From City to Ski Slopes on Lake Tahoe Gondola

Going up? Way up? Starting Thursday, ski gondolas can take you from South Lake Tahoe to Heavenly ski resort, a 2.4-mile uphill trip.

The $20-million, 138-car gondola system is about the same length as another well-known tram system in California, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. The Tahoe system reaches higher (9,156 feet elevation versus 8,516 feet) but isn’t as steeply banked as the one in Palm Springs (2,933-foot elevation gain versus 5,873). The Tahoe trip takes about 12 minutes one way, said spokeswoman Monica Bandows.

About two miles up, riders in the eight-passenger cars can disembark at an observation deck for views of Lake Tahoe, or they can go to the end, about mid-mountain at Heavenly near the Tamarack Express ski lift. (Unlike the Palm Springs tramway, there’s no food at the top. Heavenly plans to add a day lodge with a restaurant next year.)

The gondola’s main advantage for visitors: They won’t have to drive up to Heavenly if they’re staying in the South Lake Tahoe-Stateline area, where casinos and hotels are major attractions, Bandows said. The gondola will run continually 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends and holidays and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekdays in winter; summer hours aren’t set. The ride will be free for purchasers of daily Heavenly ski lift tickets, which are about $45 to $57 depending on how many ski runs are open. Others will pay $18 round trip for adults, $12 seniors and ages 6 to 12, free under 6.

The project is part of a $250-million redevelopment plan, backed by the city, Heavenly and other private investors, that will also add a hotel, a time-share property and a pedestrian village downtown in the next few years.