Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Resort Closes Essential Gondola Indefinitely
Heavenly Resort, located on the shore of Lake Tahoe in Nevada and California, has a problem on their hands.
The resort announced on the afternoon of January 4, 2024 that a recently discovered "mechanical issue" will close the resort's essential 'Heavenly Gondola' indefinitely. See the full social media post below:
Here's an excerpt from the caption claiming that the problem was recently diagnosed, and confirming that skiers have not been in danger riding the lift this season:
"Due to a mechanical issue discovered this morning, the Heavenly Gondola will not operate until it is fully repaired. The Gondola Maintenance Team worked with the lift manufacturer and project engineer to diagnose the problem, which is related to one of the bearings in the high-speed shaft.
At no time has the Gondola been unsafe to operate, but it’s best to replace these bearings early before they do become a more serious problem. We are actively working with our manufacturer to secure replacement bearings with urgency. We’ll keep you updated as we learn more about the timeline, but we are focused on completing this necessary repair as quickly as we can."
Heavenly Resort has multiple base areas spread out across the bottom of the mountain.
Unfortunately, the Heavenly Gondola is the only lift that operates out of the Heavenly Village, and the Stagecoach Express has yet to open for the season out of the Stagecoach Lodge.
According to the caption, Heavenly will operate solely out of the California Lodge until the gondola is fixed, or Stagecoach is able to open, which could be as soon as Saturday.
Heavenly Resort
There's not an ideal time for an essential lift to need repairs, but during a Holiday week is particularly unfortunate.
The resort is expecting large crowds this weekend, and is encouraging skiers to visit Lake Tahoe's other Epic Pass Resorts of Northstar and Kirkwood until the Heavenly Gondola is fixed.
Heavenly has committed to keeping their followers updated throughout the process of fixing the lift:
"We apologize for this inconvenience – please know that we are working as fast and safely as we can to get the Gondola back open. Throughout the process, we will frequently update you on our social channels (please make sure to watch our stories). Additionally, our team members will be around to direct you and answer questions if needed. We are grateful for your patience and understanding!"
Stay tuned in here at POWDER Magazine. We'll keep you covered on this developing story.
Related: Lake Tahoe Storm Report: A Step In The Right Direction
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