News / What is GTC? January 18, 2024

What is GTC?

Earlier this year we shared a proposal to transform the transportation experience at Steamboat Ski Resort, announcing our plans for the “Gondola Transit Center (GTC). The first phases of this concept were to identify and secure appropriate funding mechanisms- that background story lives here– and we are proud to have a private-public partnership with the City of Steamboat Springs and the Urban Renewal Authority Advisory Committee (URAAC) to maximize URA funds for the upper terminal component of the concept. We expect to have a Metro District in place in 2024 to collect tax dollars ONLY from Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation outlets and properties, with the exception of third-party developers who purchase and build on SSRC properties, moving forward. There are still caveats and steps to accomplish our vision for innovative transportation and every step along the way needs to fall into place for the next one to work; but we are headed in the right direction.

We’re excited to formally introduce the Gondola Transit Center 2.0 concept. Our vision for a new GTC transforms the current single-passenger, bus and shuttle drop off on Mt. Werner Circle to be a comprehensive Transportation Center with the hub originating in Meadows Parking Lot and connecting to the base area via high-speed 8-10 person Gondola. The redesigned Gondola Transit Center will be safer, more pedestrian friendly and meet current and future transportation and capacity needs.

This is a perfect example of a collaborative partnership between the City of Steamboat, the resort and URAAC- all working together to protect Steamboat’s heritage while moving forward to address community needs and enhancing the transportation experience. Steamboat Ski Resort has long been dedicated to creating innovative solutions for transportation, a critical need in the Yampa Valley. A long time in the planning, a Gondola from Meadows lot to Steamboat Square will reduce congestion on Mt. Werner Road and Mt. Werner Circle; create a more pedestrian friendly Mt. Werner Circle for better guest engagement at the Steamboat Grand street-level businesses and future development; provide a sustainable alternative for traffic; and support future transportation needs. A dedicated transportation hub originating in the Meadows Parking Lot at full build out will include specific drop off zones for kids, groups and guests, a better ADA experience, additional parking infrastructure; a more convenient traffic flow and regional transportation connectivity.

Using a free gondola as transportation has proven successful in other mountain communities such as Telluride and Breckenridge, where traffic congestion has greatly been reduced. Breckenridge specifically has a similar model with Gondola access as a primary transportation resource from town to the resort base area, eliminating potential pedestrian and car interactions.

City staff and representatives from the ski area and Alterra have been meeting regularly over the last year to create a plan for the design, construction and on-going operations of the GTC and Meadows gondola. Additionally, the group has met with key stakeholders, impacted businesses and citizens and community members at large to collect input and feedback on the most effective designs and concepts.

If all goes accordingly on the GTC transformation, the earliest the project could break ground would be summer 2025. As the private-public partnership moves forward with these concepts, we will update the community here; as well hosting additional community informational and input sessions.

News / The Wild Blue Gondol... October 10, 2023

The Wild Blue Gondola: Transformational and Impactful at Steamboat Resort

One of Steamboat Resort’s most anticipated on-mountain improvements will be fully complete for the 2023/2024 ski season: the Wild Blue Gondola. With both sections fully installed, it will become North America’s longest and fastest 10-person gondola, transporting skiers and riders from the base area to the top of Sunshine Peak in an impressive 13 minutes.

Section one of the Wild Blue Gondola was operational for most of the 2022/2023 ski season, transporting skiers and riders from the base area to Greenhorn Ranch at six meters per second. Section two will be operational for the 2023/2024 ski season, transporting guests from Greenhorn Ranch to the top of Sunshine Peak at seven meters per second. These two sections can run independent of one another, or all together, making it highly functional and adaptable.

With a total of 171 cabins (58 on the lower section, 113 on the upper section), the Wild Blue Gondola will increase the out-of-base capacity from 6,000 people per hour to 10,000 people per hour. Helping significantly in redistributing skiers and riders across the mountain, Wild Blue will especially ease morning congestion at the base area and afternoon congestion at the Sundown/Elkhead saddle.

Featuring the single largest direct drive in the world, Wild Blue brings state-of-the-art technology to Steamboat Resort. By installing a direct drive, which is a mechanical concept that comes from the windmill industry, a traditional gearbox is unnecessary. Most issues arise in gondolas and chairlifts due to a failure within the gearbox, and when it happens during the winter, it can be especially hard, if not impossible, to repair. By eliminating the gearbox all together, the direct drive will provide skiers and riders with a smooth, fast and highly efficient ride, which is especially exciting when Champagne Powder® is falling.

Spanning a distance of 3.16 miles, the Wild Blue gondola will give skiers and riders quite the scenic ride across Steamboat Resort. With two spans over 1,100 feet and the highest point reaching 136 feet above ground as you cross the Rainbow Saddle, Wild Blue will not only ease skier and rider traffic but will also provide a stunning and fast ride to the top of Sunshine Peak.

“I think our guests are going to be blown away. When they experience it, I think everyone will truly understand how transformational this gondola is to this world-class ski area,” explains Dave Hunter, Vice President of Mountain Operations.

Transformational indeed, the Wild Blue gondola if one of the most impactful projects within the scope of Steamboat Resort’s Full Steam Ahead improvements. It will give skiers and riders quick and easy access to the highly cherished and coveted Sunshine Peak area trails and will make for a seamless progression for SnowSports school from Greenhorn Ranch to the top of Sunshine. Skiers and riders will also have an option to download at the end of the day if their legs are tired, or more easily move around the mountain for lunch at the various lodges.

In August, crews are still working hard towards the completion of Wild Blue. Concrete is being transported to the top terminal, and crews are installing the second leg of the independent haul rope, which weighs in at an impressive 160,000 pounds.

As we approach three months until the start of the 2023/2024 ski season, excitement is certainly building in Steamboat Springs over the completion of Wild Blue. Scenic, functional and hugely impactful, the Wild Blue gondola is sure to transform your experience at Steamboat Resort in all of the right ways.

Written By: Erin Campbell

News / Steamboat Proposes P... August 17, 2023

Steamboat Proposes Partnership for Innovative Transportation Solutions

How can we provide a world class experience to local skiers and riders, without hitting adding a new tax to Steamboat Springs community members. It’s a question that has been top of mind for leaders from our community and the resort for decades. As the resort wraps up the Full Steam Ahead project improving the base area and on mountain experience it’s time to address transportation in and around the resort.

The IDEA: Transform the current single passenger, bus and shuttle drop off on Mt. Werner Circle to be a comprehensive Transportation Center connecting the Meadows Parking Lot to the base area with a high-speed 8 to 10 person Gondola. The redesigned Gondola Transit Center will be safer, more pedestrian friendly and meet current and future transportation needs.

The MONEY: Do this without tapping into City funds or asking Steamboat Springs/Routt County citizens to foot the bill via new collected taxes, in partnership with the City. The resort is working diligently to create a new funding mechanism that, combined with the current URA funds, will support this innovative concept.

1. Metro District: A metro district is a property tax that only applies to specific property and locations in a specific area with funds collected used for a specific end result. SSRC’s Metro District is a self-tax that will only be put on SSRC businesses and land parcels. This means that ONLY SSRC outlets will pay the tax and any future development on land owned by SSRC or sold by SSRC will be responsible for paying the tax in the future. Current non-SSRC businesses in the base area, outlining the mountain, in downtown Steamboat Springs, etc will NOT be a part of the Metro District. Which means current non-SSRC businesses in the base area, outlining the mountain, in downtown Steamboat Springs, etc will NOT pay additional taxes for the proposed Gondola Transit Center Project.

1. URA Funds. Back in 2003 the Urban Renewal Authority (URA) was created to address blight around the mountain area with the goals of spurring public-private partnerships and building a revitalized place for community and guests. URA projects are funded through TIF (tax increment financing) and guided by URAAC (the Urban Renewal Authority Advisory Committee) to meet the goals of the URA. Funds collected through URA are directed by SSRA (Steamboat Springs Redevelopment Authority) which is made up of City Council Members. Let us explain- SSRA is made up of City Council Members, BUT when SSRA is in session the city council members are directing the use of only URA funds, not City funds or functions.

SHOW ME the Money: If approved by SSRA and City Council, Steamboat Ski Resort will pay $30 million dollars of the Gondola Transit Center Project, via the Metro District, with most of that funding covering the Meadows Parking Lot Improvements and the Gondola connecting Meadows and the base area.

The URAAC will use $20 million of URA funding, if approved by SSRA, to transform the transportation experience on Mt. Werner Circle. Steamboat Ski Resort will reimburse $13 million of the URA funds, via the Metro District collection, so URAAC can reinvest additional funds in future URA projects. And since Steamboat Ski Resort pays into the TIF that feeds URA funds, over the course of the project Steamboat will have contributed an additional $1 million. That means, while URRAC is spending $20 million up front to make the project happen, ultimately the URA will have only spent $6 Million to make the Gondola Transit Center a reality.

WHY this is cool for the community: This is a perfect example of a collaborative partnership between the City, the resort and URAAC- all working together to protect Steamboat’s heritage while moving forward to address community needs and enhancing the transportation experience. Steamboat Ski Resort has long been dedicated to creating innovative solutions for transportation, a critical need in the Yampa Valley. A long time in the planning, a Gondola from Meadows lot to Steamboat Square will reduce congestion on Mt. Werner Road and Mt. Werner Circle; create a more pedestrian friendly Mt. Werner Circle for better guest engagement at the Steamboat Grand street level businesses and future development; provide a sustainable alternative for traffic; and support future transportation needs. A dedicated transportation center in the Meadows Parking Lot at full build out will include specific drop off zones for kids, groups and guests, better ADA experience, additional parking infrastructure and a more convenient traffic flow.

Using a free gondola as transportation is not a unique concept, it has proven successful in similar mountain communities such as Telluride and Breckenridge, where traffic congestion has greatly been reduced. Breckenridge specifically has as similar model with Gondola access the primary transportation resource from town, eliminating potential pedestrian and car interactions.

WHAT needs to happen next? On August 22, Steamboat Ski Resort goes before SSRA to seek approval for the Public Improvements Agreement (PIA), which outlines the project funding strategy for $30 million collected via a resort self-tax and the reimbursement of $13 million to URAAC. Once the PIA is approved by SSRA, the City Council will convene (also on August 22) and the resort will seek approval of the PIA and Metro District Service Plan. If/when these two plans are approved, the next step is another meeting where SSRA allocates $20 million of URA funds for the Gondola Transit Center with a future $13 million reimbursement from SSRC; and the Metro District being put on the November Ballot for impacted businesses (SSRC) to vote.

City staff and representatives from the ski area and Alterra have been meeting regularly over the last six months to negotiate the agreement and create a plan for the design, construction and on-going operations of the GTC and Meadows gondola. If/when the PIA and Metro District are approved, the resort, URAAC and the City can move forward on the design of the Gondola Transit Center, gondola, and Meadows lot and opportunities for community education and input beginning early fall 2023. This timeline sets the foundations for construction work to potentially being 2026.

News / Steamboat Enters Fin... March 24, 2023

Steamboat Enters Final Phase of Full Steam Ahead

In 2021, Steamboat Ski Resort embarked on the largest redevelopment of the resort in history with a 3 year, $220+ million project named Full Steam Ahead. With full financial and on-the ground support from parent company Alterra Mountain Company, the initial stages of Full Steam Ahead quickly became a complete transformation of Steamboat’s outdated base area. Now, as the project nears completion with its third phase, Full Steam Ahead looks to transform the on-mountain experience with an additional 655 acres of expert terrain and the second leg of Wild Blue Gondola, making it the longest, fastest 10-person Gondola in North America.

“When we started the process of Full Steam Ahead we had a long wish list of a Master Plan that had been decades in the making,” said Rob Perlman, president and COO of Steamboat Ski & Resort Corporation. “To now be in the final phase and see Full Steam Ahead become a reality is beyond words. I especially like seeing the reaction from our staff and guests each year. First it was excitement about the escalators, then the fully completed base area, and now to finish with on-mountain enhancements is like the cherry on top. Winter 23/24 will be a new era for the resort, but we’ll always be the same Steamboat at our roots.”

The two major components of Full Steam Ahead Phase III are:

Mahogany Ridge & Fish Creek Canyon Expansion: Steamboat Ski Resort becomes the second largest ski resort in Colorado with the addition of 655 acres of advanced/expert terrain to skier’s right of the resort’s current boundary. Fish Creek Canyon (350 acres) and the area previously known as Pioneer Ridge (305 acres) have been in the resort’s permit area for numerous years but were not considered in-bounds until approval in 2021. Previously accessible via backcountry gates and hike-to-access, Mahogany Ridge Express will offer lift service as a new highspeed detachable quad and Fish Creek Canyon will continue to be expert terrain with an estimated 20-25 minute hike back to the bottom of Mahogany Ridge Express. The expansion area will remain uncut except for the lift line and boundary trail, and skiers and riders should expect a variety of expert terrain and conditions including rock cliffs, chutes and tree glades. Once open to the public, Steamboat Ski Patrol will monitor and maintain the area including potential avalanche mitigation, but varying conditions may be encountered at any time.
To meet this need, Steamboat Ski Resort has introduced an avalanche dog program with two inaugural dogs beginning their training during the 22/23 winter season. Daisy is a 1.5-year-old black lab and Mudd is an under 1 year old Shepherd/Belgian Malinois mix who have both begun validation through Colorado Rapid Avalanche Deployment certification. The process of validation can take up to two years and Daisy and Mudd are expected to be ready to deploy by winter 24/25.

Wild Blue Gondola second leg: In December 2022 Steamboat debuted the Wild Blue Gondola, a 10-person Doppelmayr machine spanning 4,000 feet from Steamboat Square to Greenhorn Ranch. Beginning spring 2023, Doppelmayr and Steamboat crews will add the second leg of the gondola spanning 16,008 horizontal feet and 3,371 vertical feet to the top of Sunshine Peak. With a complete ride time of approximately 12 minutes from Steamboat Square to 10,397 feet and featuring 177 total cabins, Steamboat’s uphill capacity will nearly double to 10,000 skiers per hour. Upon completion, with an expected opening in late November 2023, Wild Blue Gondola will be the longest, fastest 10-person gondola in North America.

Full Steam Ahead has completely reimagined Steamboat Ski Resort with completion of Phases I and II, which introduced an escalator to eliminate numerous stairs; Skeeter’s Ice Rink an outdoor free skating rink; the Mountain Stage, home to Steamboat’s legendary free music concerts; the Range Food & Drink Hall- slated to open Summer 2023; Greenhorn Ranch- a terrain-based, on-mountain dedicated beginner’s area; the first leg of Wild Blue Gondola, relocation of Christie Peak Express lower terminal and removal of the Mountain Coaster and mini golf course; and Creekside Plaza with guest features including a new Ski Patrol headquarters and UCHealth Urgent Care Clinic.

For more details on Full Steam Ahead including a complete timeline and projects already completed visit www.steamboat.com/FullSteamAhead.

News / VIDEO: Commissioning... November 8, 2022

VIDEO: Commissioning Process to begin on Wild Blue Gondola

We’re a few weeks away from Opening Day and wrapping up many of the Full Steam Ahead Phase II projects. The Wild Blue Gondola will soon undergo a 30-day commissioning process as we transition from construction phase to being fully operational for our skiers and riders. Vice President of Operations, Dave Hunter, explains more on this process.

News / The Range Food &... October 10, 2022

The Range Food & Drink Hall

The newly redesigned Steamboat Square at the base area will feature a brand-new food and drink hall that has the feel of an indoor/outdoor lunch and après lounge. Adjacent to Skeeter’s Ice Rink and with stunning views of Steamboat Resort, The Range Food & Drink Hall will welcome guests with a bar on each of the two levels, along with a fittingly wide range of cuisine options to meet everyone’s palate.

Aptly named, The Range will feature four different dining options for guests at Steamboat Resort. Twister Tacos will serve street-style tacos along with churros for dessert, Sunshine Bowl will warm your soul with a variety of ramen bowls, Pioneer Pies will feature pizza, a ski area must-have, and Why Not Sandwich Shop will offer fresh salads and sandwiches. If you are familiar with Steamboat Ski Area, you will notice the clever tie-in with the names of each dining option, named after several trails and areas across the resort.

To accommodate guests and make their dining experience as comfortable as possible, The Range will utilize a QR-code ordering system. Guests will simply find a table, get cozy, and then be able to order right from their table at their very own leisure. Once the order is ready, a text message will be sent to the guest letting them know that their food is ready to be picked up. If you are placing orders at different food stations, you will need to place a separate order for each station, but once an account is created, the process really is quite simple. While the focus will be on a QR code ordering system, there will still be an option to place an order directly with an employee if needed.

The Range Food & Drink Hall will feature two different bars, one on each level. Along with the four food stations, the bar on the first level, or ground level, will be a full-service bar. Just outside of the food hall there will be ground-level firepits for guests to gather around and watch people ice skating on the adjacent Skeeter’s Ice Rink. The bar and lounge area on the second level will have all the bells and whistles with an indoor lounge oriented around a fireplace to keep guests warm and cozy, along with an outdoor lounge featuring plenty of sunshine and beautiful views.

Once complete and ready for the doors to open, The Range Food & Drink Hall will offer coffee and hot chocolate in the mornings, but the primary focus is on lunch and après ski. Currently the windows are going in and the goal is to have the building dried in before winter settles in Steamboat Springs. The Range Food & Drink Hall is scheduled to open in 2023, so stay tuned for more details and information to come.

The inspiration behind the design of The Range Food & Drink Hall was a barn to reflect the strong ranching heritage of Steamboat Springs. You’ll notice beautiful, reclaimed timbers that will be the pillars for the interior and exterior of the building, along with design accents featuring cowboy hats, leather, suede, denim and rope. The build and design will portray Steamboat Springs’ heritage in a modern way, and the functionality of having a wide range of dining, bar and seating options will be a fantastic new addition to Steamboat Square.

Written by: Erin Campbell

News / Helicopter Activity ... October 6, 2022

Helicopter Activity Impacts

Multi-use trails at Steamboat Ski Resort are open this summer but may be impacted due to helicopter operations through July. Trails may have detours or delays from 6 a.m. into the late afternoon depending on weather and flight opportunities. When helicopters are done flying for the day, impacted multi-use trails will be available for riding and hiking; likely in the evening hours.

Impacts will be listed and updated below:

October 6-7, 2022

Helicopter impacts with periodic/rolling closures on trails will include Sunshine, Pioneer, Valley View, Thunderhead Hiking Trail, Why Not Road (all vehicle traffic), So What, Moonlight.

August 28, 2022

Helicopter flying rebar and form packages for tower bases 27 – 37 of Wild Blue Gondola.
Closed trails will include Pete’s Wicked, Sunshine, Why Not road, So What road, Four Points road, and Hogan’s Park.

August 7, 2022

Helicopter flying towers 8, 9, 10 of lower Wild Blue Gondola line.

Beginning July 23, 2022

No helicopter activity

July 19 – 22, 2022

Valley View Trail and Thunderhead Trail will be impacted.
Mahogany Ridge Area: Creekside Trail, upper section of Zig Zag, So What Road, lower Pony Road, and Pioneer Trail will be impacted.

July 13 – 17, 2022

No helicopter activity. Tree work on Pioneer may impact trail access.

July 6 – 12, 2022

Mahogany Ridge Area: Creekside Trail, upper section of Zig Zag, So What Road, lower Pony Road, and Pioneer Trail will be impacted through 7/12.

July 2 – 5, 2022

No Helicopter Activity

June 27 – July 1, 2022

Wild Blue Gondola Lift Line: Four Points Road (logging trucks) will be impacted through 7/1.
Mahogany Ridge Area: Creekside Trail, upper section of Zig Zag, So What Road, lower Pony Road, and Pioneer Trail will be impacted through 7/1.

June 24, 2022

Wild Blue Gondola Lift Line: Sunshine Trail, Four Points Road, and Why Not road will be impacted
Mahogany Ridge Area: Pioneer Trail will be impacted

June 22-23, 2022

Helicopter activity is on hold today, no trail impacts. Check back tomorrow for updates.

June 21, 2022

Wild Blue Gondola Lift Line: Sunshine Trail, Four Points Road, and Why Not road will be impacted
Mahogany Ridge Area: Pioneer Trail will be impacted

News / The Steamboat Stage:... September 22, 2022

The Steamboat Stage: A New Hybrid and Dynamic Space

The Steamboat Stage in the heart of Steamboat Square will have a new and improved look to welcome guests back for the 2022/2023 winter season. As part of Full Steam Ahead, the new stage with a new orientation will be another exciting improvement for Steamboat Resort guests to enjoy.

If you are familiar with Steamboat Resort, the new stage will be in the same location as the previous stage, but with a different orientation. Facing into Steamboat Square, the new stage will allow for better and more open sight lines and easier viewing from multiple locations throughout the base area. New timber frames on the stage will echo the design of The Range Food and Drink Hall and escalator, ultimately creating a more cohesive Steamboat Square experience. With a narrower and higher design, along with an open back, guests will also be able to enjoy fantastic views of Steamboat Resort behind and adjacent to the stage.

In the past, the stage has predominantly been used for concerts or special events, but the new Steamboat Stage is transitioning into more of a hybrid space that can be used for a variety of functions, as well as additional seating for The Range Food and Drink Hall when it’s not in use. Music concerts are at the heart of the Steamboat experience, and those will continue as they have in the past. Other events such as Meet & Greets with Olympians, educational outdoor talks, dance performances, magic shows, storytelling events and photo experiences will also be hosted on the new stage. In the summer, the space will be used for yoga classes, outdoor movies, yard games and more. With a new and improved look, the Steamboat Stage will be a hybrid and dynamic space in the heart of Steamboat Square.

Steamboat Stage is scheduled to be ready for Opening Day, and there are some exciting events lined up for the season including the New Year’s Eve Light Up Snow Cat Parade, the Music Fest at Steamboat, the 60th Anniversary Celebration for Steamboat, the 48th Annual Bud Light Cowboy Downhill, the Steamboat Light the Night Celebration, the Bud Light Rocks the Boat Free Concert Series and Springalicious. While that is a fun and exciting list, there will also be times when the stage is not in use and the base area is a bit more quiet. During those times, the Steamboat Stage will be a gathering location and a place to enjoy lunch or après ski while also enjoying the views of beautiful Mount Werner.

Steamboat Resort has an impressive list of improvements that are part of Full Steam Ahead, and the new hybrid and dynamic Steamboat Stage will certainly bring a lot of fun and entertainment to the heart of Steamboat Square.

Written by: Erin Campbell

News / September 2022 Const... September 15, 2022

September 2022 Construction Updates

September 15, 2022 Update

Steamboat Square/Base of Resort

Pavers, light poles, and fire pits are being installed in the plaza.
Stone work on the stage will be complete by the end of the month, roofing is scheduled to begin next week.
Concrete is being poured on the ice rink at the end of the month and will cure for four weeks. The railings will be installed after the concrete.
The deck for the lower terminal will be installed later this month and RFID gates will be installed mid-October.
The pull rope for the Wild Blue Gondola will begin installation next week.

Greenhorn Ranch

Interior framing, drywall, electrical, and plumbing work continues in the Sprung Structure.
Mid-station terminal work on Wild Blue Gondola continues and will be complete by end of October.
Greenhorn Ranch Express lift drive station enclosure will be built at the end of October and the pull rope will be installed in early November.
Work on magic carpet installation and snowmaking infrastructure continues.

September 2 Update

Steamboat Square/Base of Resort

Plaza snowmelt is being installed.
Pavers are being set and fire pits will begin to be put in place.
Light poles will be put in place in the next few weeks.
Footings and caps for the stage will be poured this week. Stone will be set in early September. The roofing will follow in late September and pavers after that in early October.
The railing on the Ice Rink will be installed beginning next week. A slab will be poured in mid-September.
Christie Peak Express towers will be assembled over the next few weeks. The haul rope will be installed in mid-September.
The lower terminal canopy for Wild Blue Gondola is complete. Tower installation for the lower leg will be complete this week and rope installation will happen at the end of September.

Greenhorn Ranch

Sprung Structure tent installation is complete. Electrical, plumbing, and interior framing has started.
Mid-station terminal work continues and will be complete in early October.
Work on magic carpet installation and snowmaking infrastructure continues.

News / Wild Blue: Steamboat... September 6, 2022

Wild Blue: Steamboat’s Second Out-of-Base Gondola

A new and additional gondola named Wild Blue will begin running this upcoming ski season from the Steamboat base area to Greenhorn Ranch, the new ski school headquarters now located in the previous Bashor Basin area. Ultimately, once complete with both the upper and lower sections in the 2023-2024 season, Wild Blue will transport skiers and riders from the Steamboat base area to the top of Sunshine Peak at an impressive speed, taking only 12 and a half minutes. Scenic, fast, efficient and smooth, the Wild Blue gondola is an exciting addition to Steamboat Resort!

The lower section of the Wild Blue gondola will have 58 cabins to take skiers and riders from the base area to Greenhorn Ranch. For the upcoming 2022-2023 ski season, this will be the only section running, and mostly transporting ski school guests. However, section two is slated to be ready for the 2023-2024 ski season and will be running with an additional 113 cabins to transport guests to the top of Sunshine Peak. All in all, Wild Blue will have 171 cabins, each with a capacity of 10 people per cabin. Ski racks will be on the exterior just like the Steamboat Gondola that will still be in place and running from the base area to the top of Thunderhead.

Previously, the Steamboat Gondola and Christie Peak Express were able to transport 6,800 people per hour, and now with the addition of Wild Blue, another 3,200 people will be transported per hour onto the mountain. This equates to a capacity increase of nearly 50% and a total of 10,000 guests per hour being transported onto the mountain from the base area. Obviously, this capacity increase will allow for quicker accessibility to the upper mountain, but it will also allow for a more efficient experience skiing lower mountain as well.

Blue gondola cars paired with a longer and scenic ride across Steamboat Resort inspired the name Wild Blue. Not only will Wild Blue provide a scenic ride, but it will also provide a fast ride from the base to the top of Sunshine Peak. Section one (base area to Greenhorn Ranch) will transport guests at a speed of 6 meters per second, which equates to 4 minutes of transit time. Section two (Greenhorn Ranch to the top of Sunshine Peak) will transport guests at the fastest speed in North America at 7 meters per second and exactly 8.8 minutes from Greenhorn Ranch. Put those numbers together and it will only take you about 12 and a half minutes to get from the base area to the top of Sunshine Peak! Skiers and riders will be able to load at the base area and ride all the way to the top in 2023-2024, with the doors opening at the mid-station for anyone unloading at that point.

The Wild Blue gondola also features the biggest direct drive in the world with state-of-the-art technology to give passengers a top-notch ride. By installing a direct drive, which is a mechanical concept that came from the windmill industry, a traditional gearbox is unnecessary, ultimately making the operational side more efficient and more simple. Section one of Wild Blue will feature a 2-ring direct drive and section two will feature a 5-ring direct drive. These two sections will be able to run independent of one another, or all together, making it highly functional and adaptable. Most issues arise in gondolas and chairlifts due to a failure within the gearbox, and when it happens during the winter season, it can be especially hard, if not impossible, to repair. By eliminating the gearbox all together, the direct drive will provide skiers and riders with a smooth, fast and highly efficient ride, which is especially exciting when Champagne Powder® is falling!

If you have been in Steamboat this summer, you have likely heard the helicopter activity at Steamboat Resort. All foundations and towers are in place for section one to be running this upcoming ski season. While the towers are not yet in place for section two (that will happen next summer/fall), all of the foundations for those 27 towers will be complete by the start of this ski season. All rebar was flown in at the end of August and all of the concrete is expected in by the end of September to complete the foundation work for section two. While the visibility may not be there as the foundations are buried in snow all winter, once summer arrives next year, it will be time to install the remaining towers needed to complete the full span of the Wild Blue gondola.

With so many improvements happening as part of Full Steam Ahead at Steamboat Resort, the addition of the Wild Blue gondola is certainly one of the most visible and most exciting. You’ll have a chance to see section one of Wild Blue this upcoming season, but the real excitement will begin with the 2023-2024 ski season when the Wild Blue gondola is officially complete. With two gondolas and one high-speed quad running from Steamboat’s base area, accessing Steamboat Resort will become highly efficient and provide a nice variety for all skiers and riders.

Written by: Erin Campbell