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Steamboat Resort celebrates full launch of North America’s longest, fastest gondola

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Skiers and riders line up in anticipation for the full launch of Wild Blue Gondola at Steamboat Resort on Friday morning, Dec. 15, 2023. Wild Blue is the fastest and longest 10-person gondola in North America, taking passengers from the base to the top of Sunshine Peak in 13 minutes.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today

Construction on Steamboat Resort’s $200 million Full Steam Ahead expansion began in June 2021, and more than two years later, the project is complete with Friday’s launch of the second-half of the Wild Blue Gondola. 

With nearly 20 inches of snow last weekend, Steamboat Resort opened an additional 600 acres of terrain for skiers and riders Wednesday, meaning approximately one-third of the resort is skiable. The snowfall also brought the opening of the completed Wild Blue Gondola with a public celebration Friday morning in Steamboat Square.

Wild Blue, nicknamed “The Monster” by its lead engineer Peter Wiedemann, stretches 16,000 horizontal feet and takes skiers and riders from the base area to the top of the 10,384-foot Sunshine Peak in 13 minutes when traveling at full speed.



“The Wild Blue Gondola is a game-changer for our community and for our resort and the place we call home and the place we love,” said Dave Hunter, interim resort lead at Steamboat Resort. “It is the fastest, it is the longest 10-person gondola in North America.” 

Wild Blue spans 3.16 miles and holds 171 cabins while running at 7 meters per second in section two. It features the single largest direct drive in the world, as well as the largest diameter haul rope in North America. A heavier haul rope means better resistance against strong winds. The price tag on the Wild Blue Gondola all together is in the double-digit millions. 



Steamboat Springs resident John Bogler got in line Friday morning to celebrate the launch of new gondola’s second-half and to be among the first to ride its full length.  

Hearing about the views on the ride up from his friends who are associated with the resort, Bogler said he was excited to take a look over the Yampa Valley himself and see the farthest reaches of the community that has grown so much since he first moved to town.

Bogler was most excited to test out Wild Blue’s speed.

“It is so much fun because you get up there, you can hit the snow right away and you’re off,” he said. “I spend most of my time up at the top anyway, so getting up there faster is better.” 

Construction on the Wild Blue Gondola began in the spring 2022, with its first section launching in December 2022. The first section runs at six meters per second and takes guests from Steamboat Square to the resort’s learning center, Greenhorn Ranch. 

Construction on section two of the gondola began immediately after the resort closed its winter operations in April. 

The two sections can run together or independent of one another. If the top section needs to be closed due to windy conditions, guests will still be able to utilize the first section of the gondola.

The sheer size and speed of the gondola increases the out-of-base capacity from 6,000 people per hour to nearly 10,000 people, helping distribute skiers and riders across the mountain and easing morning congestion and the afternoon wave of guests. 

“It’s the biggest, baddest lift installation that you can build,” Hunter said last December. “We expect it to perform better all-around. We will have uphill capacity of 3,200 people per hour (with just the Wild Blue Gondola).”

On Saturday, the resort will begin its First Tracks program, using the Wild Blue Gondola to give riders and skiers early access to the Sunshine Peak area. 

Guests who purchase tickets for the program will load on the Wild Blue Gondola between 8-8:15 a.m. The gondola will then close at 8:30 to accommodate SnowSports School before reopening to the general public at 9 a.m. 

The resort is reminding skiers and riders to be aware of tree wells and to keep a safe distance from the bases of trees in the newly opened areas after the mountain received more than 50 inches of snow in December.

From inside Steamboat Resort’s Wild Blue Gondola, passengers can look over the entirely of the Yampa Valley from Rabbit Ears Pass to Sleeping Giant on a bluebird day. The second half access to Sunshine Peak through Wild Blue Gondola made its debut on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today archives
Skiers load into Wild Blue Gondola and prepare to be among the first to take the 13-minute ride to the Sunshine Peak area at Steamboat Resort on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
A view from inside Steamboat Resort’s Wild Blue Gondola, taking passengers up to Sunshine Peak after its grand opening of the second half on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023. Last winter marked the opening on the gondola to mid-station, allowing guests direct access to the new Greenhorn Ranch Learning Center.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today
A Steamboat Resort liftie, Payton Glod, celebrates the grand opening of Wild Blue Gondola’s second-half access to Sunshine Peak. “I am looking forward to riding Mahogany Ridge and that terrain,” Glod said of the resort’s recent expansions.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Skiers and riders arrive at the top of the Wild Blue Gondola and line up for Steamboat Resort merchandise including sun glasses, patches and cookies.
Suzie Romig/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Steamboat Resort’s Greenhorn Ranch Learning Center offers a unique experience for beginner skiers and riders, allowing participants to get farther up the mountain to a terrain park specifically designed to help elevate the learning process.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Rob Perlman, executive vice president of regional operations for Alterra Mountain Co., celebrates the opening of the second half of the Wild Blue Gondola by popping Champagne during Friday morning’s celebration on Dec. 15, 2023.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Early passengers of the Wild Blue Gondola received patches to commemorate the first rides of North America’s fastest and longest operational gondola on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Suzie Romig/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Located at the new Wild Blue Gondola’s mid-station, the Greenhorn Ranch Learning Center offers beginners and intermediates access to a terrain-based area that is designed to help streamline the learning process for skiing and snowboarding.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Skiers unload at the top of the Wild Blue Gondola in the Sunshine Peak area Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Suzie Romig/Steamboat Pilot & Today
An ice-made gondola was installed at the top of Sunshine Peak to celebrate the Wild Blue Gondola’s grand opening at the Steamboat Resort on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Looking over Sunshine Peak and the Yampa Valley, the second half of Steamboat Resort’s Wild Blue Gondola opened its doors to the public on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Jordan Bastian/Steamboat Pilot & Today
Dave Hunter, interim resort lead, speaks during the launch of the full Wild Blue Gondola at Steamboat Resort on Friday, Dec. 15, 2023.
Tom Skulski/Steamboat Pilot & Today
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