- 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.
Maverick Mountain
News Roundup: Dreamer
- Italian ski operators settle an antitrust probe with a €30 million compensation fund.
- Bartholet unveils its next generation detachable utilizing HTI’s Ropera technology with Arosa, Switzerland the launch customer.
- Alterra lays off employees in both corporate and destination roles.
- Voting opens for this year’s SAM Rise Up Challenge with six resorts in the running.
- A Leitner urban gondola stops and shakes but otherwise fares well during a severe earthquake in Cali, Colombia.
- A China-Russia tramway originally set to be built by Poma will finally be completed this year.
- The future longest monocable gondola goes vertical in Dominica.
- Photos show fire severed the haul rope on Maverick Mountain’s chairlift, scattering chairs everywhere.
- Eagle Point’s owner updates the public on the path path to fire recovery.
- Loon Mountain says goodbye to the Little Sister double.
- 49 Degrees North’s new quad to be named Dreamer.
- Thanks to readers Matt and Tyler for these photos of Sugar Bowl’s new gondola.
Wildfire Reaches Montana’s Maverick Mountain
Another wildland fire reached a western ski area last night, this time Maverick Mountain. The community ski area near Dillon, Montana posted this morning that “with heavy hearts, we are sad to say the Sand Creek Fire is actively inside the ski area boundary.” The main lodge remained standing, but the area’s lone chairlift sustained unknown damage. “We won’t know the extent of the damages until we regain access to the property,” said the ski area. Maverick’s chairlift dates back to 1969 and was already eyed for eventual replacement. In 2024, Maverick acquired Poma quads from both Aspen Mountain and Jackson Hole with hopes of combining them into one lift.
The Sand Creek Fire started on August 1st and has burned nearly 20,000 acres. Today’s news follows a similar story out of Utah, where the Cottonwood Fire damaged a majority of Eagle Point’s five lifts. Last week the Southern Utah resort announced it wouldn’t open this season due to extensive damage. Across the west, other fires threaten Mt. Hood Meadows in Oregon and Showdown, Montana.
“A big thank you to all the people on the front line and everyone who has helped us this far,” Maverick posted. “Please keep our community in your thoughts.”
News Roundup: Ikon Addition
- Sierra-at-Tahoe joins the Ikon Pass, Taos returns to the Ikon Base Pass.
- Owners of Mt. Norquay, Lake Louise and Sunshine Village express dismay at an American company’s proposed purchase of the Jasper SkyTram.
- Elk Mountain, Pennsylvania is for sale.
- A local group considers bidding for Mt. Bachelor.
- Copper thieves damage the only lift at Blizzard Mountain, Idaho.
- Killington’s future owners promise a massive capital improvement push and numerous lift upgrades, reveal Powdr considered closing the Skyeship Gondola.
- The government of Newfoundland and Labrador tries again to sell money losing Marble Mountain.
- The proposed Shadow Mountain Bike Park in Colorado would include a detachable six pack.
- Mountain Capital Partners seeks a Director of Lifts to oversee maintenance, new installations, used lift sourcing and more.
- Steamboat removes Priest Creek‘s old towers and repairs damage on the Christie Peak Express.
- Aspen Mountain to remove Gent’s Ridge this fall.
- Gent’s Ridge and Jackson Hole’s old Sublette parts will head to Maverick Mountain, Montana.
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