Grand Targhee – Lift Blog

News Roundup: Around the USA

June 19, 2026Peter Landsman7 Comments

Alberta conceptually approves the master plan for a Fortress Mountain reboot.
Waterville Valley and the Forest Service to host a public meeting regarding a proposed gondola on June 26th.
Revelstoke will host an info session on the future of the resort June 24th.
Cannon Mountain issues a request for bids for an 80 passenger tramway reusing certain components from the last tram with an expected completion date of December 1, 2028.
Amid bankruptcy, Whitecap Mountains lists a disused CTEC for sale.
Vail Resorts reportedly hires takeover defense bankers.
Alterra says a new law in Colorado could unlock public funding for a Winter Park town gondola.
Aspen-Pitkin County Airport’s new terminal design leaves room for a future gondola to town.
The federal government will fund a new haul rope for Whaleback, New Hampshire’s double chair.
Both ladder trucks and ropes are used to rescue riders from the skyride at Dutch Wonderland, Pennsylvania.
Teton County, Wyoming plans an objection to Grand Targhee’s expansion plan.
A black bear cub climbs a tower on Whistler’s Fitzsimmons 8.
A new operator plans to reopen Spout Springs, Oregon with help from the family that owns Timberline Lodge.
Big Sky dismantles parts of Powder Seeker to move the top terminal due to ground movement.

Lots of construction pictures from readers this week starting with Deer Valley’s Hail Peak expansion:

Next Caberfae Peaks, Michigan’s expansion lift:

And finally Powderhorn, Colorado’s Wild West Express:

News Roundup: Targhee & Park City Approved

May 29, 2026Peter Landsman23 Comments

Park City’s planning commission approves new Eagle and Silverlode detachables at Park City Mountain.
The Forest Service releases a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Waterville Valley’s proposed village-to-Green Peak gondola.
The Forest Service approves a slew of projects at Grand Targhee including Crazy Horse, Palmer and North Boundary infill lifts, replacements for Dreamcatcher and Shoshone, plus expansion lifts in South Bowl and Mono Trees (all subject to an objection period.)
Timberline Lodge pivots away from a Government Camp gondola to replacing the Summit chair with two longer chairlifts.
Powder Mountain to retire the Sunrise Poma in 2027, removing lift access to Cobabe Canyon for non-homeowners.
PowMow also shifts the planned Doodle beginner lift away from Sundown, new location and timeline to be announced.
The Town of Winter Park considers where to land a gondola.
Doppelmayr undertakes major systems modernizations on aging detachables at Telluride, Bromont, Gunstock and Mt. Bachelor.
Leitner releases its 2025 Reference Book.
Powderhorn to auction Heron-Poma chairs from old West End.
The Goldbelt tram remains closed indefinitely and refunds passholders following last month’s crash. Goldbelt is also hiring for a Tram Maintenance Manager and Tram Maintenance Supervisor.
Even if one municipality says no, a gondola could still work in Rock City, Georgia.
Quebec reports a strong 6.3 million skier visits and record lift ticket revenue.
A storm knocks Tamarack’s Tamarack Express offline (photos below)

News Roundup: On & Off

June 13, 2025June 13, 2025Peter Landsman9 Comments

The first towers and top terminal are set for the new gondola in Idaho Springs, Colorado, which will feature 22 cabins and North America’s first five Bike Cabs.
Winter Park’s proposed town gondola secures local approval.
Also at Winter Park, a draft Forest Service decision green lights removal of Looking Glass, replacement of Gemini, Discovery and Endeavour as well as construction of the Copper Creek six pack (subject to an objection period.)
Holiday Mountain plans to re-use 1969 towers on a new chairlift.
Sommet Saint-Sauveur commissions the first Mantis AI software in North America tied directly into a lift control system.
An update on Deer Valley’s six lifts going in this summer.
Park City flies towers for the Sunrise Gondola.
Utah posts its third highest skier visits in history.
Teton County, Wyoming to oppose Grand Targhee expansion; Teton County, Idaho not sure yet.
The Forest Service approves Sipapu to replace Lift 3 with completion slated for Fall 2025.
The Forest Service hosts a public meeting on the proposed Green Peak gondola.
Jay Peak President and General Manager Steve Wright tells US Senators the Bonaventure replacement is sidelined by Canadians’ redicence to visit and tariff-related cost increases.
Eaglecrest permanently closes the Black Bear double, will focus on upgrading Ptarmigan to a triple and installing a used gondola.
Garaventa and CWA debut tram cabins in Switzerland made to look like wood with flower pots on the ends.

News Roundup: Austrian Giants

May 23, 2025May 23, 2025Peter Landsman9 Comments

Austria’s Saalbach, Zell am See-Kaprun, Mayrhofen, Hintertux and Silvretta Montafon join the Epic Pass as partner resorts, bringing Epic to nine European destinations.
Poma releases its 2024 Reference Book highlighting projects around the world.
Eaglecrest may not meet a 2028 deadline to complete its used pulse gondola.
America’s only summer only ski area will open this year for the first time in three.
Whaleback meets a $250,000 fundraising goal for lift repairs.
Opposition organizes against proposed Grand Targhee expansion.
Bluewood, Washington to sell chairs if its new lift project is on track by September 1st.
Hawaii’s first gondola is proposed on the North Shore of Oahu.
A gondola is floated for Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
Also Anaheim, California.
Marmot Basin’s visitation drops 30 percent due to last year’s fire in Jasper.
Silver Mountain delays summer opening due to gondola repairs.
Timberline Helicopters, the company that installs the majority of lift towers in the West, breaks ground on a $13 million expansion in North Idaho.
The nonprofit organization that’s been trying to revive Cuchara, Colorado inks a 40 year operating lease for the mountain.
Vail Mountain intends to begin work on the lift projects I wrote about last week next summer, subject to Forest Service approval.
President Trump proposes a 50 percent tariff on imports from the European Union starting June 1st.

News Roundup: USFS

March 28, 2025Peter Landsman18 Comments

The Forest Service approves three lift projects at Taos, including a base to base gondola.
Red Lodge Mountain reopens all lifts except the Triple Chair involved in last month’s fatal incident.
The widow of the man killed at Red Lodge hires a law firm and engineer to look into the circumstances.
Telluride Ski Resort declines to help fund a new Mountain Village gondola so the town looks to pass a lift ticket tax.
Powder Mountain to construct a new lift in Wolf Canyon/DMI.
A child falls from a lift at Park City.
An urban gondola is floated in Denver.
Cataloochee, North Carolina lists parts from the Omigosh double for sale.
New York’s state-owned ski areas report visitation up over 3 percent this season with revenue up more than 8 percent.
Black Mountain, New Hampshire delays going to a co-op model, will continue to be run by Indy Pass for now.
Whaleback, NH passes $100,000 toward its goal of $250,000 to continue operations.
The Caribou-Targhee National Forest weighs whether to change its forest plan to accommodate Grand Targhee’s proposed South Bowl and/or Mono Trees expansions.
The Arapaho National Forest releases the Draft Environmental Assessment for Winter Park’s proposed Gemini Gondola, Copper Creek South chairlift, Looking Glass replacement, Endeavour replacement and Discovery replacement.
Park City shutters Sunrise to resume construction of the Sunrise Gondola.

News Roundup: Riverbanks

March 21, 2025March 21, 2025Peter Landsman11 Comments

19 deluxe cabins arrive stateside for South Carolina’s only gondola.
Ragged Mountain goes on the market.
Leitner-Poma posts an ad hiring lift installers for a project at Crystal Mountain, Washington.
A widow sues Breckenridge following her husband’s fatal fall from the Zendo chair, alleging “an unreasonable amount of snow and ice accumulation.”
Purgatory acknowleges belt tightening on the mountain as it renegotiates long term debt.
The Forest Service shows two Mission Ridge expansion proposals as canceled.
The Forest Service releases a Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Grand Targhee’s proposed expansion including three pared down alternatives.
Big Sky raises $150,000 for charity selling Explorer chairs.
An idea to connect two Seattle neighborhoods by gondola resurfaces.
Leitner teases a “New Era of Ropeways” coming at Interalpin.
Relations sour between the Town of Mountain Village and Telluride Ski Resort owner Chuck Horning with the Town Manager giving a lengthy speech about problems at the resort.
Skeetawk, Alaska’s only chairlift shuts down for a multi-week repair.
Stowe’s FourRunner quad has been out of service all week.
Vail reopens Riva Bahn after a two week gearbox rebuild.
Kicking Horse’s gondola remains closed indefinitely; the resort will transport gear up to Stairway to Heaven free of charge but guests still have to walk there.
Vail Resorts presents its strategic vision to investors.

News Roundup: To the Polls

November 18, 2022Peter Landsman16 Comments

Park City lift mechanics and electricians will vote whether to unionize early next week.
Charges against four Marines are dropped after they pay more than $18,000 in restitution for allegedly causing a lift deropement at the San Diego Zoo.
Alta modifies operations and offers passholders refunds due to the delayed Sunnyside lift project.
Sierra at Tahoe will reopen December 3rd following 15 months of fire recovery efforts.
A progress report on Copper Mountain’s Alpine terminal replacement project.
Grand Targhee debuts a new VistaMap.
Disciples 8 shows up on the Boyne Mountain trail map.
Echo Mountain and Granby Ranch become the latest Colorado resorts to join the Indy Pass.
Mammoth Mountain looks to replace the Panorama Gondola with a realigned 10 passenger version.
Vail Resorts CEO Kirsten Lynch reflects on last season and details what the company is doing to make this season better.
Northern Virginia Magazine profiles the successful rebirth of Timberline Mountain under the Perfect family.
A new owner takes a majority stake in Massif du Sud, promising new investment.
Resorts are still flying towers for new lifts including Red Dog at Palisades, Hidden Valley at Snoqualmie and La Laurentienne at Sommet Gabriel.
Construction continues on two new lifts at Vail, with completion expected in December.
Whistler Blackcomb and Doppelmayr expect the delayed Creekside Gondola haul rope to arrive today.
Reflecting on the Lone Peak Tram as it enters its final season.
Frost Fire, North Dakota won’t open this season.
Closed Holiday Mountain, Manitoba plans to reopen under new ownership.
Searchmont updates guests on numerous lift projects around the mountain.
Redevelopment of Big Squaw is cancelled due to failed negotiations with the current owner and global financial conditions.

News Roundup: Bike Season

July 8, 2022Peter Landsman8 Comments

Mt. Holiday, Michigan seeks $4 million for lift and mountain improvements.
The Government of Venezuela reportedly owes Doppelmayr more than €100 million and now sources parts and service from Chinese companies.
The Arizona Gondola misses Independence Day weekend and remains closed due to a mechanical issue.
Doppelmayr will open a substantial parts and service facility in Mexico to serve the growing Latin American market.
Bolton Valley opens late for summer due to a lift part supply issue.
The Forest Service seeks a new operator for Spout Springs, Oregon.
Grand Targhee and Doppelmayr fly towers for the Colter expansion.
Critics allege the Little Cottonwood 3S gondola would cost more than a billion dollars.
Mammoth Mountain seeks Forest Service approval for lift and trail development surrounding the Main Lodge.
Sierra at Tahoe posts another fire recovery update.
Thanks to Aidan Wilson for the below photos of Utah Olympic Park’s big expansion.

News Roundup: All Over

April 15, 2022Peter Landsman22 Comments

The Disney Skyliner suffers a minor breakdown.
Construction resumes on the first MND/Bartholet detachable in the Americas.
Two are dead following a collision and multi-day helicopter evacuation of a sightseeing gondola in India.
Park City needs more time to present its upcoming lift projects at a public hearing.
Issues with multiple lifts spell the end of Marble Mountain’s season.
I recently joined the Powder Hounds Ski Trivia Podcast to talk lifts.
Sunlight purchases Arapahoe Basin’s Lenawee Mountain triple to replace Segundo; Primo will be next.
The name for Grand Targhee’s new lift on Peaked Mountain will be Colter.
Paris selects a cabin design for its upcoming urban gondola system.
Juneau moves ahead with purchasing a used Austrian gondola.
A construction update on SkyLand Ranch, Tennessee, which will include a SkyTrans combination lift.
Vail Resorts bags summer operations at Attitash to focus on lift maintenance and construction.
Sugarloaf details plans for two new lifts over the next two summers.
Leitner-Poma of America launches a new website.
Big Sky profiles the maintenance manager of one of America’s largest lift fleets.
Sunshine Village posts fun facts about its chairlift system.
Former Jay Peak head Bill Stenger is sentenced to 18 months in prison for the fraud scheme involving the mountain and a biomedical research facility.
A publicly-funded study says a gondola would be the best option for sightseeing above Butte, Montana.
Cuchara looks to reopen one chairlift this summer.
A tram or gondola is considered for Half Moon Bay, California.
One of the Roosevelt Island Tramway‘s stations will receive a $7 million renovation.

News Roundup: Letters from the Top

January 21, 2022Peter Landsman13 Comments

Vail removes the East and West doubles from the Attitash trail map, replacing them with the Progression Quad to be built this summer.
Vail sends resources from California and Colorado to help open lifts at Stevens Pass.
The Wall Street Journal interviews Kirsten Lynch about Vail’s challenging start to the season.
Vail Resorts expects to save millions of kilowatt hours of electricity annually by installing heat controls on 40 Vail Mountain and Beaver Creek lifts.
Doppelmayr will build Stowe’s Mountain six passenger lift at a cost of $5.2 million.
Pine Knob says it will be without Chair 1 for a few weeks due to a mechanical issue.
Berkshire East and Catamount owner Jon Schaefer apologizes for project delays including two used lifts which have yet to open.
Mission Ridge continues to criticize the approval process for its long-sought expansion.
A man falls from the new Peru Express at Keystone.
Bighorn Sheep concerns may quash Grand Targhee’s expansion dreams.
Mt. Rose retires the Lakeview triple early due to “maintenance items that can’t be rectified.”
Jay Peak updates guests on a Bonaventure quad gearbox issue.
The only MND lift in the western United States has been down since last weekend.
The latest bold plan from Les Otten would see skiing return to The Balsams in late 2023.
A letter to Loon Mountain passholders acknowledges challenges with the new Kancamagus 8 lift.
A quad chairlift is rope evacuated by firefighters at Earl Bales Park, Ontario.
Timberline President Jeff Kohnstamm says a Government Camp gondola is still a number of years out but would include a mid-station, direct drive and 10 passenger cabins.

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