The New High-Speed Arizona Gondola

Gondola Cabins

We’re excited to introduce the Arizona Gondola, Arizona’s newest high-speed lift that replaces Agassiz lift for the winter 2020/2021 season. Scheduled opening: early December.

Since its inception, the Agassiz lift has been the beating heart of Snowbowl. With the replacement of the lift, we’re ushering in a new era – more than an upgrade, the new Arizona Gondola completely redefines the year-round alpine experience in the Grand Canyon State.

One of only six of its kind in the United States, the high-speed combination lift will take the place of the current chair, with six-person chairs interspersed with eight-person gondola cabins. The new Arizona Gondola will transport passengers up 2,000 feet of vertical in just 7 minutes – less than half the time of the existing lift.

See Construction Updates

Arizona Gondola Quick Facts

One of the largest lift installation projects in North America in 2020
High-speed detachable chairlift and gondola combo
Gondola cabins will be spaced between every two chairs
Accesses 2,000 feet of vertical in 7 minutes

New Agassiz Lift

As Arizona’s only high-speed combination lift, the Arizona Gondola will set a new standard for the alpine experience in Arizona. Skiers can choose to ride the six-person chair or take a leisurely ride to the top in the 8-person cabin. In the summer and fall, scenic chairlift riders will benefit from passenger cabins in chilly or inclement weather, and passengers that need more assistance boarding a lift can be accommodated more readily.

The current Agassiz chairlift was installed in 1986, and there has been a chairlift in this location for 59 years, since 1961. Times (and fashions) have changed, but the incredible views and the character of the lift have remained.

We’re proud of our commitment to our guests and passholders, and we’ll continue to work hard to improve the guest experience across all areas at Arizona Snowbowl throughout future seasons. To learn more about additional planned improvements, please see our Master Development Plan.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did you repair the existing lift if a new lift will be installed this summer?

A: In addition to making the lift operational again for service in the current season, it was also necessary to repair the lift in order to safely remove the chairs. The existing chairlift will be re-purposed and installed in another location; the location has not been determined.

Q: Will a new high-speed lift cause congestion at the top of the mountain?

A: Simply put, no. The new lift increases the line speed to transport guests up the mountain in half the time of the existing lift, but chairs and cabins are spaced further apart and overall hourly uphill capacity will remain the same.