Popular Ontario beach town could get aerial gondola along waterfront

An aerial gondola could soon transport tourists along the sun-drenched waterfront of Ontario's most popular beach town destination.

Wasaga Beach is home to the world's longest freshwater beach, but moving masses along such a vast stretch of beachfront can put a real strain on local transportation.

The Town of Wasaga Beach announced on Thursday that it had set the wheels — or in this case cables — in motion to explore adding a new aerial ropeway along the beachfront, serving as both an attraction and a means of transportation.

Wasaga Beach signed a Letter of Intent with Doppelmayr Canada to look into this potential gondola system as part of the Town's broader Destination Wasaga vision.

Doppelmayr is known for producing some of the longest and most complex aerial gondola systems, serving functions including public transportation, access to high mountain peaks, and sightseeing.

A Wasaga Beach gondola system would serve a dual function for the town, moving locals and tourists alike along the beachfront without putting strain on local roads, while also offering a new way to see the popular beach town. 

"This is exactly the kind of private-sector interest we hoped Destination Wasaga would generate," said Mayor Brian Smith. 

"We have one of the most extraordinary natural and tourism destinations in the country, and experienced partners are seeing its potential. This gives us an opportunity to explore bold ideas that could improve how people move around our community while creating new reasons for people to visit and enjoy Wasaga Beach throughout the year."

The agreement is an early step towards the implementation of a gondola system, and no routes have yet been released to the public. 

However, a framework is now in place to explore concepts, routes, locations, and other aspects of a potential aerial transportation system "that could improve connections between key destinations while creating distinctive new visitor experiences near the beachfront."

Luc Guy, CEO of Doppelmayr Canada, said that the company sees "exciting potential to explore how proven ropeway technology could improve connectivity on the next level while creating an experience that is uniquely Wasaga Beach."

And that's not the only aerial entertainment in the works for Wasaga Beach.

In addition to exploring a gondola, Wasaga Beach is also looking into adding nature-based attractions and accommodations, and has entered into discussions with Ecotrek to look into new draws like treetop trekking and elevated net attractions supported by camping and 'glamping' options.

Sandra Watts, General Manager of External Relations for the Town of Wasaga Beach, hopes these types of attractions can help transform the beach town into a "four-season destination."

"The opportunity is not simply to attract more people on our busiest summer days, but to give the millions of visitors who already know and love Wasaga Beach more reasons to stay longer, come back throughout the year and support local businesses."