Back when I was doing some research on a story about how the area around Bridal Veil Falls will be closed through July due to recovery from a January avalanche, I discovered something pretty interesting: the tallest waterfall in the state used to have a tramway next to it.
Bridal Veil Falls is one of the top attractions in Utah, as the 607-foot-tall double cataract waterfall is conveniently located just outside of Provo. Due to this, David Grow decided to build a tram next to it. Constructed in 1961, The Sky Ride brought passengers up to the Eagle’s Nest Lodge and Restaurant. The two six-passenger trams were built in Switzerland. According to Marc Jonathan Wein of Brigham Young University, the restaurant was used by the owner David Grow for a “special-event venue for weddings, receptions, and class reunions.” It became a popular tourist attraction, with more than 27,000 people riding it in 1993.
It allegedly held the title of the world’s steepest tram, with the steepest pitch reaching 62 degrees. Today, that title belongs to the Loen Skylift in Norway.
This home video shared by Dave T from Milagros shows what it was like to ride the steep tram. One word you could use to describe the tram is harrowing.
So what happened to it? Unsurprisingly, an avalanche led to its demise. In 1996, the tram and base terminal were destroyed by a major avalanche. This was the second time that this happened to the cable car, with a smaller one occurring back in 1986.
This 1996 footage from Berrett Family Videos showed the damage done to the base terminal.
David Grow wanted to rebuild the tram, but fate stepped in. The top terminal and restaurant were destroyed by a fire in 2008 and the tram’s fate was officially sealed.
In 2015, Prestana Family captured the remnants of the tram. The former top terminal and restaurant were officially demolished in 2017.
Back in 2020, a developer tried to build a new tram to the top of the falls, along with a treatment center near the top terminal. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, these plans were stopped by Utah County Commission. Based on how this winter affected Bridal Veil Falls, that decision by the Commission was probably for the best.
Some places are ultimately not meant for a cable car, and I believe that Bridal Veil Falls is one of them.
Image/Video Credits: Dave T from Milagros (Featured Image), Explore Utah Valley (Header Image and Photo Above), Berrett Family Videos, Prestana Family
