PALM SPRINGS, CA (April 8, 2019). The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is happy to announce early opening beginning Monday, April 15 and running through Friday, April 19.  For those five days, the Tram will open an hour early at 9:00 a.m.

Spring Break visitors will have an extra hour to enjoy everything the Tramway has to offer including spectacular views, gift shops, dining, documentary-style films and over 50 miles of hiking trails in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness.

Tickets are available in advance at pstramway.com or upon arrival at the Tramway’s Valley Station.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (April 5, 2019) On Sunday, April 7, Rotary Club of Palm Springs presents “Breakfast On the Mountain,” at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Mountain Station starting at 10:00 a.m.

This event features a buffet breakfast followed by a Tramway history panel discussion moderated by KGX radio personality Joey English. Panelists include Steve Nichols, whose family donated the land where the Tram’s Valley Station now sits, and James Landells, whose family’s aviation company performed the more than 23,000 helicopter trips required for the Tramway’s construction. There will also be a special performance by the Encore High School for the Performing Arts Madrigals.

According to Chapter Incoming President Jerry Ogburn, “With the Tramway’s reopening this week, we thought this would be the perfect time for Rotary to look back at the Tram’s 56-year history, as well as look forward to all the exciting improvements in the coming years.”

Tickets are still available and may be purchased for $75 each at https://rotaryps.ticketleap.com

PALM SPRINGS, CA (April 1, 2019) Today at 10:00 a.m., the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway welcomed its first visitors since the storm-related closure on February 14.

Tram guests started lining up early to purchase tickets to be among the first to ride after the extended closure due to the unprecedented weather event. According to daily tram rider and annual passholder Mark Gautiello, “It’s been the longest six weeks of my life! I’ve missed my Tram family and my daily hike.”

Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols adds, “It’s been a long six weeks for everyone, but today we are delighted to finally welcome back Tram visitors. On behalf of the entire Tramway staff, we are thrilled to be back open for business and truly appreciate the community’s support throughout our closure.”

The Tramway has now returned to its regular schedule with the first tram up Monday through Friday at 10:00 a.m., and Saturdays and Sundays at 8:00 a.m. Tickets are now available at the Tram’s Valley Station starting 30 minutes before opening and will be available online beginning April 8.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (March 28, 2019) One of the most spectacular places to watch the sunrise on Easter is at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet. On Sunday, April 21, beginning at 5:30 a.m., celebrate Easter Sunrise Service with songs of faith, hope and joy by Abie Perkins and Natasha Carian … along with a special inspirational Easter message by Pastor Robert Sneed.

The first tram car up that morning is 4:45 a.m. Reduced tram fares will be in effect until 7:30 a.m. with round-trip $15.50 for adults and seniors, and $12.25 for children ages 3-10.

Beginning at 6:30 a.m., breakfast will be served in Pines Café until 10:00 a.m. If purchased by 7:30 a.m., the cost for the Ride ‘N’ Breakfast combination, which includes round-trip tram fare, is $25.95 for adults and seniors, and $16.95 for children ages 3-10. The breakfast menu is also available separately until 10:00 a.m. for $12.95 + tax.

Tickets to the Sunrise Service and Ride ‘n’ Breakfast are now available for advance purchase by visiting the Tramway’s Valley Station or by calling 760-325-1449 during normal business hours. (Note: These purchase options are only available for tickets redeemed 4:45-7:30 a.m. on April 21, 2019.) Tickets may also be purchased Easter morning upon arrival at the Tram’s Valley Station.

Normal Tram fares will be in effect after 7:30 a.m. with admission $25.95 for adults, $23.95 seniors 65+ and $16.95 for children ages 3-10.

Easter dinner will be available from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. in Pines Café, a cafeteria-style restaurant. Cost for the Holiday Ride ‘N’ Dine combination is $36.00 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children ages 3-10. Reservations are not taken and tickets go on sale at 8:00 a.m.

Peaks Restaurant will serve regular lunch and dinner menus during normal operating hours.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (March 25, 2019) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is scheduled to reopen Monday, April 1 after completing repairs from damages sustained in the February 14 flood.

In addition to a section of the road being washed-out over a drainage culvert, a second section of road was also replaced due to subsidence from rain run-off. Additional repairs included restoration of power to Mountain Station, minor repairs to the Mountain Station roof, repair of the Valley Station fire suppression system, repair of the Valley Station freshwater system, repair of the Valley Station wastewater system, minor damage to the Valley Station façade, and removal of rocks and debris from streams, parking lots and roadways.

While the Tramway was on track for record attendance in fiscal year 2018-19, it is estimated that nearly 100,000 visitors were displaced due to the 46-day closure (based upon the prior year’s attendance numbers). The Tram also estimates that the incident resulted in almost $4 million in repair costs and lost ticket revenues.

According to Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “We truly look forward to welcoming back Tram visitors beginning April 1^st. Also, I wish to extend a sincere thank you to the entire Tramway staff for their efforts during our closure. And I’d like to offer a special thanks to our maintenance department for their tireless repair efforts and to our security department for their gracious greeting at our entry gate of disappointed patrons.”

February 27, 2019 – The Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority—the governing body for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—met today and authorized the following:

• For Tramway employees who do not have work available for them during the closure, wage continuance will be extended through March 31, 2019, which coincides with the April 1 tentative reopening date. Over half the Tram staff is, however, currently on duty with closure-related duties,
• Ratified approval of $351,071 in road, lot and electrical repairs plus additional rental fees for scaffolding. Also authorized the general manager an amount not to exceed $500,000 for further repairs, engineering and inspections.
• Authorized the waiver of concessionaire commission payments to the Tramway for January and February.

February 25, 2019 – Additional items have been added since the February 19 assessment regarding damages sustained to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from the February 14 storm.

• Repair work to the washed-out portion of Tram Way should be completed by the end of this week.
• Upon completion of road repairs, heavy equipment will be brought up to remove debris, such as rocks and trees.
• Contractors will begin repairs to the main power line (to restore power to the Mountain Station) and repair the Valley Station’s fire suppression system.
• Crews are digging out dirt and debris currently blocking the intake valve to the Valley Station water tank. Once refilled and properly treated, potable water will be available at the Valley Station.
• In addition to the previously reported water damage at the Mountain Station, some minor roof damage has been discovered.
• Additional minor damage to Tram Way has been identified.

The above repairs are expected to be completed by March 31, which would tentatively allow an April 1 reopening. We hope, however, that the work can be completed sooner thus permitting an earlier reopening.

In the meantime, Tramway website visitors are being directed to attraction links on the websites of the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism and the Greater Palm Springs Convention and Visitor’s Bureau.

February 19, 2019 – A partial assessment has been completed regarding damages sustained to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway from the February 14 storm.

• The power line at the Valley Station feeding electricity to the Mountain Station was severed resulting in damage to one of the Valley Station’s electrical panels. The Mountain Station continues to operate on generator power only.
• Debris removal of boulders, foliage and logs from the Valley Station and roadway continues.
• Several of the Tram’s nine parking lots sustained minor asphalt damage.
• The culvert at the damaged portion of Tram Way is currently filled with mud and debris. Once cleared and stream run-off is returned to the culvert, road repairs can proceed.
• The Mountain Station sustained only minor water damage and clean-up efforts will commence once road access is possible.
• Tramway systems were inspected including engine room and towers, and no damage has been found.
• The Tramway’s civil engineer has inspected roadway bridges and certified them structurally sound.

There are currently no time estimates for completion of the aforementioned items. Updates will be announced as available.

February 18, 2019 – Clean-up efforts continue at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway after the February 14 rain storm and flash flood.

Concurrently, inspections and damage assessments are being made of the road, the Mountain and Valley Stations, and the tram itself. More information will be made available once completed.

There is currently no reopening date.

February 15, 2019 – Due to the recent rainstorm and flooding on Mt. San Jacinto, Tramway Road sustained damage making in impassable for any vehicle or pedestrian.

Consequently, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will remain closed for an indefinite period until road repairs can be made.