Evacuation at Winter Park Resort After Gondola Malfunction
Winter Park Resort experienced a significant disruption on Saturday when a gondola carrying over 100 skiers and snowboarders shut down unexpectedly due to an operational malfunction. The incident occurred shortly after noon and necessitated the evacuation of approximately 150 to 175 individuals from the gondola cabins.
A resort spokesperson confirmed that the gondola halted as designed, prompting ski patrollers to initiate a rescue operation. Ensuring that all passengers were safe, ski patrol members climbed the lift towers to reach each gondola cabin. They expertly rappelled down, assisting each person one at a time while also lowering their equipment to the ground. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported among those evacuated.
While the initial response began shortly after the shutdown, reports indicated that ski patrollers were still engaged in the rescue operation four hours later. As the essential parts for the gondola’s repair were en route from Grand Junction, the spokesperson announced that the lift would remain out of service for Sunday and potentially several days thereafter.
This shutdown coincided with peak ski season and followed the recent opening of the Winter Park Express train service from downtown Denver to the resort, making the incident particularly disruptive for visitors and skiers eager to hit the slopes.
The resort is working diligently to restore operations and ensure the safety of all guests. Updates will be provided regarding the gondola’s repair and potential reopening timeline. For further coverage and updates, readers are encouraged to follow The Denver Gazette’s news partner, 9News.