After two years of construction, Grouse Mountain is opening its new state-of-the-art gondola.
Guests at the North Vancouver alpine destination will be able to ride the Blue Grouse Gondola for the first time on Thursday, Dec. 12.
To celebrate, the resort is holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 4 p.m.
After the formalities, mountain-goers can take their first journey to the Peak of Vancouver where a DJ will be playing next to the skating pond, with free hot chocolate and cider. Other food and drink specials will be on offer, as guests watch a fireworks display light up the winter sky, according to a press release.
Paying homage to the mountain’s original inhabitants the resort is named after, the Blue Grouse Gondola features 15 towers and 27 eight-person cabins. The trip time is around 5.5 minutes, allowing an average capacity of 1,000 people per hour.
When the project broke ground in September 2022, it was estimated to cost $35 million. Construction has involved clearing the surrounding area, building foundations for the stations, installing towers and cables, as well as testing the system.
Grouse Mountain’s new gondola will significantly enhance the guest experience by reducing lineups and wait times to get to and from the peak, said resort president Micheal Cameron.
“It marks the start of a new chapter for Grouse as we approach our centennial in 2026,” he said. “The addition of the gondola has allowed us to explore a whole mountain of opportunities not previously available with just the Red Super Skyride.”
The Skyride tram, which opened in 1966, is expected to continue operation. But the resort’s older blue tram has shut down.
The same ticket price will apply to guests using either the new gondola or the Skyride, the resort said.
Along with the new gondola, Grouse has announced other projects including the North Shore’s only lift-accessed mountain bike park and a new alpine gravity coaster, which are both set to open next year.
Combined, the new gondola and those projects represent a nearly $45-million investment, the resort said.
“This is what everyone has been waiting for and we can’t wait to see the first skiers, snowboarders, snowshoers, and guests take their first trip,” Cameron said. “We hope everyone will join us in celebrating the opening of the new Blue Grouse Gondola next week.”
