One of four stops of the unique Telluride/Mountain Village gondola above Telluride, once a mining boomtown and now a popular skiing destination in Colorado. With its opening in November 1996, the gondola became the first and only free public transportation system of its kind in the United States. The cars link old Telluride and the skiing and condominum area of Mountain Village serving not only skiers and snowboarders but also as public transportation for locals and visitors. The 13-minute ride has 365-degree views of the San Juan Mountains and is often referred to by locals as “the best commute in the country." Photo by Carol Highsmith, 2016.