Colorado's Steamboat ski area is to see the installation of North America fastest 10-person gondola which will and also the addition of 650 acres of advanced terrain to give it the second-largest ski area in Colorado by winter 23-24.
The upgrades are part of a multi-year $90m spend by owners the Alterra group, which also includes phase two of Steamboat's Full Steam Ahead redevelopment completed.
The new expert level gladed terrain on Pioneer Ridge will be serviced by a new detachable chairlift and is set to open for winter 23-24.
Phase two of Steamboat's Full Steam Ahead project, due for completion ahead of next winter, will include the relocation of the lower terminal of the Christie Peak Express and the construction of first leg of the Wild Blue Gondola.
Upon completion for winter 23-24 Wild Blue will become the longest gondola in North America and the fastest 10-person gondola in the country. The state-of-the-art Doppelmayr D-Line gondola will feed skiers/riders through a newly created mid-station adjacent to Bashor Bowl with the final destination of Sunshine Peak. It will feature the first Omega V cabins in the United States. At a total length of 3.16 miles, the new gondola will increase the out of base capacity from 6,000 people per hour to 10,000 people per hour, getting skiers from bottom to top in 13 minutes.
The mid-mountain station, accessed by the lower half of the lift and due to open this coming winter 22-23, will access the recently re-graded Rough Rider/Bashor Basin area which will become home to Greenhorn Ranch, an area dedicated to beginner skiers and riders. It will feature progressive terrain-based learning and a dedicated chairlift.