14 replies to this topic

[bradleyhig]

http://gallery.lonestarthrills.com/v/new/f...tion/?g2_page=2

They used to have a vonroll skyride but they got rid of it in the 1970s now they are getting a Doppelmayr built one. Skyrides aren't dead.

[Peter]

Wow, didn't they just break ground a few weeks ago? It must be easier on flat, accesible land.

[Stowemass]

Apparently this is the only Von-Roll Skyride in Texas that is still standing.

This post has been edited by Stowemass: 10 April 2007 - 12:30 PM

[Peter]

http://gallery.lonestarthrills.com/v/Fair-...ction/04072007/

April 7th update

The Uni-GS skin is already taking shape!

[bradleyhig]

I saw a photo of one of the cars they are going to run but I can't find it now. They are totally inclosed. Does Doppelmayr build cars and chairs?

[SkiBachelor]

Doppelmayr/Garaventa build their own carriers, but rely on their cabin manufacturer CWA to build the gondola cabins. CWA was purchased by Doppelmayr in 2001.

[bradleyhig]

CWA made a lot of cabins for Vonroll skyrides. Seems like Doppelmayr does nothing but buy people out is their stuff reiable lke the old Vonroll skyrides?

[vt3pinandy]

bradleyhig, on Apr 11 2007, 11:06 PM, said:

CWA made a lot of cabins for Vonroll skyrides. Seems like Doppelmayr does nothing but buy people out is their stuff reiable lke the old Vonroll skyrides?

Greetings from the TX jobsite. I just arrived Friday after a 30+ hour drive from NE VT with my trusty 8x10 trailer. Wow, Talk about a lift installer out of his element. Concret jungle indeed with the entire line concrete and actually due to the tents of the midway quite a beast when it will come to comline pulling and eventually haul rope installation(the construction foreman informs me my comline is the guineau pig for the lead/sand line(pre haul rope pull for anyone not familar). Well we got right to it on Saturday with some good old fashion derail switch and wire installation in the air. Typically I try and get to the site to do most of this work on the ground but not this job. Luckily there are only 8 towers but 3-6 top out at about 75 feet. Now lots here might say 75 feet is an average but most lifts I do on the east coast the last few years are more in the 40 foot range so this is big with huge gondola sheave trains and sheaves. Beautiful view of the Cotton Bowl and the downtown TX skylight but did I mention I live in a town of 500 so a little on the different side. To bless us on Saturday were 50 degree temps and 20-30 mph winds. Not what I remember from TX when growing up or coming to visit family which ironically live here. And to top it all off I did not bring my usually slew of warm clothes. Well it felt great to be back at it nonetheless and I will get some neat photos and post them sooner or latter and please feel free to contact if you have any questions about this ride. Hope you all had a great weekend and glad most of you have entered your quieter,less stressful time of year. Signing out, AP

[Peter]

New Photos:
http://gallery.lonestarthrills.com/v/Fair-...ction/04152007/

[bradleyhig]

New photos up and some of the cars they are going to run.


http://gallery.lonestarthrills.com/v/Fair-...ction/04222007/

[tahoeistruckin]

talk about a big fish being out of water.
I'm sorry that just doesn't look right. A lift, in the middle of Dallas. Closet skiable mtn, 1,000 miles away. lol

[chasl]

bradleyhig, on Apr 11 2007, 10:06 PM, said:

CWA made a lot of cabins for Vonroll skyrides. Seems like Doppelmayr does nothing but buy people out is their stuff reiable lke the old Vonroll skyrides?

Like most companies CWA was looking for a buyer and It only made since for Doppelmayr to buy them (like Von Roll).
The company (CWA) was left intact and is being run as a totaly independant entity, and they still sell equipment to Doppelmayr's competitors.

And like other companies I don't believe you get to be one of the best by selling unreliable stuff.

[bradleyhig]

IF it wasn't for the idiot management at Six Flags St. Louis and Texas State Fair Vonroll might still be around.

[SkiBachelor]

I believe Von Roll lost a large amount of money building the lifts at Silver Mountain, ID. The town of Kellogg agreed to pay off the lifts by paying Von Roll a fixed amount each year for a certain amount of time and three years later, the town couldn't afford to make those payments. Von Roll took ownership of the mountain and Doppelmayr sold it to JELD-WEN when it acquired Von Roll. I could be wrong about this, but from what I've read, this is how it sounded.

[skierdude9450]

I don't think that Von Roll's problems originated out of Silver Mountain. They were way behind in Europe.