Wedding plans derailed, questions abound as Sea to Sky Gondola investigation continues

SQUAMISH (NEWS 1130) – There is anger and confusion online following word from the RCMP that the Sea to Sky Gondola may have been wrecked on purpose, closing the area in Squamish indefinitely while Mounties look into what happened.

Campers in the area reported hearing crashing and popping sounds at around 4:00 on Saturday morning. At around that same time, an employee at the summit heard a loud bang and quickly found several fallen, mangled cabins.

Because the incident happened before operations began for the day, no one was injured but the damage is extensive.

Investigators are now treating it as a criminal act and have been scouring the area, something RCMP Inspector Kara Triance says is a big job.

RELATED: RCMP says cable on Sea to Sky Gondola may have been intentionally cut

“We’re talking about a very large geographical area for all of our police officers to cover,” she says. “Any cooperation we can get from the public to clear from that area would be helpful.”

Constable Ashley MacKay adds if you were in that area Saturday morning, any information you have could be critical to the investigation.

“This includes hikers, climbers and campers who may have been in the area of the gondola or the Chief,” she says. “Please remember that no detail is too small.”

There are plans to fully repair the gondola as soon as the investigation wraps up but it’s not yet clear how long that’s going to take.

The popular tourist attraction, which offers a ten minute ride with views of Howe Sound, carries up to 240 passengers per trip on a regular day.

Weddings in the area impacted 

In the meantime, several couples who had weddings planned there are now being forced to change their plans.

Sea to Sky Celebrations, a wedding planning company that specializes in ceremonies in the area, posted a statement on Facebook on Sunday.

“While heartbroken over no longer being able to have their dream weddings at their desired location, our clients are understanding and horrified, like us, over what has taken place and we are working with them to find alternative options,” owner Rachel Lythe said. “We have been in contact with the Sea to Sky Gondola, who, is doing their best amidst the turmoil to provide updates but at this point, obviously cannot confirm any reopening dates while the investigation is going on.”

On Facebook, the father of one bride wrote that “some stupid idiot” has denied them an amazing venue with fewer than five weeks to spare.

Why would someone target the gondola?

The Sea to Sky Gondola has been operating since 2014 but received a lot of community backlash during the planning phases. Some argued it would spoil the natural beauty of the Stawamus Chief.

John French, now a councillor in Squamish, covered the construction of the gondola when he was a journalist. He says while there was a lot of opposition during the planning stage, it mostly died off once the project proved successful.

But as to why someone would intentionally damage the gondola now – that’s left him baffled.

“It did come as quite a surprise to me because of the fact that we haven’t heard any vocal opposition, there hasn’t been any loud cries against the gondola operation,” he says.

Squamish Mayor Karen Elliott says she was shocked when she heard about the collapse on Saturday, and has no idea why anyone might have targeted the gondola.

“You know, in my five years as an elected official in Squamish I haven’t had a complaint about the gondola,” she says. “By the time it opened really most people’s concerns were addressed, and now it’s just a well-used, well-loved tourism operation.”

Elliot says she feels for the over 200 people employed by the attraction who are still waiting to hear a timeline for the repairs and re-opening.