Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
Month: February 2024
Legoland New York Announces Minifigure Skyflyer Gondola
The first gondola lift at any Legoland park worldwide will open this summer at Legoland New York, located near the town of Goshen. The Leitner-Poma system will traverse the park with two stations and seven individually-themed gondolas carrying up to 10 passengers each. “There’s a lot to enjoy at Legoland New York, but it’s a big resort and our fans asked us for more ways to move easily from the upper and lower levels of the Park,” said divisional director Stephanie Johnson in a release. “We take our guests’ feedback seriously and the Minifigure Skyflyer gives them a way to do exactly that while igniting creativity, sparking imagination, and inspiring movement through disco and dance.”
Each Sigma cabin will feature a unique and colorful theme. “Guests can expect a fully immersive, interactive experience on the Minifigure Skyflyer from queuing to disembarking,” the park said. “Prior to boarding, guests can help “charge” the cable car batteries through hand-powered cranks then follow the rainbow road before reaching the boarding platform’s disco-themed dance floor.”
Britain-based Merlin Entertainments operates Legoland parks under license from the Lego Group of Denmark. The New York outpost opened in 2021 with a small number of attractions but has continued to grow. Gondola construction is already underway and the new ride is set to debut this summer. In the meantime, Legoland New York has partnered with Belleayre Mountain to offer a preview with two specially-wrapped Legoland gondolas now flying on the mountain’s Catskill Thunder Gondola.
News Roundup: On the Horizon
- Mountain Capital Partners successfully brings back Sandia Peak Ski Area, opening for the first time in three seasons tomorrow.
- Doppelmayr plans a €200 million expansion in Wolfurt to support strong ropeway demand, particularly in North America.
- The Colorado Supreme Court will hear the case of a rider seriously injured falling from Crested Butte’s Paradise Express.
- A skier sues Sun Peaks for a chairlift unloading injury.
- The sale of Jackson Hole to a new ownership group closes.
- Mt. Hood Meadows eyes building a new Lift 15 pod in 2026 and replacing Heather Canyon in 2027.
- Lake Louise continues construction over winter on a UNI-G bubble six pack for next season.
- In China, an unseated passenger is successfully rescued after operators reverse a lift.
- Sugarbush’s new Heaven’s Gate quad will be a Doppelmayr Tristar with loading conveyor costing $3.2 million.
- Teton Pass Ski Area’s owner pens a letter explaining why he was forced to close after just four operating this season.
- Mammoth Mountain’s Broadway Express is expected to close April 1st for removal and replacement.
Tennessee’s Ober Mountain Plans Two New Lifts
A building boom will continue this summer in Gatlinburg, the lift capital of the Southeast. Ober Mountain plans to construct two new Doppelmayr quad chairs replacing aging lifts. The first fixed grip quad will replace the 1981 Borvig Black quad, which services ski runs in the winter and mountain biking trails in the summer. The second new quad will replace the 1962 Carlevaro-Savio Scenic double, which accesses a mountaintop overlook. The two Alpenstar quads will be the first new lifts built at Ober in 43 years.
The news comes on the heels of recent lift projects at Anakeesta, Gatlinburg SkyPark, Harper Brothers Mountain and SkyLand Ranch, all of which operate within a ten mile radius in the Great Smoky Mountains. Ober Mountain operates nearly the entire year with multiple lifts serving skiing, tubing mountain biking, scenic rides and an alpine slide in various seasons. The mountain is in the midst of a multi-year rebirth under a new, local ownership group that has also invested in new snowmaking and downhill bike trails. Doppelmayr expects to begin building the new chairlifts in March with completion scheduled for October.
Instagram Tuesday: Mahogany Ridge
Every Tuesday, I feature my favorite Instagram photos from around the lift world.
Alterra to Buy Arapahoe Basin
Alterra Mountain Company has reached an agreement to acquire Arapahoe Basin, Colorado from Dream Unlimited, a Canadian developer which has owned the Basin since 1997. Alterra did not disclose the sale price but Dream Unlimited said in a release that “management believes this sale will result in after-tax profit of CA$110 million” before closing costs and adjustments. Under Dream, Arapahoe Basin nearly tripled in acreage and replaced its entire lift fleet. “Arapahoe Basin has been a great investment for Dream and one that we are very proud of,” said Michael Cooper, Chief Responsible Officer of Dream. “We have had the honour of taking care of this Resort over the last quarter century, with a constant commitment to the visitor experience. We are thrilled that Alterra recognizes and shares the same values and will continue to foster its unique and incredible culture.”
Arapahoe Basin will become Alterra’s 18th owned destination in North America and third in Colorado when the sale closes later this year. Veteran Chief Operating Officer Al Henceroth will continue to lead A-Basin under Alterra and guide the next phase of capital improvements, to include expanded snowmaking and parking. Henceroth noted on his legendary blog that “it has been a wild and fun 27 years, but it is time for the next step. Through the Ikon Pass, Alterra has created a partnership of the greatest resorts in the world. They know and understand The Basin and are enamored by its culture and vibe. I think they are the best team to help us through our next phase of growth and maturation.”
A-Basin partnered with Alterra to join the Ikon Pass in 2019 and Ikon access will remain unchanged for the current season. In Colorado, Ikon offers unlimited access to Copper Mountain, Eldora, Steamboat and Winter Park along with limited access to Aspen Snowmass and Arapahoe Basin. “Arapahoe Basin is considered legendary for a reason,” said Jared Smith, President & CEO of Alterra Mountain Company. “From its unparalleled terrain, to its commitment to sustainability, A-Basin has a team that has a passion and commitment for this unique place and its traditions, making it an ideal fit for the Alterra Mountain Company family.”
News Roundup: Legoland Gondola
- Nordic Valley should know by March whether Apollo can be repaired or must be replaced. Bridger also remains out of service.
- Wasatch Peaks Ranch resolves its dispute with residents, can resume construction.
- Alterra closes a $3+ billion fundraising round with proceeds going to “building out existing properties plus possible property acquisitions.”
- At Mt. Bachelor, Northwest Express loses its electric motor, will run on diesel at reduced speed for much of the season.
- Big White’s Black Forest Express suffers a similar issue but is back on electric.
- A fan video shows construction has begun on a new Leitner-Poma gondola at Legoland New York.
- Gore Mountain plans to replace all 73 cabins on the Northwoods Gondola with new Sigma cabins at a cost of $3,055,977.
- Heavenly admits responsibility for leaving a guest stranded overnight on a gondola last week.
- A French tram where empty cabins crashed into the stations in 2021 will reopen next year with all new cabins and other upgrades.
- An unseated passenger incident at Mammoth makes global news.
- Politicians fight against a gondola in Los Angeles.
- The New Yorker runs a long-form story on Jay Peak’s EB-5 debacle.
- Bloomberg chronicles Vail Resorts’ trials and tribulations in the Northeast.
- Multiple lifts suffer down time at Park City.
- Roland Bartholet will depart as CEO of Bartholet this month but remain on the board.
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