Update 2/21 at 12:30 p.m.: The Gondola opened today thanks to quick work from crewmembers at Stratton.
Stratton Mountain, Vermont — Over the past several days, the Northeast has experienced nasty winds that followed a snowstorm that raced through the region this past weekend. These wind gusts damaged a few lifts in the region, including at Stratton.
Over at Stratton Mountain Resort, the Stratton Gondola hasn’t operated for a while. Yesterday, in a photo compilation shared on social media, Stratton explained why it hasn’t operated. The top terminal of its gondola suffered noticeable damage from wind gusts approaching 100 miles per hour. The cleanup is expected to take a few days, and Statton hopes to reopen it by Saturday.
Opened in 1988, the Stratton Gondola has had its fair share of battles with the elements. While it has nice, modern cabins, it also suffers from frequent downtime. Its situation isn’t helped by its lift line, which leads to a further impact on windy days like we’ve seen this week.
According to Shaun Sutner of the Worcester Telegram, replacing it isn’t Stratton’s top priority. Next up on the replacement list is the Tamarack chairlift, with a detachable quad scheduled to take its place. The gondola could be replaced by a bubble chairlift and feature a new lift line to protect it from the wind, but it’s not definitive yet.
Image Credits: Stratton Mountain Resort
