STORY AND PHOTO BY KAREN BOSSICK

A powder blue gondola car has found its way onto Main Street Ketchum between 4th and 5th Street. Its part of the city’s efforts to spice up its street fare following the two-year Main Street reconstruction project, which ended this past summer.

This gondola is not for skiers riding to the top of Bald Mountain. It’s actually for skiers wanting to get in out of the cold and snow while waiting for the bus.

And—surprise!—the seats are heated so it should be quite toasty.

“I think this is a wonderful way to wait for the bus and a great tip of the hat to our ski culture,” said Ketchum Mayor Neil Bradshaw. “We now just need to skin the gondola with some creative artwork.”

Ketchum’s Art Committee is accepting design proposals throughout the winter and will choose one to install next spring. The artwork will be applied to the exterior of the gondola using vehicle wrap-grade printed vinyl graphics with an overlaminate protection.

The artist will receive a $1,000 stipend, and the artist’s name and other information will be featured on the installation and in promotional publications, including the city’s website.

Possible themes could include local activities, such as skiing and mountain biking, the dark sky reserve that Ketchum sits in, local wildflowers or history.

To learn more, go to https://www.ketchumidaho.org/sites/default/files/fileattachments/administration/page/49544/2025_kac_call_for_artists_-_goldola_wrap_-_extended_dedline.pdf.