Industry News
Nestled in the French Alps along a quiet roadside near the town of Taninges lies a strange and beautiful sight: row after row of decommissioned ski lifts. Chairlifts, gondolas, bubbles, and cable cars rest quietly in what looks like an outdoor museum. To the passerby, it is known informally as the ski lift graveyard. But this is no junkyard. It is a one-of-a-kind collection of alpine history that has become a cult favorite among skiers, collectors, and curious tourists. And yes, you might be able to take one home.
The story of Taninges Télécabines begins with Roger Gaudin, a local antique dealer and collector with a deep love for mountain heritage. In the early 2000s, Gaudin acquired one of the original cable car cabins, affectionately called “Eggs,” from the Flégère lift in Chamonix. That moment sparked a passion in his sons, Stéphane and Julien, who soon began preserving old lift equipment on a much larger scale.
In 2010, they made their boldest move yet by purchasing all 42 red gondolas that had been retired from the Chavannes lift in nearby Les Gets. With that, Taninges Télécabines was born.
Spread over more than 17,000 square feet, the open-air yard and adjacent showroom feature lift equipment from all over the Alps and beyond. There is nothing like it anywhere else in the world. From single-seat chairlifts to massive 80-person gondolas, the variety is striking. Some of the most renowned French ski resorts are represented here, including Courchevel, Megève, and the legendary Aiguille du Midi.
So, can you buy one? The answer is that it depends. While many lifts are for sale, others are reserved for special uses or event rentals. Some are simply too rare or sentimental to part with. And if you are hoping for a fully restored, customized lift for your backyard or business, be prepared to join a waitlist and to wait patiently.
This is not a high-speed operation. Restoring these machines is a meticulous, handmade process. In their workshop just outside Taninges, Julien and Stéphane transform rusted-out gondolas into mint-condition showpieces. A chairlift might be repainted in pastel tones, its wooden seat slats sanded and replaced with locally sourced wood. Old skis become art. Lift cabins are converted into ticket booths, pop-up bars, or cozy dining pods.
While many of their pieces end up in alpine hotels, ski resorts, or luxury chalets, some have made appearances at weddings in London, events in Monaco, and art installations in Paris. But for the Gaudin family, this is more than just business. It is about preserving the soul of the mountains. Their ultimate dream is to open an international museum dedicated to the history of ski lifts—a place where anyone, whether a skier or not, can explore the evolution of mountain transportation.
Whether you are a diehard skier, a collector of quirky art, or someone nostalgic for snowy mountain days, Taninges Télécabines offers a glimpse into a world where engineering meets passion. And if you ask nicely, they might just let you take a piece of it home.
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