A cabin from The Silver Bullet, the first eight-person gondola ever built, is being auctioned off May 1. The Steamboat Resort in Colorado earlier retired the Silver Bullet and auctioned off all the original cars. The Colorado Group Realty Charitable Foundation is donating for auction the retired gondola it acquired, to support nonprofit organizations stretched because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 1.3 km Merritts Gondola in Australia is on track to complete construction by end of May 2020. The 45 towers and top station are completed and Doppelmayr is currently working on installing the haul rope. Next steps include placing the eight-person gondola cabins on the line and running test operations, allowing it to be operational by the start of Australia’s winter on June 1.
The Obudu Ranch Resort in Nigeria repaired its cable car with government help. The governor of Cross River is committed to reviving the mountain resort. Improvements to the cable car, facilities, and power are almost complete, in anticipation of returning the resort to one of Nigeria’s finest tourism destinations.
The Palm Springs Aerial Tram in California joins the “Light It Blue” campaign. The tramway’s mountain station has been lit blue in tribute to health care workers. The blue light will continue to shine for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Simon Fraser University students share their preference for Gondola alignment. Of the three routes being evaluated, the majority of students and campus community members favored the first alignment. The first route is a 2.7 km straight line connection. It will remove less trees than other options but would travel over a housing development. Other alternatives avoid homes but require more clearing of trees. The decision on the ultimate alignment will include considerations related to environmental issues, disruptions to nearby residences, safety, and cost.