Industry News
With blue skies, around 2,000 acres of top-to-bottom terrain open, and some of the best early season conditions in recent memory, it was the perfect day to open the next generation of Snowbird, UT, tram cabins—a week before originally planned.
Manufactured by the Swiss manufacturer CWA, the new Snowbird Tram cabins include floor-to-ceiling windows, automated doors and gates, and a new drive system. The tram cabins are blue and red, like the originals installed in 1971.
The installation of the trams did not go to plan. The red tram was ‘dropped’ during installation and ‘damaged beyond repair.’ The trams had been made specifically for Snowbird, and replacing one took time.
Snowbird installed five new Wyssen avalanche control towers for a total of nine towers spread out over Mineral Basin and Gad Valley. The towers allow Snowbird to perform remote avalanche mitigation work, allowing quicker and safer terrain opening. Snowbird is one of the first resorts in the country to install these specialized avalanche mitigation towers.
Snowbird’s Play Forever Wednesdays initiative teams up with guests each Wednesday starting in December to support local non-profits in a unique give-back program. For each lift ticket sold, Snowbird donates $5. Last winter, the initiative generated $43,000 for 17 local non-profits.
