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Jackson Hole Mountain Resort to build new gondola

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has announced it will build a new gondola in time for the 2016/2017 ski season. Construction of the Sweetwater Gondola will begin this spring.

JACKSON, Wyo. -

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort has announced it will build a new gondola in time for the 2016/2017 ski season. Construction of the Sweetwater Gondola will begin this spring.

The gondola will be located between the Bridger Gondola and Tweewinot High Speed Quad. A mid-station will be located approximately one third of the way up the mountain in the Solitude area and will terminate just uphill of the Casper Restaurant. In total, the new gondola will rise 1,276 vertical feet.

Resort officials said the gondola would increase out of the base area capacity and eventually provide access to a new and enhanced children's ski school facility in the mid station area.

"This is an exciting time for JHMR," stated JHMR President, Jerry Blann. "Improving the out of base capacity will greatly enhance skier flow, and the Sweetwater Gondola will dramatically improve the beginner skier and rider experience," noted Blann.

The gondola is being built by Doppelmayr Inc., with an 8-person cabin and a capacity of 2,000 people per hour. The entire ride will take seven and one half minutes.

Blann said it was no coincidence the announcement came during the resort's 50th anniversary season. , "This is the first in a series of significant capital improvements over the next few years that underscores our commitment to keeping Jackson Hole at the industry leading level we are at today," said Blann.