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Goforth Brothers Chairlift Co.


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#1 Warren733

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Posted 22 August 2006 - 06:42 AM

I wonder what happened to Goforth Chairlift Company? They were popular in NC, and were based in North Carolina. They made cool and wierd looking lifts at Ski areas like Beech Mt., NC. Bellow: a pictue of one of their lifts in Rhode Island, and two plus the Calvero-Savio Gondola, that was replaced with a Dopp. HSQ in 1987 at Beech MT, NC.

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This post has been edited by Warren733: 22 August 2006 - 06:42 AM


#2 skiersage

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Posted 25 August 2006 - 08:16 AM

Are any lifts made by Goforth still in operation? I would think Beech would still have at least one left but then again.
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#3 backyard lift

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Posted 18 September 2006 - 02:03 PM

At least one of the Goforth lifts at Beech Mountain (if not all of them) were updated in early 80's with Doppelmayr carriers and line gear (possibly also the drive and return bullwheels).

The interesting thing abouth the Goforth lifts is that each support sheave assy had a set of opposing small diameter rollers (around 3" diameter) on a hinge that could be folded back to lift the haul rope-kind of like the small aluminum opposing rollers on some old Riblet equipment. Looks like the Gorforth Brothers (of Shelby, NC) didn't quite trust the voodoo that keeps the haul rope on our sheaves...

#4 skier691

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Posted 19 September 2006 - 05:56 PM

I don't know, but their is a lift near Mammoth Caves in KY that is simiular looking to thoses. Could this be one maybe? The city is Cave City?, there is a tourist trap 'Alpine Slide' in the area that has a riblet double, but the lift Iam thinking of is located closer to the freeway., with a big green dinosaur. **** Caution**** If visiting, area is a 'dry county'

#5 vons

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Posted 20 September 2006 - 07:50 AM

The lift in Road Island is at the defunked Rocky Point amusment park I was there in spring 94' the park went under by the end of the summer. The chair lift I think is the only ride that was not sold off after the park went under(nobody wanted it). The park was killed by real estate prices and poor managment I think a developer bought the land for somthing like 25mil.

#6 Warren733

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Posted 27 October 2006 - 02:48 PM

There is also one that is pretty much original at the Tweetsee Theme park in between Blowing Rock, NC and Boone, NC.





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