Franconia, New Hampshire — The end is nigh for the second iteration of one of the world’s most famous aerial tramways.
Yesterday, Cannon Mountain officially announced that October 26th will be the last day of operations for its second-generation tramway.
A retirement party will also be part of its final day of operations. The tram remains open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (the last tram heads down at 5 p.m.). With how popular the tram can be with all those crazy leaf-peepers that stop on the two-lane highway portion of I-93, it’s recommended that you book your tickets ahead of time.
In its place will eventually be a new tram. The replacement project will reportedly last a minimum of two years. Since Cannon is a state-run ski area, funding will come from the state government. The primary source of funding will be from New Hampshire House Bill 25, which provides $27.2 million for the project. Additional capital resources are also planned. A structural analysis will help determine the refurbishment plans for the towers, foundations, and terminals. This structural analysis will also help determine design requirements and load considerations for the next tram.
The first aerial tramway at Cannon opened in 1938. It was replaced by the tramway that remains operational to this day, which can host 80 passengers in each cabin. The tramway travels one mile to the 4080-foot summit in under seven minutes. This current iteration of the tram has carried more than 9 million guests. It’ll be interesting to see what the new tram looks like, along with what Cannon will do with the old ketchup and mustard tram cabins.
Image Credits: Cannon Mountain
