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Last week, a helicopter-assisted project involving the removal and replacement of the tramway’s steel support towers was completed, and workers began fastening cable support hardware to the tops of the new towers.

Tramway project details

The work is being done by Doppelmayr USA, a ski lift and aerial tramway company that does similar work at sites across the nation and around the world and maintains a regional base of operations in Tucker County.

The new aerial tramway makes use of six-passenger gondolas — an improvement over the four-passenger cars used in the old system — all of them fully accessible and in compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

In addition to the larger passenger gondolas, the new tram system includes a freight car large enough to carry kayaks, bicycles and other gear for paddling on or fishing in the Bluestone River or pedaling on the Bluestone Turnpike Trail and other canyon-base pathways.

What to know about Pipestem

Pipestem’s 30-room Mountain Creek Lodge and its fine-dining restaurant are accessible to guests only by riding the aerial tramway. After descending the eastern slope of Bluestone Gorge, the tram crosses the Bluestone River, traveling about two-thirds of a mile before reaching its destination at Mountain Creek Lodge.

Located on the Bluestone River Gorge at the border of Summers and Mercer counties, Pipestem Resort State Park features cross-canyon zipline tours, a splash park and adventure lake, guided trout fishing trips, a championship golf course, 82 campsites, 26 cabins and two lodges.

“Pipestem Resort has always been one of the most popular state parks in West Virginia, and this new tramway is going to help us accommodate visitors and continue to offer a world-class experience,� said Division of Natural Resources Director Brett McMillion, a former Pipestem superintendent.

Doppelmayr USA was awarded an $8.37 million contract to install the new aerial tramway at Pipestem and $6.5 million to replace the Hawks Nest State Park Tramway.

The Hawks Nest tram system has been closed since June 2021, after an inspection turned up a potential safety issue. When it became apparent that the tramway would have to be replaced, rather than repaired, DNR officials decided it would be prudent to replace the Pipestem system, as well, since it also was a half-century old and was difficult to keep supplied with new parts for routine maintenance.

The Hawks Nest tramway typically carries 45,000 visitors annually from the park’s lodge on the rim of the New River Gorge to a marina, jet boat concession and camping sites on the shore of Hawks Nest Lake, 800 feet below.

The Pipestem tramway continued operating until its normal seasonal closing time at the end of October. It is expected to resume operations sometime this fall.