Landmark Idaho Springs mine to be reborn this year as a gondola and entertainment complex

New Mighty Argo cable car will offer hiking, biking, live music and panoramic views 40 minutes from Denver

By Joe Ross

Hopping onto a gondola bound for the mountaintop is about to get a whole lot easier for 3 million people in the Denver area.

The Mighty Argo Cable Car system will be finished in spring 2026 in Idaho Springs – “at the intersection of history and outdoor recreation,” according to Mary Jane Loevlie, who grew up in the small town about 40 minutes west of downtown Denver.

Many folks have seen the red-colored Argo Mill while driving through the town of 1,700 along I-70 on their way to or from the high country. Loevlie and a group of investors planned the gondola system adjacent to the historic mill over the past seven years. Despite a variety of setbacks during the pandemic, the adventure will unfold this spring. Think hiking, biking, an intimate concert venue with views of fourteeners – or simply some snacks and drinks while gazing at not-so-distant mountainsides of pine and aspen. 

The Argo gold mine is a longtime landmark off Interstate 70 in Idaho Springs. | Photo by Joe Ross

“We will have 22 passenger cabins and five dedicated bike cabins,” Loevlie said. 

“We’re planning on 400,000 to 500,000 riders per year.”

The 22 Doppelmayr passenger cars will hold 10 people per cabin and will be ADA compliant. Although pricing is still being finalized, gondola rides will likely start at $40-$45, she said.

After visitors ride the 1.25 miles up to Miners Point, they will jump off some 1,300 feet above town and have access to a 300-seat amphitheater that will host a variety of bands and other events. Walkways and a trestled observation deck will surround the venue. Local food and beverages will be available.

And to answer the most obvious question of Coloradans, yes, “all well-behaved pooches will be welcomed,” Loevlie said.

Adventure and history

The loading area at the base, and Miners Point at the top, are mostly inside the Virginia Canyon Mountain Park, which will feature 28 miles of hiking and biking trails, accessible in summer and winter for fat-tire enthusiasts and trekkers.

Granted, most people aren’t cut out to hike or climb 14ers even though they’d appreciate a great view of a few. Once riders reach Miners Point, views of Mount Blue Sky, Grays Peak, Torreys Peak and Mount Bierstadt will be part of the vista to the south and west. 

Idaho Springs, founded in 1859, owns Virginia Canyon Mountain Park, and Loevlie’s team has worked closely with officials to pull together the $71 million history-meets-adventure destination. Loevlie, who owns or partly owns several businesses around Idaho Springs, hopes to increase the number of tourists who think of the town as a destination, rather than a quick stop for pizza and beers.

The mountain park shares its name and terrain with the Virginia Canyon Scenic Drive, which drops down to Idaho Springs from Gilpin County - the road is also known as Oh-My-God Road because the narrow dirt path is really steep. 

Adjacent to the gondola launch is the Argo Mill, which has offered tours for years and features an authentic look into the gold rush days. Dirt floors, huge metal gears, leeching tubs, and mind-boggling gadgets are found under giant wood beams and other supports holding the earth at bay. Visitors shouldn’t expect amusement park shenanigans. Rather, they will get an unnerving idea of what it took to process millions of tons of rock into gold. 

In his book “The Great Argo Project,” historian Terry Cox described the mill as “a big box that holds a collection of crazy-looking contraptions that seem to make no sense. They are contrivances that most people have never seen before and will likely never encounter anywhere else.”

The custom mill began operating in 1913 and served the towns of Central City and Black Hawk, as well as Empire, Georgetown and Silver Plume, according to Cox.

Click here to learn more about the Mighty Argo and sign up to be notified when the complex opens.

This story is from our winter 2025-2026 issue. Read the entire issue online here, and find our full magazine archive here.