12 replies to this topic

[greenvillehistorytours]

Just saw that someone applied to the Design Commission for a revival of Gondolas on the Reedy:

request by Johnathan Rushing to install a dock and sign for Greenville Gondola Service to be located on the Reedy River near Riverplace. The property is identified as tax map number 58-5-1, located in the Central Business District.

[Greenville]

Interesting.  I wonder where and how far the gondolas would go?  I definitely like the idea...

[Skyliner]

I can't imagine they could travel beyond the River Street bridge and the pedestrian bridge near the dammed up former "Swamp Rabbbit Railroad" trestle.  It is a great idea in our beautiful downtown, but I hope the prices will reflect the tiny size of the experience.

[greenvillehistorytours]

Skyliner, on 17 March 2010 - 02:48 PM, said:

I can't imagine they could travel beyond the River Street bridge and the pedestrian bridge near the dammed up former "Swamp Rabbbit Railroad" trestle.  It is a great idea in our beautiful downtown, but I hope the prices will reflect the tiny size of the experience.

Yes, I agree. Unfortunately, the river can be very brown in color as well in that area that has some depth. As it get shallower near the falls, it clears up better. I wouldn't want to boat around in brown water

Back when I was early on with my Greenville history tours, the guy who had the gondola business before, Mike, told me he still had his gondola if I was interested. I suspect this current effort might be re-using that gondola. I don't know. We'll see.

The idea would have went great with an idea I posted a few years ago...to turn the River St. Bridge into a pedestrian bridge and fashion a Ponte-Vecchio type bridge (Florence, Italy) with retail shops across the bridge. That attraction would also play into the future visitors center near the foot of the River St. bridge. Just sayin.

[Spartan]

How long has it been since the gondola business operated, and how long was it in operation?

[gsupstate]

greenvillehistorytours, on 17 March 2010 - 09:28 AM, said:

Just saw that someone applied to the Design Commission for a revival of Gondolas on the Reedy:
request by Johnathan Rushing to install a dock and sign for Greenville Gondola Service to be located on the Reedy River near Riverplace. The property is identified as tax map number 58-5-1, located in the Central Business District.

There is a "city hearing" sign on the banks of the Reedy along the riverwalk just north of Riverplace.  Would this be for the dock for this service?  

[citylife]

gsupstate, on 28 March 2010 - 04:15 PM, said:

There is a "city hearing" sign on the banks of the Reedy along the riverwalk just north of Riverplace.  Would this be for the dock for this service?  

Yes it would. Proposed location for dock is just north of the Terrace at Riverplace building along the banks of the Reedy River.

[RiverWalker]

Spartan, on 18 March 2010 - 02:52 PM, said:

How long has it been since the gondola business operated, and how long was it in operation?

Good question. My recollection - sometimes notoriously faulty - was that Michael Bryan's gondola rides on the Reedy River had just begun operating when an unusually strong summer downpour caused the Reedy River to overflow its banks in downtown Greenville, wiping out the gondola landing and damaging the gondola, too. The storm and the resulting flood occurred in late July of 2004.

That version of events is supported somewhat by a short article that accompanies a listing, on the Christopher Park Gallery's web site, for some "garden robot" sculptures executed by Bryan and his brother. It reads, in part, "Then a huge freak rain came through and, well, trashed his gondola." However, an April 2009 Journal Watchdog item says that Bryan had to close his gondola ride concession due to construction for RiverPlace. That JW article described Bryan's then newly opened indoor miniature golf course, Falls Park Golf & Games, in the West End. It also noted that Bryan was "...planning to bring [the gondola business] back in the next two years."

[charlie swords]

if this is the same guy as last time then my vote is against this. before it wasnt even a real gondola it was just a small fishing boat with a wooden cut out on either side. that doesnt exactly make for a romantic ride around behind the peace center.

[RiverWalker]

charlie swords, on 02 April 2010 - 10:20 AM, said:

if this is the same guy as last time then my vote is against this. before it wasnt even a real gondola it was just a small fishing boat with a wooden cut out on either side. that doesnt exactly make for a romantic ride around behind the peace center.

While I do seem to recall a previous lame effort that involved a fake gondola as you describe, the short-lived enterprise that got sunk in the flood of 2004 featured the real thing, sleek and black.

[GvilleSC]

I'm not sure what could be done, but if you can only paddle in what is essentially circles, then it's always going to come off as slightly cheesy.

[Greenville]

I feel like we need considerably more development and activity along the Reedy River to make a gondola ride worth it.  This is a nice idea, but are we really ready for it?

[charlie swords]

GvilleSC, on 02 April 2010 - 01:25 PM, said:

I'm not sure what could be done, but if you can only paddle in what is essentially circles, then it's always going to come off as slightly cheesy.

i agree. they only have from the pedestrian bridge behind the peace center to River St, that's not a very long ride.