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Our Lady of the Rockies group seeking approval to build a tram

Posted at 1:33 PM, Jan 18, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-18 15:33:07-05

BUTTE – The Our Lady of the Rockies organization in Butte is one step closer to its dream of building a tram that would transport people all the way up to the East Ridge to visit the 90-foot tall statue of the Virgin Mary.

The group recently received a donation of 12.3 acres of land from the Sister of Charity of Leavenworth Health Services, which oversees St. James HealthCare in Butte. It’s on this land that the Our Lady of the Rockies group hopes to build the base of the tram system.

The land in question is located just north of Skyline Park and just south of the Columbia Garden Estate subdivision. The Butte-Silver Bow Planning Board must first approve this transaction and is holding a public hearing on Jan. 24th.

Many residents in the Columbia Garden Estates subdivision are interested in this issue because subdivision would be located right next to the proposed tram station. Some residents said they’re concerned about potential increased traffic, how it will affect the property values, and their view.

Lady of the Rockies officials said this is just the very beginning of a very long process, so don’t expect to take a ride soon.

The public meeting will be Jan. 24th at 5:30 p.m. in council chambers on the third floor of the Butte Courthouse.

Our Lady of the Rockies sits at an elevation of 8,510 feet and was completed on December 17, 1985 when a Nevada Air National Guard team lifted the statue in four sections with a CHAR Sikorsky Sky Crane.

For more information about Our Lady of the Rockies, click here.

-Reported by John Emeigh/MTN News