BEND, OR -- Thousands of Mt. Bachelor fans are trying to get a piece of history. General Manager John Merriman says entries are pouring in for the chance to buy a chair from the decommissioned Skyliner Lift. "The price is $500. It’s in support of our Play Forever fund, with all proceeds going directly to Vamanos Outside," he tells KBND News, "They support local Latinx families and community members, and help them get into the outdoors. So what they’re going to be using this funding for is a purchase of a new van, to visit local rivers and hiking trails in a much more reliable van." 

Merriman says only 50 of Skyliner’s 120 chairs will be sold because the four-packs are still compatible with other lifts on the mountain, "So, we have to hold some back to use for maintenance. And then, we’ve also set some aside for employees and valued partners." The lottery opened Tuesday, and Merriman says they received a massive response in just the first day, "We feel like this is a great way for our community to own a piece of Mt. Bachelor. We have already had over 5,000 people requesting a chair. So the response has been absolutely overwhelming." 

The chairs are roughly 7' x 2.5' x 5' and weigh around 200 pounds each. Lottery winners who choose to purchase a chair must be able to haul it away. 

"It’s not that often that we have something like this available. I think it’s super cool to have one of these in your backyard," says Merriman. Entries will be accepted through 4 p.m. Friday, "Of course, we’ve had over 5,000 entries. I am sure we will get plenty more. But stay tuned, because if you don’t get this, we may have a little something else up our sleeves."

Construction began in the spring on the new Skyliner Lift, with its larger six-pack chairs, with opening slated for just before Christmas.