Lift troubles can quickly turn a skiing session into a nightmare. At worst, they leave visitors stranded in mid-air limbo, waiting for repairs. At worst, they can be deadly. However, the small comfort of ski lift malfunctions is that they are generally limited to the mountain. However, this week the scourge of broken lifts appears to have infiltrated a New Jersey mall.
The site of the mishap was East Rutherford, New Jersey, home of the American Dream mall. In addition to over 450 stores, the massive shopping complex is home to North America’s only indoor year-round ski area, a four-acre, 16-story slope that opened in 2019 (it also has a wave pool for good measure).
According to Northjersey.com American Dream staff confirmed that 25 visitors were left stranded in that ski area on May 8. Luckily, it was a short-lived glitch. After around 30 minutes, the power was restored and the visitors could resume their indoor sessions. “All guests were safely unloaded using the lift’s backup motor system, and at no point were any guests in danger,” said American Dream spokeswoman Brianna Cortez. “The issue was repaired within the hour, and all affected guests were provided with complimentary return vouchers for their loss of time.”
