Doppelmayr To Build Caribbean World-Record Gondola

n the Caribbean island-nation of Dominica, a new visitor experience is being created at Boiling Lake, which guests will be able to reach in future with the world’s longest gondola. The Doppelmayr Group has been contracted to realize this unique project. The 6.6-kilometer-long aerial ropeway is being designed at Doppelmayr in Wolfurt; the concept for the ecologically and economically sustainable development of the region is the task of the project development firm Input.

Dominica is an island-nation in the Caribbean and home to the world’s second-largest hot spring: Boiling Lake in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The lake lies roughly 10.5 km east of the capital, Roseau. Getting to the hot spring involves a seven-hour hike – four hours there and three hours back. With the aim of making Boiling Lake readily accessible for day-trippers, ABL Holdings LTD contracted the Doppelmayr Group as their partner for the development of a new experiential attraction.

Input Projektentwicklungs-GmbH joined Outdoor Engineers AG in the elaboration of an ecologically and economically sustainable concept that aligns with Dominica’s tourism strategy. The Morne Trois Pitons National Park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Dominica is therefore keen to pursue a policy of sustainable tourism that enriches the life of its citizens by creating economic, social and cultural opportunities and protects the country’s natural resources as well as its nature and culture. Environmentally friendly transport to Boiling Lake will in future be provided by a 6.6-kilometer-long, 10-passenger detachable gondola – it is set to become the world’s longest continuous-movement monocable ropeway and will feature Doppelmayr’s D-Line ropeway generation. This installation will give visitors a fast, reliable and comfortable means of accessing the national park in less than 20 minutes.

Shopping and hospitality amenities will be incorporated in the bottom station and these will focus in particular on the island’s distinctive local features. The area around the top station will include a restaurant with panorama terrace, a viewing platform and, as a highlight standing at the highest point, a six-meter statue of the national bird of Dominica known as the “sisserou” or imperial amazon. A pathway leading from the top station will enable visitors to walk to the impressive Boiling Lake, the world’s second-largest hot spring, in a matter of minutes.

The ropeway engineers at Doppelmayr in Wolfurt are currently working on the technology for this world-record installation. The opening is planned for early 2024.

• 10-MGD Boiling Lake, Dominica
• Customer: ABL Holdings LTD
• Inclined length: 6,610 m
• Vertical rise: 366 m
• Capacity: 1,000 passengers per hour and direction
• Operating Speed: 6.0 m/s
• Trip time: 19.5 min