A rare incident occurred in Colorado on Saturday, December 21. While the details of the incident are still under investigation, the gondola at the Winter Ski Park Resort suddenly shut down just after noon after detecting a crack in a structural component, according to resort spokesperson Jen Miller.
Winter Park Ski Patrollers acted swiftly, accessing each stalled gondola cabin from above. Using harnesses and secure ropes, they carefully lowered around 170 skiers and snowboarders one by one to the ground with safety seats.
Personal gear and equipment were also removed from the cabins and safely transported down. Resort spokesperson Jen Miller told the Associated Press that the operation was executed precisely and adhered to safety protocols, ensuring everyone was brought down without incident. The rescue operation lasted until around 6 pm.
Officials are investigating the cause of the crack that triggered the shutdown. While the gondola remains closed, Winter Park Resort assures visitors that safety remains their top priority and measures are being taken to prevent future incidents.
What else did the Colorado resort spokesperson say about the incident?
The resort spokesperson for Colorado's Winter Park Resort, Jen Miller said that they are in touch with Grand Junction-based Leitner Poma of North America, the gondola’s manufacturer, to source a replacement part. In the meantime, Winter Park Resort has announced that the Arrow and Gemini lifts will remain operational in the base area, ensuring continued access for guests while repairs are underway.
As reported to The Colorado Sun, Miller said that the timeline for repairs remains uncertain as the resort awaits further updates from the supplier. Miller said:
“It’s a bummer for sure. But malfunctions do happen and our teams are trained. It’s not an overnight fix. We’re not sure how long it’s going to take to fix it.”
Miller also mentioned that this incident took place for the first time in 6 years since the gondola started operating in 2018. She also said:
“Ski patrol has trained extensively for this... It’s a very rare thing to have to evacuate a lift at all.”
Some witnesses also posted videos of the rescue operations. A user posted the video on Instagram with the caption:
"Never seen this before"
Another user also posted a video of the patrollers using ropes to bring the passengers to safety.
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When it launched in 2018, the gondola was considered one of the most efficient in Colorado, featuring up to 75 cabins capable of transporting approximately 3,600 skiers per hour.
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