Constructed by Doppelmayr CTEC in 2003, the Champagne Express truly was a transformative lift. Prior to 2003, the terrain was served by a 1975 Doppelmayr center-pole double (Horizon), and a 1984 T-Bar (Champagne). The Horizon chair ran up the current lower liftline, ending around where the Elkhorn hut sits. The Champagne T-Bar started around the Elkhorn hut, and terminated higher than the current detachable does.
The consolidation of these two lifts brought about a much faster route up to the summit, and makes lapping this terrain fairly enjoyable and easy to do so. I see this lift lasting Panorama many years, and no replacement or upgrade should be needed for quite awhile.