BUTTE, Mont. -- It's been over 40 years since Our Lady of the Rockies first made her home atop Butte's East Ridge. In all the time that has passed since, it's never been very easy to visit her up close and personal--but that could be changing soon.
As it stands, the only way to visit the 90-foot-tall statue of Mother Mary is a 45-minute bus tour up the East Ridge's rocky terrain. As a result, tours only take place in summer when weather permits.
That's why the Our Lady of the Rockies Foundation has long talked about building a gondola that can take visitors up the mountain all year round.
In recent years, that talk is finally turning into something material.
"Our biggest hurdle was getting permission to cross the interstate in the aerial right-of-way," said foundation president Ron Gallardo. "Once we accomplished that, we decided that we were in good shape to move forward with the gondola project."
"Only about 4,000 people a year can get up there, and that's just due to the terrain, the buses, the weather, and the climate--it is a rugged mountain road to get up there," Gallardo continued. "We just need to make something that's easier, so that this wonderful Butte icon really is accessible for all people."
Gallardo says that each gondola ride would be capable of carrying eight passengers and would take less than 15 minutes to reach the top.
The goals for the gondola are to boost Butte's tourism economy and spread the story of Our Lady for generations to come.
"There are plenty of people who are younger than 40 years old and have no idea what the story of Our Lady is," Gallardo said. "Our Lady of the Rockies is such an important part of Butte, Montana. It's such an important of Butte's history. She really is a symbol of the community and a symbol of the resiliency of the people of Butte."
The foundation is still looking to raise around $5 million to make the gondola project a reality.
They'll be hosting a public fundraiser at the Covellite Theatre this Friday, Aug. 21, at 6 p.m. Donations can also be made online at the Our Lady of the Rockies website.
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