Killington: Skyeship Express Gondola

Welcome to the only two stage lift in the northeast!

In 1994, the original Carlevaro and Savio Killington East Gondola was getting old and expensive to maintain. Poma replaced it with this supremely unique gondola system. It is actually two separate lifts that can be operated independently or linked together to act as one. The first stage travels from a base area on Route 4 to the bottom of the Needle's Eye area. It is 7848 feet long by 1187 vertical. The second stage picks up where the first stage leaves off and brings passengers the rest of the way to the top of Skye Peak. It is 5105 feet long by 1335 vertical. Under normal operational conditions the two staged are linked and you can ride all the way from Route 4 to the top of Skye Peak without even leaving your seat. In early/late season, sometimes only Stage 2 is open and when winds limit operations at the top of Skye Peak, Stage 1 will run alone.

Both stages have a design capacity of 2400/hr but there are not enough cabins on the lift. I believe it's closer to 1600/hr. The design speed is 1200 feet per minute, but the speed during this recording is a still fast 1100 feet per minute. I believe it averages the highest normal operating speed in the Northeast. Kind of necessary when the combined length of both stages is well over 2 miles.

I hope this lift gets a similar upgrade to what the K1 Gondola just had to improve reliability and passenger comfort. However I'd only want it to happen if the lift would continue to be as fast as it is now.