Alterrra Mountain Co. will begin construction this summer on a $60 million gondola connecting the bases of the Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows ski areas in the Lake Tahoe, Calif. region.
Upon completion, the gondola ride is expected to last 16 minutes, connecting base areas that are otherwise a seven-mile drive apart.
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Alterra has not said how long it expects the project to take.
Squaw Valley has 3,600 acres of skiable terrain, while Alpine Meadows has 2,400 acres. The resorts are already operated by Alterra under one pass. An express shuttle ferries customers between the bases.
Once completed, the gondola will have the capacity to move 1,400 people per hour in cabins that seat up to eight passengers.
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Along with the main terminals at the Squaw and Alpine bases, the gondola will have two midstations, Alterra said.
The project is part of a $207 million capital program for the coming year that was announced Monday by the Denver-based company, which owns or operates 15 North American ski areas. Other major projects for which planning or construction is slated to begin include a terrain expansion and base redevelopment at Steamboat Resort in Colorado, redevelopment of the main lodge area at Mammoth Mountain in California and redevelopment of the Snow Park lodge and base at Deer Valley ski area in Park City, Utah.
Alterra said it is investing $31 million in technology systems.