A Grand Canyon Gondola? One Developer is Trying

According to AZ Central, a proposed bill seeks approval from the Navajo Nation Council to build a gondola in the Grand Canyon on Najavo reservation land has gained some legs.

(The above video was produced by American Rivers, an organization that opposes the project, and shows what the development would look like.)

The Grand Canyon Escalade Project was first introduced about five years ago by a Scottsdale-based developer, The Confluence Partners LLC. Now—as of this week, the Navajo nation is considering legislation to approve the project.

The project includes the construction of hotels and a gondola on the Canyon’s edge and would encompass nearly 420 acres on the rim and above the confluence of the Little Colorado and Colorado rivers [do people float through here? Where is this place in the context of outdoor rec?]. The proposed gondola would have capabilities to bring 10,000 people down to the river per day. (Read summary of the bill, here).

This has been a long-debated project; The Confluence Partners LLC argues that the project would provide hundreds of jobs and the opportunity to those who can’t walk, ride mules, or boat to the river’s edge.

Those opposed say the gondola and development would endanger the serenity of one of the seven natural wonders of the world, and the sacred site where the rivers meet. They are also worried about what 10,000 people a day could do to the river’s fragile ecosystem.

If you think this project is whack, you can sign a petition opposing it.

Related: This video TGR produced that honors the beauty and grandeur of the Grand Teton National Park and highlights the importance of conserving our natural treasures.