GON-do-la or gon-DO-la?
Yesterday, I promised that I'd let you in on some of the cool stuff at Heavenly that was there before the upgrades and additions for the 2007-08 season.
Well, one of the coolest of the cool is the gondola that takes off right from the Heavenly Village, just off the main strip at the state line between Nevada and California.
In December of 2000, the gondola took its maiden voyage as the first feature of the $250 million Park Avenue Redevelopment project. It was December 22, and SLT Mayor Hal Cole declared that "The city will change like it hasn't changed since the 1960 Squaw Valley Olympics." He may be right- just across the street, the redevelopment is continuing apace, as they've finally started on the convention center that has been in discussion for so many years.
To those in the news biz, the day was reminiscent of another December day, 38 years earlier, when the Heavenly Valley Tram took its test run from the base of the hill up at the end of Ski Run Boulevard.
And to those in the ski industry, it brought to mind 1959, when efforts were made to connect the casino corridor area at Stateline with the mountain- Jack Van Sickle cut a line of trees that was never eventually used for a lift, but the bare strip is still visible on the mountainside- in fact, it's a favorite landmark for the tour guides on the Tahoe sternwheelers to point out from the middle of the lake.
Fun facts:
- The gondola cabins are built to handle eight passengers
- They climb 2.4 miles up the mountain in a time of 12 minutes
- Halfway up the ascent is The Deck - a 14,000 square foot mid-station observation platform, located at 9,123 feet, offering views of the Carson Valley, Desolation Wilderness and shore-to-shore views of Lake Tahoe.
Now, all of this hype for the gondola having been presented please note: Summer hours continue through October 15, said hours being Thursday through Sunday, from 10 am to 4 pm.
Beginning October 16, the gondola will be closed for maintenance until Heavenly opens for the 2007-08 snow season on November 16.
