Gunstock's Panorama lift down during busy holiday weekend

GILFORD — The Panorama quad ski lift at Gunstock Mountain Resort has been inoperable since Sunday, throwing a wrench into snowsports recreation plans during President’s Day weekend. Director of Marketing Bonnie MacPherson said the lift is experiencing a mechanical issue, and lift mechanics are still trying to identify the cause. They don't know yet when the lift will be operational again.

“This certainly isn't an ideal time for us to lose a lift, with it being a holiday vacation period, but it is what is,” MacPherson said. “We have people that are on staff, that are experts in this field, and who can identify what's wrong and fix it for us. And that's what we're working to do.”

The ski lift offers ticket-buyers more than just a nice panoramic view of Lake Winnipesaukee. The Panorama is the only lift which brings skiers and snowboarders to the summit to access additional trails. Gunstock still has 37 out of 49 trails open.

There were some skiers, like Jessica Hammond from the South Shore of Massachusetts, whose plans were not affected by the lift's closure. Hammond said it appeared fewer people were out on the mountain due to wind and cold winter weather, so she didn’t think the inconvenience was noteworthy.

“We come to Gunstock every year, and it’s the first time we’ve seen it out,” Hammond said of the lift. “It’s not that busy this year, so it’s not that bad.”

The Panorama lift has been operating as without interruption since Feb. 1, when it was not operational for 87 minutes due to an electrical issue. The lift was also not operational on Jan. 20, during another holiday weekend.

To make it up to ticket holders, Gunstock offered rainchecks on purchased lift tickets, or mountain credit. Tickets purchased for between Feb. 17, and Feb. 21, qualify for a nonrestricted lift ticket valid for a return visit on another day through Dec. 31, 2025. To receive the raincheck, visit the Gunstock ticket office or send an email to services@gunstock.com with the word “RAINCHECK” in the subject line. In the body of the message, list the names and dates of birth associated with tickets purchased.

Skiers and riders can instead receive credit for tickets purchased in the same time period. Credits will be issued at the Gunstock ticket office. Ticket prices are discounted until the lift is back up and running.

MacPherson said because people had planned to ski or ride at the resort for their vacation week, and pre-purchased tickets, the team at Gunstock wanted to make sure they made good on their purchase.

“There's still good skiing, but you can't access the summit, so we thought this would be a good way to sort of, reconcile,” she said.

Colin Sterling, from Connecticut, said when speaking to a representative at the ticket office, the staff was upfront about the lift issue, and made him aware of the credit and raincheck options.

“They made a point, saying, ‘You’re entitled to your money back.’ And I’m thankful, because I didn’t know,” Sterling said.

A statement on Gunstock's website said customers can check gunstock.com for up-to-date lift operation information.

Gunstock lifts undergo inspections daily by the mechanical team, as well as rigorous annual inspection by the lift manufacturer, and the New Hampshire Tramway, according to a Facebook post from the ski resort. MacPherson said, like a car, lifts can have unexpected mechanical issues. But regardless, safety is always the No. 1 priority for Gunstock.

“The safety of our guests is what's paramount. It's the most important thing to us, and we want to make sure that that when they're coming to visit us, that they have a safe experience as well as a fun experience,” MacPherson said. “We're not going to operate any of our lifts without making sure that they're in perfect working order and they're safe.”