Royal Gorge Gets Clear-Floor Gondolas
Royal Gorge Park in Colorado has launched new clear-floor gondolas offering a thrilling way to see the gorge from above. These gondolas provide an immersive view of the canyon below and are a unique addition to the park's adventure lineup. Registration is also now open for Tennessee's April "Hike-A-Thon", an event supporting local nature and conservation initiatives where participants log miles and raise funds.
The two new glass-floor gondolas join an existing fleet of traditional enclosed cabins, giving visitors a direct view down to the Arkansas River, 1,200 feet below. The gondolas traverse a span of 2,200 feet across the gorge. This modern aerial tram system, built by Leitner-POMA, was first installed in 2013. It replaced a 35-passenger single-span tram that had operated since 1969 but was destroyed in a devastating wildfire in June 2013 which damaged 90% of the park. The ride is one of the longest single-span gondolas in the United States. The full system consists of six cars in total, each with a capacity for eight guests. The gondola ride is included with general admission to the Royal Gorge Bridge and Park. Other attractions that have an additional fee include the Cloudscraper Zip Line, the Royal Rush Skycoaster, and the Via Ferrata climbing route on the gorge's granite walls. The iconic Royal Gorge Bridge itself remains the highest suspension bridge in the United States at 955 feet above the river. First opened in December 1929, the bridge has a total length of 1,260 feet.
