dedicated its third and newest high-speed six-passenger lift, the Main Street Express, on Saturday.

Blue Mountain is the only ski resort in Pennsylvania with three high-speed lifts.

“We chose that name because the original lift that went halfway down the mountain is called Main Street,” said Jim Dailey, general manager of Blue Mountain.

Ray Tuthill founded Little Gap Ski Resort in 1977.

“Back then, we used one-third of the mountain. We had three trails and one lift,” Dailey explained. “The Tuthills continued to invest in the resort, expanding to half of the mountain, with more trails and lifts. Now we are on the whole mountain.”

Dailey said the new lift helps in several ways.

“Those trails on the western side of the mountain are now being utilized,” he said. “Skiers like to use the high-speed lifts. It gets people all the way back to the lodge. It gets them up there quick.”

“It’s a high-speed, six-passenger lift, a quick 4-1/2 minute ride from bottom to top,” said Blue Mountain spokesperson Ashley Seier. “It also replaces the two mid-mountain chairs; Main Street and Burma. It’s really going to improve connectivity between our Valley and Summit lodges.”

Blue Mountain also used the event to raise funds for the United Service Organizations (USO). Attending the opening ceremony was Dailey’s brother, Daniel A. Dailey, 15th Sgt. Major of the Army, retired; and Jennifer Hodur, Field Programs Manager of the Pennsylvania and New Jersey USO.

“You and all of your family are taken care of at home,” Hodur said. “If you are deployed or you are serving, your family is serving. We are not a federally-funded organization. Any donations that come in go right back into the program.”

Those attending the program could donate to the USO. From those who donated, six were chosen to be the first six people to ride the Main Street Express. Dina Disney. Gina Mertz. James Locloian. Jono Gorzny. Amy Schmid. and George Husack were the first to ride the lift.