The Gondola Shop

What The Gondola Shop does

The Gondola Shop, founded in 1998 as Sunshine Polishing by Dominique Bastien in Whistler, British Columbia, is a specialty manufacturer and restoration company focused on ski gondola cabins. The business originated from a proprietary plexiglass polishing technique — reportedly the only such service in the world — that removes up to 85% of scratches from gondola windows, extending the operational life of expensive ski resort infrastructure. Over 25 years, the company expanded from on-site polishing contracts into full gondola restoration, acquiring retired gondola fleets from Steamboat (110 units) and Killington (68 units) as raw material inventory for a secondary product business.

The company's commercial offering now spans two lines: restored vintage gondolas (sold as-is or made-to-order as dining cabins, coffee bars, photo booths, and saunas, priced $12,700-$28,750) and a new manufactured Terra 4 Collection (4-person stationary gondola launching 2026 at $21,500). Customers include tier-1 North American ski operators (Vail Resorts, Telluride, Whistler Blackcomb, Aspen Snowmass, Snowbird, Big Sky), municipalities (Town of Mountain Village), hospitality operators (Maverick Hotel, Victory Ranch, Yellowstone Club), and individual consumers seeking unique installations for events or homes. Distribution runs through a Shopify e-commerce storefront, direct personal delivery, and relationship-based enterprise sales.

The business model combines one-time product sales (gondola purchases and restoration services), subscription-based rental revenue (Colorado/Utah only, weekly/monthly), and professional-services contracts (international gondola polishing via Sunshine Polishing Austria). Operations are headquartered in Fruita, Colorado, with a jointly controlled regional entity in Austria serving European markets. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped, with 11-50 employees.

Name

The Gondola Shop

Legal name

The Gondola Shop

Website

https://thegondolashop.com/

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Gondola Shop is a Colorado-based specialty manufacturer that restores and repurposes ski gondolas into dining cabins, saunas, and commercial installations. It serves ski resorts, hospitality operators, and individual buyers through direct e-commerce and enterprise sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Ski Gondola Restoration and Repurposing Manufacturing

NAICS

Skiing Facilities (71392), Recreational Goods Rental (532284)

SIC

Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)

akta.pro industry

PRIMARYCRAMAJAF

Ski & Snowboard Service & Repair Shops (Tuning, Mounting, Boot Fitting)

Consumer Products & Retail/Sporting Goods & Outdoor Retail/Winter Sports (Ski/Snowboard) Retail

Keywords

• Ski gondola restoration
• Gondola manufacturing
• Custom gondola conversions
• Ski resort equipment
• Plexiglass polishing services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fruita

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Gondola Sales (Pre-built and Made-to-Order): Sale of restored vintage ski gondolas and new Terra 4 collection gondolas. Pre-built inventory available for immediate purchase. Custom made-to-order gondolas with 12-24 month lead times. One-time purchase model with customization options.
2. Gondola Rental: Short-term and long-term rental of gondolas for events, weddings, promotional purposes, and special occasions. Rentals available exclusively in Colorado and Utah. Weekly and monthly rental options.
3. Custom Gondola Conversions: Specialty conversions including dining gondolas, coffee bars, photo booths, and saunas. Made-to-order with extended lead times. Higher price points for custom builds with full interior/exterior customization.
4. Parts and Accessories: Sale of gondola parts, accessories, and add-ons including ski racks, covers, seats, LED lighting, wooden tables, shelves, USB outlets, and vinyl graphics.
5. Service Contracts (via Sunshine Polishing): On-site polishing and maintenance contracts for ski resorts worldwide. Contract-based work for maintaining gondola appearance and extending operational life.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

The Gondola Shop restores, customizes, and sells authentic ski resort gondolas as functional spaces for restaurants, hotels, weddings, offices, and residential use. Product lines include vintage gondolas sold as-is, made-to-order custom conversions (Dining, Coffee-Bar, Photo Booth, Sauna), and a new Terra 4 Collection of stationary 4-person gondolas. The company also provides on-site plexiglass polishing and restoration service contracts for ski resorts worldwide, plus short-term gondola rentals for events in Colorado and Utah.

Product overview

The Gondola Shop is a specialty manufacturer that restores and repurposes authentic ski resort gondolas into functional commercial and residential spaces. The product portfolio centers on two core offerings: (1) Vintage gondolas sold as-is or restored-to-order, including the Dining Gondola ($25,700), Coffee-Bar ($28,750), Photo Booth ($12,700), and Sauna ($27,500) made-to-order lines; and (2) the new Terra 4 Collection ($21,500), a brand-new stationary 4-person gondola launched in 2026. The company also sells add-on modules (LED lighting, wooden tables/shelves, USB outlets, ski racks, covers) and provides restoration services through its legacy Sunshine Polishing division. Rental services for events are available in Colorado and Utah. The company was founded as Sunshine Polishing in 1998, rebranded to The Gondola Shop in 2019, and merged operations under the new brand in 2022.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Terra 4 Collection Brand-new stationary 4-person ski gondola reimagined as functional spaces (office phone booths, meeting pods, dining nooks, hotel lobby installations). Aluminum construction with faux wood seats, available in 9 colors. Dimensions: 62.2" x 46.5" x 67" (outside), weight approximately 450 lbs. Customization options include wooden table, removable shelf, power/USB outlets, LED lighting, and wooden base.
• Dining Gondola - Made to Order Custom restored Omega S 8-passenger ski gondola converted to dining cabin for restaurants, bars, and private events. Features custom laminated birch table, customizable paint colors, sub-zero vinyl seats (heated option available), LED lighting, and new plexiglass windows. Size: 67" wide x 78" long x 78" high. Weight approx 750 lbs. Price $25,700 with 12-24 month lead time.
• Coffee-Bar Gondola - Made to Order Refurbished 8-passenger gondola converted to service counter for food/beverage operations. Features custom-built wood shelving, lockable serving door/awning, ceiling LED lights, 6-plug power bar, and pallet jack access. Outside dimensions 78"L x 66"W x 85"H. Production time 8-10 months. Price $28,750.
• Photo Booth Style Gondola - Made to Order Restored 8-passenger Omega S gondola converted to mobile photo booth for events, weddings, parties, and store openings. Features custom wood shelf with metal support, LED ceiling lighting, and removable seat. Doors removed for lighter weight. Size: 67" wide x 78" long x 78" high. Price $12,700.
• Sauna Gondola - Made to Order Unique handcrafted sauna built from discontinued Steamboat 8-passenger gondola cabin. Features 100% Hemlock wood interior, Finnleo Junior Heater with smartphone app control (SaunaLogic2), custom caster wheels, LED lighting, and protective cover. Accommodates 4-6 adults. Dimensions: 78"L x 68"W x 80"H. Weight approx 950 lbs. Price $27,500. Currently not accepting new orders.
• Vintage Ski Resort Gondolas (As-Is)
• Apple Green Dining/Office Gondola Fully restored 6-seater gondola in metallic apple green. Small enough for office or limited spaces. Features custom birch laminated table, restored Plexiglas windows, LED lighting under seats, and power bar. Can be installed inside or outside. Size: 60"W x 67"L x 75"H. Weight approx 450 lbs.
• Used Point of Sale Gondola Pre-owned custom-built gondola cabin converted to point-of-sale service counter. Features solid wood shelving, LED lighting, and service awning on metal base with pallet jack cutouts. Used condition with minor scratches. Inside dimensions: 3'x5'x81"H. Price $22,000. Local pickup only.
• Wedding Gondola Fully restored gondola decorated for weddings with mahogany bench and table, curtains, and LED lights. Available in pearl white. Fully customizable with flowers or accessories. Rental starting at $1,800 for one-day event.
• Restored Ski Chair Restored vintage Riblet two-passenger chair from China Peak, CA, converted to swing. Industrial paint with clear coat, matte finish wooden seat. Ships in 4 pieces. Full size: 68"x78"x129"H. Must be anchored to ground. Price $3,500.
• Vintage Breckenridge Chair Vintage Breckenridge '7 up' chair lift frame. Total height 102". Bench 38"W x 18"H. Sold as-is, pickup only. Price $1,200.
• Promotional Gondola Rental Service Event rental service for vintage, dining, promotional, and wedding gondolas. Available exclusively in Colorado and Utah. Weekly rentals start at $800-$900, monthly at $1,700-$3,600 depending on gondola type. All rentals customizable with logos/graphics. Turnkey service includes gondola logistics.
• Gondola Restoration Services Complete gondola restoration service. Process includes full disassembly to bare frame, sandblasting, priming, painting with industrial coatings, interior customization (furniture, lighting, tables), and reassembly. Restoration process takes 1-6 months depending on customization level.
• Sunshine Polishing (Window/Surface Restoration) Original service business specializing in polishing and restoring plexiglass window panels for ski resorts. Can remove up to 85% of scratches. Also restores dry rubber moldings. The only company in the world known to offer this restoration service, saving resorts hundreds of thousands in panel replacement costs. Delivered via on-site service contracts worldwide.

Quantifiable outcome

• 85% of scratches can be removed from plexiglass windows through proprietary restoration process
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers15 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Feature4 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• AlpimminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2022Partnership with Alpim, a woman-owned company based in France that designs, manufactures, and sells various attachments for chair lifts and gondolas to carry bicycles more efficiently, safely, and easily. The company expanded into bike carriers for gondolas and chairlifts through this partnership.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Doppelmayr/Garaventa Group: World's largest ropeway and cable car manufacturer, producing the gondola systems and lift infrastructure that The Gondola Shop's clients (Vail, Telluride, Whistler, etc.) operate and eventually retire. They are the dominant upstream supplier of the gondola cabins The Gondola Shop restores.
• Leitner-Poma of America: Major manufacturer of aerial tramways, gondolas, and chairlifts for ski resorts and urban transit. They produce many of the CWA, Sigma, and other cabin types that end up in The Gondola Shop's restoration pipeline, making them an upstream incumbent in the same supply chain.
• CWA Constructions SA: Swiss manufacturer of the CWA Omega S gondola cabins (1980–1997 vintage) that comprise much of The Gondola Shop's restoration inventory. As the original equipment maker for many of the gondolas being repurposed, they represent the closest upstream incumbent in the niche.

Emerging players

• Bartholet Maschinenbau AG: Swiss manufacturer of ropeways, cable cars, and amusement rides serving ski resorts and urban applications. They represent an emerging player in the gondola/cabin space whose retired or replaced cabins could enter the secondary restoration market.
• Skyride / SIGMA Cable Lifts: Sigma Diamond Cabins are explicitly mentioned in the company's seat reupholstery compatibility list. As a North American cable-lift manufacturer, they overlap with the gondola cabin ecosystem that The Gondola Shop services and refurbishes.

Others

• Gantner Beltec / SkiData: Provider of access systems, ticketing, and operating equipment for ski resorts and cable cars. While not a gondola manufacturer, they operate in the same ski-industry ecosystem and serve the same resort customers as The Gondola Shop.
• Vintage / Industrial Furniture Restoration Companies: Small studios that restore vintage industrial and architectural items into residential and commercial furniture (e.g., reclaimed factory pieces, retro aviation interiors). They share the craftsmanship-driven, made-to-order restoration business model but operate in adjacent materials rather than gondolas.
• Event Rental Companies (Ski/Mountain Hospitality): Regional event rental firms offering wedding, dining, and corporate event infrastructure in mountain towns (Aspen, Vail, Park City). They overlap with The Gondola Shop's wedding and promotional gondola rental business in Colorado and Utah.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC40x74MUvufKR_dRu1DSqNw?view_as=public
• Facebookfacebook.com/thegondolashop
• Instagraminstagram.com/thegondolashop

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Gondola Shop