Manara Cliff

Manara Cliff (Tzuk Manara) was a tourism, recreation and extreme-sports site in the Upper Galilee, on the slopes of the Naftali Mountains between Kiryat Shmona and Kibbutz Manara. Its centerpiece was a cable car that, until April 2022, was the longest in Israel; it climbed about 1,940 metres from the southern approaches of Kiryat Shmona to the slopes of Kibbutz Manara, gaining roughly 750 metres in altitude. The site combined the cable-car ride with a restaurant, alpine slides, a climbing wall, an omega zip-line, rappelling, a summer pool, children's activities and guest cabins. The project was developed over decades. The idea of a cable car was first raised in the early years of Kibbutz Manara, with discussions beginning in 1971 as part of a broader tourism-development plan for Kiryat Shmona. In October 1974 the Kiryat Shmona municipality commissioned a feasibility study, and in 1976 a Swiss company offered to build it in exchange for a ten-year operating concession. In 1989 Kibbutz Manara received approval to build the cable car, and in 1990 the tourism minister visited and promised a budget. Construction finally began in 1996 at a cost of 30 million shekels, and the cable car opened to the public in the summer of 1998. In its first year of operation, 250,000 people rode it. In 1999 additional attractions were added: a restaurant at the upper cable-car station, 1,200-metre alpine slides running from the middle station to the lower station at the entrance to Kiryat Shmona, and a 16.5-metre climbing wall as part of a cliff-climbing site. In August 2006 the site was damaged during the Second Lebanon War by numerous Katyusha rockets that landed in the area, causing severe fires that hit the site's facilities and the forested area and shutting down operations; activity resumed only in March 2007. Every few years the site closed for maintenance and renovations. Following a business dispute among the shareholders, the site closed in 2019. On 30 January 2022 the media reported that talks were underway to reopen the site for Passover 2022, but it ultimately remained closed. During the Iron Swords War the cable-car infrastructure was severely damaged, so that reopening it would require a large investment. The operating company was established for the project, with Holiday Tourism (owner of the Holiday complex in Jerusalem) as the main shareholder at 66%, while the Kiryat Shmona Economic Company and Kibbutz Manara each held about 16%. The site is currently closed to visitors and its status is defunct as an operating attraction.

The idea of building a cable car at Manara Cliff was first conceived in the early years of Kibbutz Manara. In 1971 discussions began about constructing it as part of a comprehensive project to develop tourism in Kiryat Shmona. In October 1974 the Kiryat Shmona municipality commissioned a feasibility study for its construction, and in 1976 a company from Switzerland offered to build it in exchange for a ten-year operating concession. In 1989 Kibbutz Manara received approval to build the cable car, and in 1990 the tourism minister visited the site and promised a budget for the project. Construction was finally carried out in the second half of the 1990s. A company was established for the project, with Holiday Tourism (owner of the Holiday complex in Jerusalem) as the main shareholder at 66%, while the Kiryat Shmona Economic Company and Kibbutz Manara each held about 16% of the shares. Construction of the cable car, at a cost of 30 million shekels, began in 1996, and the cable car opened to the public in the summer of 1998. In its first year of operation, 250,000 people rode the cable car. In 1999 additional attractions began to be built at the site: a restaurant at the upper cable-car station, 1,200-metre alpine slides from the middle cable-car station to the lower station at the approaches to Kiryat Shmona, and a 16.5-metre climbing wall as part of a cliff-climbing site. In August 2006 the site was damaged during the Second Lebanon War by numerous Katyusha rockets that landed in the area during the war, causing severe fires that damaged the site's facilities and the forested area, and its activity was shut down. Activity resumed only in March 2007. Every few years the site closed for maintenance and renovations. Following a business dispute among the shareholders, the site closed in 2019. On 30 January 2022 the media reported that talks were underway to reopen the site for Passover 2022, but the site ultimately remained closed. During the Iron Swords War the cable-car infrastructure was severely damaged, so that reopening it would require a large investment.

• 2022

  Media reports talks to reopen for Passover 2022, but the site remains closed.

• 2019

  The site closes to visitors following a business dispute among shareholders.

• 2007

  Activity resumes in March.

• 2006

  The site is damaged during the Second Lebanon War by Katyusha rockets and fires; activity is shut down.

• 1999

  Additional attractions are built: a restaurant at the upper station, 1,200-metre alpine slides, and a 16.5-metre climbing wall.

• 1998

  The cable car opens to the public in the summer; 250,000 people ride it in the first year.

• 1996

  Construction of the cable car begins at a cost of 30 million shekels.

• 1990

  The tourism minister visits the site and promises a budget for the project.

• 1989

  Kibbutz Manara receives approval to build the cable car.

• 1976

  A Swiss company offers to build the cable car in exchange for a ten-year operating concession.

• 1974

  Kiryat Shmona municipality commissions a feasibility study for the cable car.

• 1971

  Discussions begin on building a cable car as part of a tourism development project for Kiryat Shmona.

Family-oriented tourism, recreation and extreme-sports destination in the Upper Galilee, centered on a record-length cable car.

• Cable car

  The core attraction, about 1,940 metres long, climbing 750 metres from Kiryat Shmona to Kibbutz Manara, with 12 cabins carrying up to eight people each and a 10-minute ride each way.

• Alpine slides

  1,200-metre slides running from the middle cable-car station to the lower station at the approaches to Kiryat Shmona.

• Climbing wall

  A 16.5-metre climbing wall as part of a cliff-climbing site.

• Restaurant

  Located at the upper cable-car station in Manara, overlooking the Hula Valley, Golan Heights and Mount Hermon.

• Extreme-sports activities

  At the middle station: omega zip-line, rappelling and climbing wall.

• Guest cabins and pool

  Guest cabins and a summer pool at the Manara station, plus children's activities.

1. 1Manara cliff - Wikidatawikidata.org
2. 2צוק מנרה - Wikipedia (Hebrew)he.wikipedia.org