Riders rescued from theme park chairlift

http://www.news-record.com ^ | Tuesday, July 31, 2007 | AP via N&R

[Rb ver. 2.0]

MAGGIE VALLEY (AP) — Dozens of visitors were rescued Monday from the chair lift at Ghost Town in the Sky after lightning struck the ride.

Ten riders made it to the ground safely with the help of a rope ladder system, said David King, sales and marketing manager.

Twenty-eight others had to wait until repairs were made. Rescue workers tossed ponchos, for protection from the rain, to those who were stuck.

Wendy Whiteside of Knoxville, Tenn., said she and her family were about 10 chairs from the top when the ride stopped. The problem didn't dissuade her from possibly trying the chair lift again.

"They were really good to us. They handled it well," she said. "We'll definitely come back. I would reconsider the lift."

An inspector with the state Labor Department was expected at the park Tuesday morning to inspect the lift.

A woman was injured in 1999 at Ghost Town when the chair in which she was riding fell from the cable about 20 feet to the ground. In 2002, the lift failed twice, leaving riders stranded for hours each time.

[Rb ver. 2.0]

Ghost Town in the Sky, where there's a killing everyday!

[Rb ver. 2.0]

The culprit:

[reagan_fanatic]

Why was the ride operating if there was lightning in the area?

[the_devils_advocate_666]

I once had to be “rescued” from a chair lift at a ski resort when it broke down. We had to be lowered down from the lift using a rope and a “J” bar. It was kind of fun and they gave us all free ski passes, I was happy with that.

[cyclotic]

There is a standard process for removing skiers from ski lifts. It’s done at every ski resort on rare occasion and is practiced by Ski Patrol. It is a simple procedure. A rope with a loop at the end is tossed over the cable. The skier removes the skis, puts one foot in the loop, grabs the rope and is lowered to the ground.

I think I’ve been on the Ghost Riders lift. It was pretty old, but still serviceable.