Waterville Valley Expansion inc. Gondola

TomWhite

Condensed version in NESI; long version in WV site:

https://www.newenglandskiindustry.com/viewstory.php?storyid=1115

https://www.waterville.com/waterville-valley-resort-eis-2025

Jonni

I really hope that this happens as I've always been a huge supporter of connecting up ski areas with their adjacent ski area towns. Anything where I can park my car one time and then ride a lift or frequent public transit (gondola, train, bus, etc), I'm a happy camper.

justkeepmovingne

Could be very cool. I’m sure the views would be solid on that gondola ride, too.

ADKskier

Is there that much of a need for a Village connection? Ive never been to wateville

ski_it

I had the same thoughts. I stayed in the village late season. It seems like it would be a long long ride just to get to the base. And you can store your ski bag outdoors in a big pile when you get there. Though the shuttle from there is pretty slow and inconvenient times as well. Not too many people were taking it. We ended up driving. And how far would people have to walk from the furthest village hotels to get to the g base? This ain’t the Alps.
That all being said, I can see fall foliage season being a big draw.

NELSBEER

There is a fair amount of land that could accommodate sizable well organized parking. Keeping up with the incoming traffic would make the whole arrival thing more palatable. Adding bathrooms that are handy when you stop would be much appreciated. Maybe even a coat/boot check area?

The existing long parking lots cut into the hillside make getting a good spot a crap shoot and lend themselves to people driving helter-skelter to get a better spot. The climb to the base lodge leaves me breathless, and I don't want to think what climbing with a bunch of kids would be like.

Done well this effort should get skiers to the hill much more quickly and without a coating of sweat from an initial hill climb. Being next to the retail area at day's end opens up additional food & beverage opportunities.

Jonni

I feel like it's definitely a bit of a real estate play, but also it may spur additional development in the town of Waterville Valley. Right around where the village station of the gondola would be are 4 or 5 lodging options within a 5 minute walk. As far as travel time to mountain from the village, I'm not sure it'll be that long. A very rough quick measure on Google Maps shows that it'll be about 4,100' of distance to where the base of the new trails will be. If the gondola is traveling at 1000fpm it should be a little over a 4 minute ride - which is pretty reasonable. I realize that skiers traveling from the village might already be ready to ski, at which they would just continue on to the top of Green Peak without stopping. So that distance/time will be longer.

I do also agree, additional parking and day lodge facilities (coat/boot check, bathrooms, restaurant, boot-up area) would be a huge benefit to this expansion and to Waterville as a whole.

TomWhite

Nelsbeer and Jonni have good points. If I was staying in the village and going for a day of skiing, I might not go back to the village for lunch. Oh, unless it's part of my lodging package! But if I had a bag lunch, and I want to avoid the main lodge, a day lodge at the gondi mid-station (base of Green Peak) or the summit of the gondi would be nice. Having a parking lot and day lodge at the gondi mid-station would provide a new entrance for people driving in and the skiers I describe above. The one time I skied Green Peak, the terrain didn't impress me. But it could be attractive families.

justkeepmovingne

Agree with most of that. I've stayed in the village. I did not and wouldn't return. I *would* if it would guarantee a 5 minute chair ride to the village and 5 minute ride back, as opposed to a shuttle that could get delayed and have to track down a schedule for it, and even then might need to wait awhile for it to come around.

rickbolger

justkeepmovingne;c-68863 wroteAgree with most of that. I've stayed in the village. I did not and wouldn't return. I *would* if it would guarantee a 5 minute chair ride to the village and 5 minute ride back, as opposed to a shuttle that could get delayed and have to track down a schedule for it, and even then might need to wait awhile for it to come around.

This got me thinking, shuttles seem to work very well when they're purpose is to move paying customers to and from remote parking lots at the beginning and the end of the day.

When there are allegedly shuttles to move people from base area to base area, they don't seem to work nearly as well, and often they don't work at all.

Bkroon9175

Weighing in here…… the WV resort shuttle has easily accessed bus stops, readily available schedules and is highly reliable. The resort will sometimes combine routes when skier counts are down. There is also a number you can call if there is an issue. I have used the shuttle for 20 years and have had a few issues but nothing as other commentators have stated.

slatham

I would probably never stay in a village where the only transport to the lift is a shuttle. If there were a lift/Gondi I absolutely would.

lotsoskiing

slatham;c-69069 wroteI would probably never stay in a village where the only transport to the lift is a shuttle. If there were a lift/Gondi I absolutely would.

If you ever went to Saas Fee you'd change your mind. Walk or take little electric shuttles to the base of the main lift. That being said, I would prefer a lift as well, but would never say no to Saas Fee...

TomWhite

The US Forest Service had a hearing on the gondi June 6. Peter L at Liftblog.com linked this 1 hr. video. I've not viewed it.
https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/1890435503714

ski_it

I’ve used the Moover at MS for short hops and many a parking lot shuttles with good results. And I didn’t say I had a problem with the village shuttle, it just seemed inconvenient with a 20 min interval on my one visit there. I’m sure after using it once it would be much clearer to me. Our hotel wasn't listed on the not too detailed map. I asked the hotel clerk if he knew where the bus stop was and apparently it was the first time he was asked this question all season because he had no clue what I was talking about. I found there were 2 stops 50 yards outside. Wasn’t sure which loop was which. They do have a real time bus locator map which is nice.
Then do you wear your boots to hoof it up those 4 flights of stairs to get to the lifts or bring your boot bag to throw in a pile outside ?

TomWhite

Environmental Impact Statement for proposed gondola. It’s 183pp. In the 170s are photos from different locations of the proposed site. Then AI adds the trails to the photos.

https://usfs-public.app.box.com/v/PinyonPublic/file/2251075221135?sb=/details t