The mountain-top theme park in Glenwood Springs, Colo., is saying goodbye to its 15-year-old Iron Mountain Tramway in preparation for construction of a new, high-efficiency replacement. After the farewell party on Oct. 28, the park will close until mid-March of 2019 while the detachable, 44-cabin tramway is installed.
Glenwood Springs, Colo. (October 19, 2018) — After 15 and a half years of service, Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park is bidding a fond farewell to the current Iron Mountain Tramway with a Goodbye Tram Party on Sunday, Oct. 28, from noon to 6 p.m. Festivities include prize drawings, giveaways, free cake and refreshments and $1 hot dogs in the plaza. The tram ride is $10, a throwback to the price when it opened in 2003.
The grand prize for the drawings at the party is for the last tram ride down the mountain with owners Steve and Jeanne Beckley. Second prize is the second-to-last tram ride down with general manager Nancy Heard. The drawing will be held at 5 p.m., and winners must be present to win. Other prize drawings will be held throughout the event.
“This is definitely a bittersweet time for us. The tramway transformed a seasonal cave tour operation into a year-round destination,” Steve Beckley, who owns Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park with his wife Jeanne, said. “I’m sure there will be some emotional moments as we look back on how the business has changed over the years. At the same time, we are very excited to be able to improve service to our guests with the new tram.”
Since opening, the tram has transported more than 2.2 million guests to and from the park’s mountain-top location in Glenwood Springs, Colo. Its views of the majestic Mt. Sopris, Glenwood Springs and the Colorado and Roaring Fork River Valleys have made it an attraction in and of itself.
“We started with eight tram cabins and worked our way up to 18 as our visitation increased. Now it’s time for us to upgrade to improve the guest experience at the Adventure Park with little to no wait to board the tram from the base or the top,” Beckley added. “This will be most advantageous in our peak summer season and during events such as Music on the Mountain.”
The park closes Monday, Oct. 29, for construction of a new, high-efficiency system with 44 detachable, six-person cabins—increasing capacity from the current 300 to 1,000 people per hour and significantly decreasing the frequency of weather-related closures. Leitner-Poma, with offices in Grand Junction, built the original tram and will handle construction of the new one. Construction is anticipated to last until mid-March, when a grand re-opening celebration is planned.
All of the park’s rides are open through the end of the month, weather permitting. The Lookout Grille is serving autumn favorites all month, including bratwursts and sauerkraut, pretzels, seasonal beers, spiked apple cider and fun, fall drinks for kids. The popular Bloody Mary Bar is open and stocked with dozens of garnishes. The General Store has added pumpkin to its selection of homemade fudge and offers fudge-covered apples as well.
Through Oct. 28, the park is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. More information about the park, including hours of operation and a list of which attractions are open, can be found at GlenwoodCaverns.com or by calling 800-530-1635 or 970-945-4228, ext. 0.