From the Foundation Stone to Ten Years of Gold Gondola: The Story That Changed Zlatibor

On this day, 19 August 2015, on the occasion of the Transfiguration, the foundation stone was laid for the Gold Gondola Zlatibor project.

At that time, the first ride was still many years away, and the gondola itself seemed like a huge and ambitious idea. Yet one thing was already clear: there was a strong determination and belief that this project could transform Zlatibor’s tourism offering. Today, 11 years later, we look back on that date from a completely different perspective. Gold Gondola has become one of the symbols of Zlatibor, and 2026 is a year of two anniversaries – ten years since the establishment of the public enterprise Gold Gondola Zlatibor and five years since the gondola’s first ride.

That is why, this Transfiguration, we return to the beginning – to the moment when the foundation stone was laid and the journey towards making the project a reality was only just beginning. It marked the start of a long process shaped by planning, construction, numerous challenges, but also by the perseverance of the people who believed that an idea could become reality. Today, Gold Gondola has a full decade of work, development and new experiences behind it. In the meantime, the gondola has carried a large number of passengers, become an integral part of Zlatibor’s tourism offering and created a space through which visitors can discover the mountain in its authentic form.

But behind every journey there is more than just infrastructure. Today, Gold Gondola is a system that operates every day thanks to a team of people who ensure its safe and reliable operation, while also working to continually offer visitors new activities, programmes and experiences. From technical and operational teams, to employees responsible for its day-to-day functioning, to those who develop new offers and experiences, every part of this work contributes to a story that has been taking shape for the past ten years.

That is why this anniversary is an opportunity to remember not only the project itself and its achievements, but also the people, associates and partners who have been part of its development – from its very first steps to the Gold Gondola we know today.

“When we look at the photographs from the laying of the foundation stone today, perhaps the most striking thing is knowing how much still lay ahead of us at that moment. The gondola was a major idea, and the journey towards its realisation was long and demanding. What never wavered was the decision not to give up on that idea. Today, we can see just how important that decision was. Gold Gondola is not only about kilometres of route and the number of passengers carried, but about the people who helped create it, our partners and associates, as well as the team that today works every day to ensure its safe and reliable operation and to continually bring new activities, offers and experiences to our visitors. This anniversary is therefore an opportunity to look back on everything we have been through together. Ten years of Gold Gondola are not simply ten years of a public enterprise, but ten years of people, their work, energy, knowledge and belief in this idea. That is precisely why we want to mark the anniversary year with a new project that will remind us of all the people who have been part of this journey and without whom Gold Gondola would not be what it is today, while at the same time opening a new chapter about what lies ahead. We will reveal the details soon,” said Bojana Božanić, Director of Gold Gondola Zlatibor.

Over the past ten years, Gold Gondola itself has evolved – from a project and a major infrastructure investment into a place where a wide range of activities and experiences are now created for visitors. In addition to its primary function of connecting the centre of Zlatibor with Tornik, the gondola has become a platform for events, cultural and creative programmes, outdoor activities and new ways of experiencing Zlatibor.

The anniversary is therefore also an opportunity to reflect on the journey that has been made. On this day, the Transfiguration, we return to the beginning – to the foundation stone laid on 19 August 2015, and to the moment when Gold Gondola was still just a great idea.

Today, we know that it was worth believing.