“A full year has passed since we embarked on the groundbreaking journey of our transformational gondola project. We are excited to provide some construction updates to our valued guests, passholders and neighbours. As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Resort’s inaugural ski season in 2026, we are thrilled with the strides made in the ongoing evolution of this transformative project.”
Grouse Mountain located in the District Municipality of North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada will start spinning their new state-of-the art gondola next ski season. The new lift system will replace Blue Skyride and include 14 towers and 27 eight-person gondola cabins. Check out this quick video to see get an idea of their progress and read the full press release about the project below:
GONDOLA CONSTRUCTION UPDATE:
The new state-of-the art gondola is slated to open during the 2024/25 winter season
October 19, 2023
Watch the above video to see the new structures come together and learn more about the gondola construction progress.
A full year has passed since we embarked on the groundbreaking journey of our transformational gondola project. We are excited to provide some construction updates to our valued guests, passholders and neighbours.
The new state-of-the art gondola is slated to open during the 2024/25 winter season and will replace the aging Blue Skyride, marking the start of a new chapter for our iconic Vancouver landmark. The new lift system, which includes a total of 14 towers and 27 eight-person gondola cabins, will allow Grouse Mountain to return to just above its original capacity when both the Blue and Red Skyrides were fully operational.
While the approaching winter season will put construction at the plateau on hold while we enjoy the slopes, significant progress has been made since works officially began on September 9th, 2022.
Plateau Station
Over the recent spring and summer seasons, the Plateau Station, located to the east of the Chalet, has seen the largest transformation. The parking garage, large enough for all 27 gondola cabins to be stored, will soon be completed, and will form the base that the station itself will sit on. While the cabins aren’t required to be stored overnight, it provides us with the option to in case of inclement weather.
Works on the Plateau Station will continue into the Fall of 2024, with all civil work, the platform and parking garage to be completed by November, 2023.
While completing a construction project on top of a mountain is no easy feat, with the help of gravel and sand storage, and a temporary concrete mixing plant close to the pour site, our amazing crews have been able to ensure there has been minimal impact to our guests over the busy summer months. These temporary structures will all be removed prior to our winter opening.
Base Station
In May of this year, preparatory works began for the Base Station as the administration offices located in Parking Lot B, were lifted and relocated to Parking Lot C, where they will remain.
Excavation of the Base Station has started as we prepare to form the foundation and pour the concrete. While similar to the Plateau Station, there were will be no parking garage in the Base Station.
Located to the West of the Lower Terminal of the Super Skyride, guests will be able to see the Base Station as it begins to transform over the next six months.
Tower Assembly and Line Work
Works will continue through the coming seasons at the base of the Mountain as we prepare for the assembly of the 14 towers and line work that will eventually link the Base Station to the Plateau Station over an 2,600 foot vertical rise.
Due to the location of towers 3 to 10, materials and equipment need to be flown to each site. Helicopters will continue to fly as needed until November, to transport as much concrete as possible for the tower foundations before winter sets in.
Looking Ahead
As we approach the 100th anniversary of the Resort’s inaugural ski season in 2026, we are thrilled with the strides made in the ongoing evolution of this transformative project. Since the world’s first double chairlift was built at the Resort in 1949, Grouse Mountain has had a rich history of investing in modern recreational technology. The installation of the new gondola is the latest development to further enhance our four-season operations to welcome both the local and global community.
Grouse Mountain has been an integral pillar of the North Vancouver community since 1926, contributing positive spin offs for local businesses and serving as a top employer on the North Shore. The gondola project will support continued investment in the world-class experience Grouse Mountain offers and ensure Vancouver’s number one natural attraction is accessible for generations to come.
