Franconia, New Hampshire — An era of Cannon Mountain’s storied history has officially come to an end.
Yesterday, Cannon Mountain held the final day of public operations for its aerial tramway (also known as Tram II. The weather was moody, with clouds and occasional rainfall at the base, and a fresh coating of snow on the upper mountain and summit. Various vendors were in the base area celebrating. The final downhill tram came at 5 p.m. This lucky group got the final ride down by grabbing a golden ticket from the old summit tram slip. The day was full of hoots, hollers, pictures, and appreciation for a New Hampshire landmark.
Cannon Aerial Tramway History
First opened in 1938, Cannon Mountain was home to the first aerial tramway in North America. These cabins fit 27 passengers each. This wasn’t the most reliable system, as it did have a few notable incidents over the years.
The second-generation tramway opened in 1980. These cabins, affectionately known as ketchup and mustard, could each hold 80 passengers. This was a very reliable tramway for the ski area, running for 45 years throughout most of the year. However, the parts from the lift are aging, and its instruction manual is in Italian. Mama Mia!
Skiers could use it on colder days (during weekends and holidays) or after completing a strenuous run on the DJ’s Tramline trail or Kinsman Glade. However, all the terrain at Cannon is accessible from other lifts. While they are used during ski season, their biggest use is in the fall, which is foliage season in Franconia Notch.
While the details haven’t been specified, its replacement will be a new tramway. A structural analysis of the tram is currently underway. The tram replacement process is expected to take at least two years. What the old tram cabins will become is uncertain, but ketchup and mustard are expected to stick around.
Image/Video Credits: Cannon Mountain, NH State Parks, Ian Wood
