6 replies to this topic

[Nordic]

The Vail Vista Bahn is gone, but the memories remain. Vail celebrated her 50th year Friday, November 16th, 2012 with a new 'Gondola One' in the Vail Village that replaced the Vista Bahn that was built in 1985. Before the Vista Bahn the Vail Village had a vintage 1962 four passenger Bell bi-cable 'Gondola 1' to Mid-Vail. Here is an album of Vista Bahn lift construction photos from 1985...

Album: Vail Vista Bahn 1985

14 images

2 comments

This post has been edited by Nordic: 19 November 2012 - 05:03 PM

[Peter]

Cool pictures. Thanks for sharing, Nordic!

[boardski]

There was actually another lift in between the original bi-cable gondola and the VB, it was a yan double chair installed in 1976 and removed in 1985 and apparently moved to Lutsen to become their Caribou lift. This originial "Chair 16" traveled about half the distance of the current line and carried skiers/ riders- although not many riders back then- high enough to catch the original Yan double chair #17 which was removed when the current Avanti (lift #2) was installed in 1989.

Very nice photos, brings back memories. I remember wondering why they were replacing a lift that was only 9 years old at that time and had no idea used lifts were reinstalled other places back then.

This post has been edited by boardski: 19 November 2012 - 07:16 PM

[Nordic]

Yes that's right. The two Yan's replaced the original Bell Gondola 1 from 1976 to 1985. When the Lionshead Bell Gondola malfunctioned in 1976, the older 4 passenger Vail Village Gondola 1 shut down the same day as I recall. I don't know if the Yan's were really meant to be permanent.

This post has been edited by Nordic: 19 November 2012 - 09:34 PM

[boardski]

Oddly enough, there were actually 3 Yan double chairs that were installed in 1976 from what I understand, chairs 16 & 17 mentioned above and the former chair 2 which is now at Beaver Creek and even has the same number. The Yan double chair #2 replaced the original Riblet chair 2 originally installed in 1964 (the same year chairlift #1- Giant Steps lift, was installed). I don't know why the original lift #2 had to be replaced so soon.

This post has been edited by boardski: 20 November 2012 - 08:17 PM

[chuckm]

Wish you had some of the pics of the actual construction- got me excited for a moment- i only have a couple of pictures flying x-arms. That was quite a project- alot of stories that will probably never get told again. We were the "Elite Alpine Assault Team". It was definitely an adventure as well as an education.Anyone out there have any pics of the tipped over crane on top of the Vista Bahn haul rope?

[liftmech]

Heard a story about that one-- word has it the spool was a bit heavier than the crane setup could handle?