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   Maine: Saddleback Mountain Resort: Expansions
Ski Area Expansions
 
Gondola Area at Saddleback Mountain Resort
Gondola Area Details
Gondola Area
Status:Cancelled
First Season of Operation:1970s
Lifts:1 lift
Terrain:Intermediate and expert terrain
Return to Saddleback Mountain Resort Profile
With neighbor Sugarloaf growing at a rapid pace, Saddleback was running the risk of being left in the dust. A major expansion was planned to help Saddleback become a major New England resort.

Circa 1972, John Christie purchased Saddleback and planned to take it into the big leagues. The details of the plans varied over the years - perhaps a new base area, perhaps a 6,600 foot covered chairlift, perhaps a gondola. At least three trails, ranging up to 2,000 vertical feet, were planned - Hook, Line, and Sinker.

The lift line would eventually be cut all the way to the alpine zone in the early to mid 1970s, along with a few other trails. The top to bottom lift, however, would never be installed. Instead, financial difficulties resulted in the sale of Saddleback in 1975. The Kennebago Area would later be built in the upper portion of the proposed Gondola Area, while the lower portion of the lift line would slowly grow in during subsequent decades.


The 1973 Saddleback trail map showing the proposed Gondola Area
The 1973 Saddleback trail map showing the proposed Gondola Area

The gondola line as seen in a late 1980s aerial photo/trail map
The gondola line as seen in a late 1980s aerial photo/trail map

The remains of the gondola line (2011)
The remains of the gondola line (2011)

The remains of the gondola line (2011)
The remains of the gondola line (2011)

The remains of the gondola line (Tightline) (2011)
The remains of the gondola line (Tightline) (2011)

The remains of the gondola line (Tightline) (2011)
The remains of the gondola line (Tightline) (2011)

The remains of the gondola line (Tightline) (2012)
The remains of the gondola line (Tightline) (2012)

Saddleback Mountain Resort Expansion History
Project NameSeasonStatus
False PeakCancelled
Gondola Area1970sCancelled
Kennebago Area1979-80Open
Magalloway AreaCancelled
No Name AreaCancelled
South Bowl1980sCancelled
South Branch Area2004-05Open
Southwest Summit Area1979-80Cancelled
West BowlCancelled
Return to Saddleback Mountain Resort Ski History

Last updated: April 22, 2014

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