A gondola connecting downtown Winter Park and the resort is something that has been talked about for a long time. Lately, it's starting to feel like there is real movement toward making it happen.
Updated November 10, 2026
A November 3 special election approved up to $120 million in borrowing authority for the gondola. The 3–0 result is unofficial until it's certified, which is expected by November 17.
The latest: a key financing vote just passed
On November 3, voters approved up to $120 million in borrowing authority for the project. Only three ballots were cast, a quirk of how the regional financing authority behind the project is set up. That authority brings together the Town of Winter Park, Grand County and two metropolitan districts to help finance, build and operate transportation infrastructure in the area.
It's worth being clear about what the vote does and doesn't do. It authorizes borrowing, but it isn't final construction approval, and the full $120 million hasn't been secured yet. Still, it's a real milestone for a project that has lived on wish lists for years.
What's actually being planned
The gondola is the centerpiece of Connect Winter Park, part of the resort's larger Winter Park Unlocked plan. Here's the current picture:
- The routeA 10-person gondola running nearly two miles from Cooper Creek Square in downtown Winter Park, up to the Discovery Park learning area, and down to the base village.
- The first pieceThe first segment planned for construction would replace the Gemini Express chairlift, linking the base to Discovery Park.
- A ski-back trailA new trail would let skiers and riders head back down toward town at the end of the day.
- A rebuilt base areaTown Council unanimously approved rezoning 165 acres of the resort for mixed-use development, with new lodging, dining and gathering spaces planned.
Funding is expected to come from a mix of private money from Alterra Mountain Company and public financing, including tax increment financing through the town's urban renewal authority.
Look at what the gondola did for Telluride
Anyone who has ever visited Telluride will tell you about the gondola that connects Mountain Village and the town. It has helped tie the two sides of the mountain together, and visitors use the free ride constantly, whether they're heading to the slopes or catching a dinner reservation on the other side. It isn't just a lift; it's part of how people experience the whole place.
Bringing the base to life beyond ski season
If you have ever been to Winter Park outside of ski season, odds are you never even went to the base (unless you're a mountain biker). This project could change that.
Steamboat is the example to watch. Alterra, which also owns Steamboat, tore down the old gondola building there and turned the space into a large plaza designed for both summer and winter, complete with an ice rink that becomes a lawn for summer events and a food and drink hall. The result is a base area people actually want to spend time in year-round. Winter Park's plan aims for much the same thing: a mixed-use base that stays active through every season.
Easier trips into town
The gondola works in both directions. Guests who come up on the Winter Park Express train and stay at the base would have an easy, car-free way to get into town for dinner, shopping and nightlife. That could mean more business for downtown restaurants and shops, which have always been a bit cut off from the resort crowd.
It helps the other way, too. Visitors who drive up could park downtown, stay near the gondola terminal and ride up to the mountain instead of fighting for a spot at the base.
A new kind of guest for Winter Park
Winter Park has long had lower real estate values and lower rental rates than other Colorado ski towns. That's part of its charm, but an improvement of this size could help bring a new kind of guest to Winter Park: travelers who might have defaulted to Steamboat, Vail or Telluride and now see a connected, walkable mountain town with a year-round base village. For homeowners and anyone renting property here, that's a shift worth watching closely.
What comes next
The vote results should be certified by November 17, and several approvals still have to fall into place before construction on the town-to-resort gondola can begin. The Gemini Express replacement is expected to be the first piece to move forward. We'll keep following the project and update this post as it develops.
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- Unofficial Networks: Just 3 voters approve $120 million in borrowing authority for Winter Park ski gondola (Nov 8, 2026)
- Winter Park Resort: Winter Park Unlocked
- SnowBrains: Winter Park moves forward with town gondola and $2 billion master plan
- Town of Winter Park: Base Area Preliminary Development Plan approval
- Landscape Architect: Full Steam Ahead (Steamboat Square redevelopment)
