Sea to Sky Gondola closed until spring 2020 after cable cut
Posted August 16, 2019 10:55 am.
Last Updated August 16, 2019 11:07 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
SQUAMISH (NEWS 1130) – Don’t bother making plans to ride the Sea to Sky Gondola anytime soon.
Its operators say it won’t be up and running until early next spring.
The gondola is out of commission after the main cable was cut last weekend, sending 20 of the 30 cabins to the ground.
Clean up has since begun and orders for a new cable and cabins have been placed.
While the gondola operators hope to have it up and running by next year, they noted the “exact timelines for reopening are still being determined and are very much dependent on when we can get a replacement cable and new cabins sent over from Europe.”
“This is longer than any of us had hoped, but we have to live with the reality of the situation and move forward responsibly,” operators said of the early spring estimate for reopening.
Police received reports on Aug. 10 the haul rope on the gondola had fallen.
People camping nearby said they heard “crashing and popping” sounds coming from the area at around 4 a.m., and a helicopter landed nearby later that morning.
Following the incident, the Squamish RCMP said it believed the cable was intentionally cut.
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.
Gondola operators are asking people to stay away from the area as clean up continues.
