Idaho Springs, 28 miles west of Denver, Colorado (USA), is currently awakening from its long slumber. The small town of 1,700 residents along Interstate I-70 was founded in 1859 during the gold rush. During the last 20 years Idaho Springs has become a vibrant community known for it’s outdoor recreation and genuine historic Atmosphere.

The construction of bike and hiking trails across about 500 hectares in the town at an elevation of 2,294 meters, combined with a gentle tourism boom during the COVID-19 pandemic, inspired local entrepreneur Mary Jane Loevlie and her team to transform the “Argo Mill & Tunnel“ – already used for tourism since 1970 – into  a major attraction.

At the heart of the project is a 10-passenger gondola lift by DOPPELMAYR.

City, street & mountains with potential

“The combination of day-trippers from Denver as well as vacationers from Colorado, across the USA, and worldwide holds enormous potential for Idaho Springs and the Mighty Argo Mill,”  emphasizes Mary Jane Loevlie in her SI interview.

Three million people live in the Denver metropolitan area, 22 million vehicles pass the highway at Idaho Springs each year, and numerous ski resorts in the Rocky Mountains attract visitors.

The conditions are excellent – and politics, business, and the local community in Idaho Springs have recognized this. They are supporting the Mighty Argo Team in their project, which brings together nature and history.

An experience from valley to mountain

The Historic Gold Mill is connected to over 124 miles of mines via the 4.2 mile long Argo Tunnel. It forms together with shops, parking areas, and the gondola lift’s valley station the “Argo Station.” At its core is “Argo Mill & Tunnel” – an iconic heritage site and landmark of Colorado’s gold rush history.

Museum tours are already offered here. The “Argo Station” is also a hub for the Greenway Trail and Virginia Canyon Mountain Park, and the Victorian old town is within walking distance.

From the “Argo Station,” the 10-passenger gondola lift “Mighty Argo” takes visitors in ten minutes over 1.5 miles and 1,300 feet of elevation gain up to “Miners Point.” There, guests can enjoy views of historic mining facilities, Clear Creek Valley, and surrounding peaks including Mount Blue Sky and other 14,000-footers.

A panoramic restaurant, a playground, and an amphitheater provide space for fun, art, and culinary experiences. “Whether concerts, weddings, or receptions – the mountain becomes an event location,” says Mary Jane Loevlie.

In addition, “Miners Point” is the starting point for educational trails on nature and history, as well as over 28 miles of hiking and biking routes. Infrastructure also include access roads for emergency vehicles, a water treatment plant, and wildfire prevention measures.

First Bike Cabs in the USA

“The 22 golden cabins are real eyecatchers, designed to attract people from the Interstate I-70 into Idaho Springs just like gold nuggets once did,” reports Mary Jane Loevlie. The accessible cabins, five of which have glass floors, can hold ten passengers each and will transport up to 600 people per hour and direction.

Five cabins are designed as Bike Cabs – they carry only bicycles. “Idaho Springs sometimes records 1,000 cyclists per day, and with the gondola these numbers will rise drastically – year-round, since snow doesn’t stick here,” says Loevlie.

The Bike Cabs are the first of their kind in the USA. The D-Line gondola system is powered by a Doppelmayr Direct Drive (DDD) – ensuring quiet, low-vibration operation.

Doppelmayr Direct Drive

Financing made the difference

D-Line, DDD, Bike Cab: For the manufacturer DOPPELMAYR, the Mighty Argo Cable Car is a standout reference project located within one hour of seven major year round resort destinations. But why did the company win the tender?

“Besides professionalism and quality, it was the consulting and financing that made the difference,” explains Mary Jane Loevlie. Specifically, DOPPELMAYR brought the European investment fund Funis on board, which, together with the American investor group GVC and local shareholders, is financing the gondola lift.

Up to 400,000 guests per year

The advantage of Funis fund? The fund has extensive experience in building and operating ropeways, as supervisory board member Eugen Nigsch, also CEO of the ropeway in Koblenz (Germany), explains:

“We took a close look at the Mighty Argo project – from the location to the market situation, the catchment area, and the business model. We expect 250,000 guests in the first year and, in the medium term, 350,000 to 400,000. That’s why we joined the project.”

Mary Jane Loevlie already expects the operation to be profitable by its second year. A total of 71 million dollars is being invested in the project, the site is also approved for future hotels, houses and mixed use. Mighty Argo will help advance the entire destination.

Know-how provided

Construction of the gondola lift is already well advanced – and initiator Mary Jane Loevlie is correspondingly enthusiastic:

“DOPPELMAYR builds so quickly with such quality – it’s very impressive.”

Together with local companies, many challenges have already been overcome, such as finding the ideal top station site or dealing with difficult geological conditions. Funis fund and DOPPELMAYR also provided additional operational expertise for the gondola lift.

Opening spring 2026

“The cable installation is already scheduled for October 2025, with the opening in spring 2026,” says a delighted Mary Jane Loevlie. The initiator is confident about finding the necessary staff – with Denver and the regional ski resorts, there is a good labor pool. She is also certain of local community support:

“Residents will receive a free ticket. That way, they will become ambassadors for the Mighty Argo Cable Car!”