gondola/tramway on Rte 16

hancoveguy · 07-05-2010, 02:25 PM

Hello all, I know its a bit out of the "Winni" area, but I thought maybe someone would know about it anyway. The other day we went out Rte 25 and turned South on Rte 16 (in W. Ossipee I think) As soon as we were on Rte 16 there was some sort of tramway or gondola thing there. We didn't have time to stop and since then I have googled the heck out of it with no results. Anyone know anything about this?

thanks
HCG

Skip · 07-05-2010, 02:29 PM

HERE you go!

Resident 2B · 07-05-2010, 03:50 PM

I cannot believe Mt. Whittier has been closed for 25 years. I would have guessed 15 or 18, but not 25 years.

WOW, time flies!!

Got to work harder on the Bucket List!

Enjoy this great weather.

R2B

Skip · 07-05-2010, 04:16 PM

I hear ya R2B!

When I was a kid my parents always loaded us into the station wagon once a year to do the Santa's Village, Six Gun City and Storyland loop. We always stopped and rode the gondolas, sometimes in the fall for foliage viewing.

Its sad to see how disheveled the area has become. I know at least one individual that wanted to develop the area by building a trailer park (park models) on the site...thankfully that plan has fallen through for now.

hancoveguy · 07-05-2010, 04:19 PM

okay but when I went by it looked like the gondolas were operational? no?

Skip · 07-05-2010, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

okay but when I went by it looked like the gondolas were operational? no?

The towers and cables are still in place, but the site hasn't operated for several decades.

no-engine · 07-06-2010, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hancoveguy

okay but when I went by it looked like the gondolas were operational? no?

I remember skiing there as a kid. I do drive by there several times a year.

I do recall an attempt to revitalize the area. For a brief time, I think a gondola operated from the parking & base across Route 16 to the base of the former ski area in summer for riding the water slide affair.

BroadHopper · 07-06-2010, 08:31 AM

are pretty cold about the idea to restart the gondola. A buddy of mine approach them 15 years ago about sharing the property and starting up the gondola as a tourist attraction. They gave him the cold shoulder and wish that the gondola is not there. They waste too much time answering folks questions and hearing from folks about restarting.

Why don't they just tear it down?????

Winni P · 07-06-2010, 08:35 AM

Aren't they trying to put a race track/ auto club on this property?

Mee-n-Mac · 07-07-2010, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by no-engine

I remember skiing there as a kid. I do drive by there several times a year.

I do recall an attempt to revitalize the area. For a brief time, I think a gondola operated from the parking & base across Route 16 to the base of the former ski area in summer for riding the water slide affair.

I also recall they had a "car" you could ride down the hill on. The "cars" were mounted like a monorail but with the rail under the "car". There were also wheeled grass skis you could rent. This was back in the late 70's IIRC.

And across from the base station on Rt16 there was a go-cart track and cheesy mini-golf course, not associated with the ski/gondola operation.

no-engine · 07-07-2010, 07:51 PM

Oh ya now I remember that for warm summer weather.
In Gilford, there used to be a ride on tracks in summer on the now closed ski.
Totally separate from Gunstock.

Yankee · 08-15-2010, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mee-n-Mac

I also recall they had a "car" you could ride down the hill on. The "cars" were mounted like a monorail but with the rail under the "car". There were also wheeled grass skis you could rent. This was back in the late 70's IIRC.

And across from the base station on Rt16 there was a go-cart track and cheesy mini-golf course, not associated with the ski/gondola operation.

I remember doing that back in the day. We would also take our dirt bikes on the trails leading up to the top.

BroadHopper · 08-15-2010, 05:48 AM

Can't recall 'cars' at Whittiers or Gilford. But I remember the skimobiles at Cranmore. They were slow and vibrate a lot!

Yankee · 08-15-2010, 07:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

Can't recall 'cars' at Whittiers or Gilford. But I remember the skimobiles at Cranmore. They were slow and vibrate a lot!

I had a chance to buy on of those-along with one of the mini-gondola's from Wildcat a few years back...kinda regretting it now.

tis · 08-15-2010, 05:36 PM

I skiied at Whitter and rode the gondola. Those were the days!

Argie's Wife · 08-15-2010, 11:13 PM

If you go on eBay or even just do a Google search the Cranmore Skimobiles come up from time to time. There was a lady in Sanford, Maine who had several of them just a little while ago. She also owned a storage place in Sanford... we had corresponded and I was going to trade work (a website) for a skimobile, but something came up. I lost her name/email addy...

07-05-2010, 02:25 PM	#1
hancoveguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 276 Thanks: 95 Thanked 65 Times in 30 Posts	gondola/tramway on Rte 16 Hello all, I know its a bit out of the "Winni" area, but I thought maybe someone would know about it anyway. The other day we went out Rte 25 and turned South on Rte 16 (in W. Ossipee I think) As soon as we were on Rte 16 there was some sort of tramway or gondola thing there. We didn't have time to stop and since then I have googled the heck out of it with no results. Anyone know anything about this? thanks HCG

07-05-2010, 02:29 PM	#2
Skip Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 1,615 Thanks: 256 Thanked 514 Times in 182 Posts	Old Mount Whittier Ski Area HERE you go!

07-05-2010, 03:50 PM	#3
Resident 2B Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: North Shore, MA Posts: 1,352 Thanks: 987 Thanked 310 Times in 161 Posts	Closed 25 Years I cannot believe Mt. Whittier has been closed for 25 years. I would have guessed 15 or 18, but not 25 years. WOW, time flies!! Got to work harder on the Bucket List! Enjoy this great weather. R2B

07-05-2010, 04:16 PM	#4
Skip Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Dover, NH Posts: 1,615 Thanks: 256 Thanked 514 Times in 182 Posts	Brings back memories... I hear ya R2B! When I was a kid my parents always loaded us into the station wagon once a year to do the Santa's Village, Six Gun City and Storyland loop. We always stopped and rode the gondolas, sometimes in the fall for foliage viewing. Its sad to see how disheveled the area has become. I know at least one individual that wanted to develop the area by building a trailer park (park models) on the site...thankfully that plan has fallen through for now.

07-06-2010, 08:31 AM	#8
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,512 Thanks: 3,118 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	Present owners. are pretty cold about the idea to restart the gondola. A buddy of mine approach them 15 years ago about sharing the property and starting up the gondola as a tourist attraction. They gave him the cold shoulder and wish that the gondola is not there. They waste too much time answering folks questions and hearing from folks about restarting. Why don't they just tear it down????? __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to Skip For This Useful Post:
bclaker (07-05-2010), hancoveguy (07-05-2010)

07-05-2010, 04:19 PM	#5
hancoveguy Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 276 Thanks: 95 Thanked 65 Times in 30 Posts	okay but when I went by it looked like the gondolas were operational? no?

The Following User Says Thank You to Skip For This Useful Post:
hancoveguy (07-05-2010)

07-06-2010, 08:35 AM	#9
Winni P Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Saunders Bay Posts: 97 Thanks: 128 Thanked 19 Times in 14 Posts	Race track Aren't they trying to put a race track/ auto club on this property?

07-07-2010, 07:51 PM	#11
no-engine Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: West side Winnipesaukee, Lakes Region Posts: 516 Thanks: 20 Thanked 52 Times in 40 Posts	Oh ya now I remember that for warm summer weather. In Gilford, there used to be a ride on tracks in summer on the now closed ski. Totally separate from Gunstock.

08-15-2010, 05:48 AM	#13
BroadHopper Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Laconia NH Posts: 5,512 Thanks: 3,118 Thanked 1,090 Times in 784 Posts	Cranmore Can't recall 'cars' at Whittiers or Gilford. But I remember the skimobiles at Cranmore. They were slow and vibrate a lot! __________________ Someday may never be an actual day.

08-15-2010, 05:36 PM	#15
tis Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 6,411 Thanks: 720 Thanked 1,381 Times in 957 Posts	I skiied at Whitter and rode the gondola. Those were the days!

08-15-2010, 11:13 PM	#16
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	If you go on eBay or even just do a Google search the Cranmore Skimobiles come up from time to time. There was a lady in Sanford, Maine who had several of them just a little while ago. She also owned a storage place in Sanford... we had corresponded and I was going to trade work (a website) for a skimobile, but something came up. I lost her name/email addy...