- Mt. Southington, Connecticut to replace Stardust‘s return terminal this fall, followed by the drive terminal and towers in future years.
- Nederland, Colorado provides an update on the stalled Eldora acquisition.
- Alterra names an outsider as CEO.
- An update on Eagle Point fire recovery.
- Berkshire East secures a $4.5 million grant for battery storage technology.
- Snowmass to use batteries as a backup system on the Elk Camp Express.
- A lawsuit filed by someone who fell from a lift at Willamette Pass, Oregon is thrown out.
News
News Roundup: Elk
- Grouse Mountain installs new CWA Kronos cabins on the Red Skyride.
- Despite a pending legal challenge, Park City announces 2027 construction of the long-delayed Silverlode eight place and Eagle six pack.
- Park City also plans a systems modernization on Crescent Express as part of Vail’s approximately $232 million 2027 capital plan.
- Vail reports fiscal year 2026 resort EBITDA down 11.7% and season pass sales for 26/27 down 12 percent in units and 6 percent in dollars.
- Oasis Management increases its ownership stake in Vail Resorts to 9 percent.
- After 15 months and $2.5 million, the Eldora sale requires restructuring and may never close without additional funding.
- Quebec’s CMSQ signs two more mountains to its new multi-mountain pass, La Passe Monts Québec.
- Winter Park replaces the pay-to-play Reserve Pass with “Rope Drop Club,” a free program that rewards passholders who ski early season with line cutting days later in the season.
- The Winter Park community could fund a $120 million gondola from town to the ski area via local taxes.
- International visits to the United States are on track to decline by nearly two million this year.
- Killington explains why maintaining a network of fixed-grip lifts remains important in the East.
- The Forest Service hears objections to the proposed Grand Targhee expansion and eyes resolution.
- Doppelmayr submits the apparent low bid to replace the chairlift at Hogadon, Wyoming.
- Cochran’s, Vermont might be up to something.
- From the classifieds: 1989 Doppelmayr quad for sale.
- Holiday Mountain names its new Partek triple Quickway, renames its Poma triple Neversink.
Sightseeing Tram Proposed Near Glacier National Park
Pursuit Attractions and Hospitality today submitted a proposal to build an aerial tram near Hungry Horse, Montana. The 100 passenger Glacier View Tram would carry riders up Columbia Mountain, located just 10 minutes from the west entrance to Glacier National Park. The jig-back system would operate year-round and ascend more than 3,000 vertical feet in six minutes, traveling at 1,900 feet per minute. It would occupy federal land and require approval from the Flathead National Forest. The Forest Service rejected a similar proposal in 2022.
Denver-based Pursuit already operates sightseeing ropeways in Banff and Jasper, Alberta as well as hotels and attractions around Glacier and Waterton parks. The new tram’s valley station would sit on a Forest Service parcel adjacent to US Highway 2 and include walking trails, a full-service restaurant, retail space, day-use parking, guest services and a visitor information center. The tram would rise from the valley and cross the Flathead River with views of Glacier. Near the top, it would pass a single, tall tower before terminating on a shoulder 1,000 feet below Columbia Mountain’s summit. The ADA-accessible upper station would include a small cafe, skywalk and hiking trails. “The tram’s single-tower design would minimize land disturbance, and its placement would help reduce visual impact, noted Pursuit. “The top station would be powered by renewable energy and equipped with composting toilet systems.” No roads are planned to the top or tower with construction utilizing similar techniques as the new Big Sky tram. Pursuit estimates the project would create 100 direct jobs and support 130 more in the area.
“We are excited to bring forward a proposal that would introduce a new and accessible way for visitors of all ages and abilities to enjoy the beautiful landscape of Glacier National Park and surrounding areas,” said David Barry, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pursuit. “With a long history operating in some of the world’s most iconic destinations, we understand that proposing a new experience on National Forest land carries a responsibility to the land, wildlife and the people who live and work here. We look forward to supporting the Forest Service’s review process as they evaluate our proposal.”
News Roundup: Northwest
- Public backlash quashes the Rock City, Georgia gondola project as currently designed.
- Revelstoke Mountain Resort tells local elected officials CA$120 million in new lift and snowmaking infrastructure depends mostly on real estate sales.
- The ski industry pushes back on proposed elimination of seasonal time changes.
- A wild viral video shows a haul rope being cut with an angle grinder on a decommissioned lift in France.
- Vail and Booth Creek visionary George Gillett, Jr. dies at 87.
- Eagle Point shares a fire recovery update.
- Goldbelt shares a Juneau tram crash recovery update.
- The lawsuit threatening Park City’s Iron Mountain Express heads to mediation.
- The activist investor seeking to influence Vail Resorts buys more shares.
- Snow Trails, Ohio to install new chairs on Alpine and tower heads on Silver.
- Loveland to replace Lift 2 with a Leitner-Poma detachable quad in a new alignment.
News Roundup: Public Funds
- After bids came in higher than expected for a new Cannon tram, New Hampshire looks for cost savings and more funding.
- As one of Waterville Valley’s owners runs for Senate, a political reporter outlines $28 million in government loan guarantees, pandemic assistance and grants to the resort and town over the past 15 years.
- The Government of Ontario considers a five station transit gondola on the Canadian side of Niagara Falls.
- The proposed Silvertip Gondola in Alberta receives key All Seasons Resort designation.
- Oasis Management officially files with the SEC to try and win seats on the Vail Resorts board.
- Alterra pulls back the Reserve Pass line cutting program at several mountains including Crystal and Solitude.
- MND opens a new subsidiary focused on Africa and India.
- A Minnesota state agency seeks a new operator for Giants Ridge. As part of the RFP, a master plan is revealed including a high speed quad replacing both Helsinki and Chamonix, Helsinki moving to replace Calgary plus a new south quad and beginner triple.
Doppelmayr Reports Strong Financial Results
The Doppelmayr Group today reported positive results for fiscal year 2025-26, representing April 2025 through March 2026. The firm realized 109 ropeway systems and 45 logistics projects across 25 countries with revenue of €1.306 billion (US$1.506 billion). That represents a 9.1 percent increase versus fiscal year 2024-25. Employee headcount rose 5.4 percent to 3,987 FTEs worldwide. Doppelmayr does not publicly release profit figures.
Switzerland, France and Italy together comprised the largest share of revenue at approximately $467 million, with the marquee Campitello–Col Rodella 3S opening in the Dolomites and the first TRI-Line debuting in Hoch-Ybrig, Switzerland. The United States and Canada together formed Doppelmayr’s second largest market with approximately $346 million in revenue. Major projects here included the Explorer Gondola at Big Sky Resort and East Village Gondola at Deer Valley. Doppelmayr’s home market of Austria represented approximately $286 million or 19 percent of revenue. Latin America, Southeast Asia and Central/Eastern Europe each accounted for under five percent while the rest of the world made up 15 percent of revenue. “Our markets once again proved very robust in the business year 2025/26,” noted Thomas Pichler, Managing Director of Doppelmayr Holding SE. “We successfully implemented numerous extraordinary projects extending from Austria and the entire Alpine region to North America and Asia. This broad international positioning provides stability while also opening up new opportunities for further growth.”
The company described current conditions in certain markets as “challenging.” In the United States and Canada, project count is down about 20 percent this calendar year from last year. Doppelmayr remains bullish on the future, however. The 133-year-old company expects to open new country headquarters and manufacturing hubs in Salt Lake City, Utah and Saint-Jérôme, Québec next month. “With its strong market position, innovative technologies, and broad international footprint, the Doppelmayr Group considers itself well equipped for the future,” Doppelmayr said. “In the years ahead, the company will continue to invest strategically in research and development, digitalization, and the further development of its sites and employees.”
News Roundup: Proxy Fight
- Indy Pass adds Smugglers’ Notch, Vermont; Mt. Pisgah, New York; Winter4Kids, New Jersey; Spring Mountain, Pennsylvania; Veterans Memorial, New Hampshire and Ski Saint-Bruno, Quebec plus new international partners.
- Ikon Pass adds Caberfae Peaks, Michigan and Snowy Range, Wyoming as two day bonus mountains alongside new Asia partners.
- Manning Park. BC’s new master plan includes replacements for Blue and the T-Bar as well as a new terrain pod.
- 5,800 acres surrounding closed Big Tupper, New York to go up for auction.
- A pivotal vote regarding the proposed Rock City, Georgia gondola to take place September 21st.
- Canada imposes new tariffs on certain US goods including chairlifts, surface lifts and funiculars.
- Developers break ground on Aspen’s new Lift One base area with completion expected in 2030.
- A hotel project causes a gondola tower to shift in Romania.
- New carrier auctions: gondola cabins in Telluride, chairs from Seven Springs.
- Alterra outlines $350 million in CapEx this year.
- Wisp replaces two towers on Lift 4.
- A gondola could link Québec City and Lévis over the St. Lawrence River.
- An activist investor nominates a slate of candidates for the Vail Resorts board.
- A criminal investigation is opened following a chairlift death at Vorlage, Quebec last winter, though no charges have been filed.
News Roundup: Apparent Low Bidder
- Doppelmayr/Garaventa submits the apparent low bid to rebuild the Cannon Mountain tram for $44.6 million, 36 percent above the state’s estimate. Leitner-Poma’s $49.5 million bid comes in 50 percent higher than estimated.
- Bromley to replace the Plaza double with a rope tow.
- Park City’s twice approved Eagle and Silverlode replacements face yet another lawsuit.
- Indy Pass adds Ski Land and Skeetawk, Alaska; Showdown, Montana; Kendall Mountain, Colorado; Frost Fire, North Dakota; King Pine, New Hampshire; Powder Ridge, Connecticut and Mont Kanasuta, Quebec plus international partners with more to come next week.
- Indy loses Midwest mountains Caberfae Peaks, Michigan and Crystal Ridge, Little Switzerland & Nordic Mountain, Wisconsin.
- Telluride’s planned gondola replacement may not receive federal transit funding due to political optics, Buy America requirements and flat ridership on the current system.
- An update on the Stagecoach Mountain Ranch private ski area approval process.
- Several riders fall from the beach chairlift at Seaside Heights, New Jersey.
- Loon Mountain unveils a 272 acre, lift free expansion and new trail map.
- Brundage ends summer early due to a lift issue.
- Alterra will move to downtown Denver.
- Two of Vail Resorts’ three Australia mountains close weeks early due to snowmelt.
News Roundup: Ontario
- A gyrocopter crashes into a utility aerial tram at an Italian dam, killing two onboard the aircraft.
- A French aerial tramway strikes a construction crane, injuring 23 onboard the tram.
- In just nine months, an urban gondola in Paris becomes the most-ridden lift in Europe with over two million passengers.
- The Governor of Utah criticizes MIDA, a state entity started to support the military but now involved with Deer Valley East, Sundance expansion and a proposed data center.
- Vail Resorts faces a shareholder lawsuit.
- Doppelmayr Canada and Gondola Ventures sign a letter of intent to explore aerial gondola transport in Wasaga Beach, Ontario.
- Mt. Jefferson, Maine hits the market.
- Black Mountain to add a mid-station to the existing Triple Chair for beginners.
- Indy Pass teases “huge news” and new partners coming next week.
- Mission Ridge, Washington and Blacktail Mountain, Montana will not be part of the Indy Pass for 2026-27.
- Snow Partners adds seven new mountains to Snow Triple Play and introduces a new frequency product called Snow Pass with western resorts Monarch and Snow King.
- Maverick Mountain begins fundraising to replace its lift that burned down earlier this month.
- Attractions operator Pursuit shares plans to replace both the Jasper SkyTram and Banff Gondola by 2030.
- Tremblant begins preliminary work on the Timber expansion first announced in March 2020.
- A small wildfire closes Park City Mountain for a day.
News Roundup: Scotch Valley
- Skeetawk, Alaska begins cutting trails for a mid mountain lift.
- Sir Sam’s, Ontario seeks the public’s help to name a new quad chair.
- Aspen Mountain eyes 2029 for a replacement lift 1A.
- Several large gondola projects take shape in India with more to come.
- The Trump Administration moves to repeal the roadless rule, potentially boosting ski expansion opportunities in National Forests.
- Saudi Arabia’s mega ski resort project is dead.
- Reed Hastings talks about his continued buildout of private skiing at Powder.
- Bluewood, Washington receives more parts from Austria but not in time for a used high speed quad to be completed this summer.
- Building a multi-stage gondola from Main Street Park City to Deer Valley’s Snow Park Village and Richardson Flat Park & Ride could cost $73-95 million.
- BC filmmakers plan a documentary about the unsolved Sea to Sky Gondola cable cuts in 2019 and 2020.
- The current owner of closed Scotch Valley, New York to run the chairlift for the community one day only next week.
