Matt Zando, right, of Auburn and Lost Valley owner Scott Shanaman ride the first chair Tuesday after chairlift No. 3 opened at the ski area in Auburn. Zando, a 1999 graduate of Edward Little High School, bid $1,000 to ride the first chair. Pat's Pizza in Auburn matched Zando's $1,000 and the $2,000 was donated to Central Maine Adaptive Sports. Zando could pick anyone to ride the first chair with him. He chose Shanaman. Daryn Slover/Sun Journal

AUBURN — Lost Valley Ski & Snowboard Area took another big step toward a viable future with the opening of a third double chairlift Tuesday, marking the first time since 1972 that a lift has been installed in the valley.

Ten years ago, the future was murky for Lost Valley. Its finances were dire, and the popular recreation spot was facing closure. Scott Shanaman and his wife, April, saw something in the small ski area, stepped in and purchased it in 2015. Since then, the Shanamans have slowly and steadily made improvements and upgrades to breathe new life into the business and position it for the future.

“We are so excited for the continued investment in this business, which you have diversified and done an amazing thing with,” said Shanna Cox, Lewiston-Auburn Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce CEO and president, referring to Shanaman and his family who were present for the opening.

Auburn Mayor Jeff Harmon also braved the chill to support Lost Valley. “This is going to be a great addition to the slope, great thing for the community, it’s a great, growing business in the community,” he said.

Calling it a great addition to the Maine ski scene, Dirk Gouwens, executive director of Ski Maine Association, offered his congratulations to Lost Valley. “It’s been a great project for you guys and it certainly shows that your investments in this community have really paid off.”

This year alone Lost Valley installed and extended its snowmaking capabilities, widened some trails and opened a new run, added lighting to areas that were previously unlit, moved the terrain park, eliminated the tubing feature and now chairlift No. 3. The investment this year is about $1 million.

“It’s been calculated, Shanaman said after his inaugural ride up the lift. “You know, we’re a family-run business … you can throw tens of millions of dollars at something like this … everything that we’ve done has been trying to be within budget but calculated to improve for the next thing.”

The chairlift, which Shanaman bought from Mt. Southington in Connecticut two years ago, was regalvanized for installation at Lost Valley. It replaces a 1,200-foot-long T-bar installed in 1962.

As preparation for the new chairlift was underway this summer, Lost Valley General Manager John Herrick told the Sun Journal that because all three chairlifts are the same, the parts are interchangeable and will make maintenance smoother. The additional lift will also spread out the skiers and snowboarders, reducing wait times and thinning congestion.

An auction was held for the first ride on the lift and Matt Zando won with a $1,000 bid, matched by Pat’s Pizza of Auburn, to benefit Central Maine Adaptive Sports. Zando and Scott Shanaman rode the first chair on the lift’s official first run.

Shanaman said their focus in the near future will be on snowmaking. “We have plans to double our water capacity next year. That’s next year’s big project.”

As for the community, Shanaman’s message is simple: “Thank you for supporting us and keep coming out. Whether you want to ski, drink beer, have good food, whatever.”