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.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (February 4, 2019) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will observe holiday hours during Presidents’ Weekend February 16-18, 2019 with the first Tram car up each day at 8:00 a.m., the last Tram car up at 8:00 p.m. and the last Tram car down at 9:45 p.m. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.

Enjoy a day or evening above the desert floor exploring the 14,000 acre Mt. San Jacinto State Park & Wilderness, be awed by spectacular Coachella Valley vistas from the Mountain Station, or dine in Peaks Restaurant, Pines Café or the Lookout Lounge.

Tram admission is $25.95 for adults and $16.95 for children ages 3-10. Special discounts and packages are available after 4:00 p.m. Twilight Tickets are $22.95 for adults and seniors, and $13.95 for children ages 3-10. Ride ‘n’ Dine tickets are $36 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children ages 3-10. This combination ticket includes Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (January 23, 2019) Peak’s Restaurant—at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway—will offer a special 3-course prix fixe menu on Valentine’s Day for $65.00. The menu includes choice of appetizer (carrot ginger soup or maple duck salad), entrée (petit filet of beef, miso sea bass, or gnocchi) and dessert (angel food cake or devil’s food cake).

The prix fixe menu—in addition to Peak’s regular menu— will be served on February 14 from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Reservations are recommended. Tax, gratuity and tram admission are not included.

Already have plans for lunch or dinner? Discover another side of romance and spend the day in the Mount San Jacinto State Park or just enjoy the views from the Mountain Station view terraces.

Tram admission is $25.95 for adults and $16.95 for children ages 3-10. Special discounts and packages are available after 4:00 p.m. — Twilight Tickets are $22.95 for adults and seniors, and $13.95 for children ages 3-10. Ride ‘n’ Dine tickets are $36 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children ages 3-10. This combination ticket includes Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (January 2, 2019) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will observe holiday hours during the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Weekend January 19-21 with the first tram up each day at 8:00 a.m., the last tram up at 8:00 p.m. and the last Tram down at 9:45 p.m. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.

At the Mountain Station, visitors may enjoy viewpoints, a gift shop, a natural history museum, over 50 miles of hiking trails and two documentary-style movies about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and the Mount San Jacinto State Park.

Dining options include:

• Peaks Restaurant offers a waiter-service dining experience. Reservations are recommended by calling 760-325-4537 or by booking via Open Table on the Tram’s website.
• Pines Café offers a more casual, cafeteria-style dining alternative.
• Lookout Lounge offers a variety of alcoholic beverages and appetizers.

Tram admission is $25.95 for adults and $16.95 for children ages 3-10 years.

Special discounts and packages are available after 4:00 p.m. Twilight Tickets are $22.95 for adults and seniors, and $13.95 for children ages 3-10. Ride ‘n’ Dine tickets are $36 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children ages 3-10. This combination ticket includes Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 29, 2018) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest officially ended on Thursday, November 29 with one inch of measurable snow at the Tramway’s Mountain Station as of 1:27 p.m.

The first ten contestants who submitted the correct date are:

1. Mike Southard of Palm Desert
2. Richard Namey of Desert Hot Springs
3. Carolyn Kirner-Schmidt of San Diego
4. Brenda Siddon of Desert Hot Springs
5. Alison Elsner of Palm Springs
6. Marie Montenegro of Palm Springs
7. David Slack of Palm Springs
8. Martina Jimenez of Hemet
9. Rick Bauer of Herald
10. Phillip Merriam of Highland

The winners will receive four Tramway admissions plus a Tramway snow globe. The contest began October 1 and 773 entries were received.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 27, 2018) California Governor Edmund Brown Jr. has announced three new appointments to the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority, the governing board of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Brian Conley, 69, of Big Bear Lake, has been president and chief executive officer at Community College Connections since 2012.  He was department chair/professor at Golden West College from 1975 to 2012.  He was also an elected trustee/board president at Rancho Santiago Community College District from 1988 to 2012.  He served on the California Student Aid Commission from 2010 to 2015, California Board of Governors of California Community Colleges from 2000 to 2004.  Conley was also California state chair of the Association of Community College Trustees from 2009 to 2012. He was an aide to U.S. Congressman Jerome R. Waldie from 1972 to 1974.  He is a member of the Faculty Association of California Community Colleges and a lifetime member of the Association of Community College Trustees. Conley earned a Master of Arts degree in fine arts and education from California State University, Fresno and has done advanced studies at UCLA and Pepperdine University.

“I am very honored to be appointed to the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority by Governor Brown,” says Conley.  “I look forward in using my background in public policy, institution management and budget to make the Tramway the best it can be.”

Sandra Magana Cuellar, 47, of Corona, has been director of government affairs at Charter Communications since 2000. She was project director at Hispanas Organized for Political Equality from 1997 to 2000, project coordinator at the Contreras-Sweet Company in 1997 and an intern at Consensus Planning Group from 1996 to 1997. Cuellar was an assistant account executive at Oralia Michel Public Relations from 1995 to 1996 and assistant tour publicist at Levine-Schneider Public Relations from 1994 to 1995. She was a member of the California Respiratory Board from 2006 to 2013 and is a member of the Inland Empire Economic Partnership Board of Directors, National Latina Business Women Association of the Inland Empire Board of Directors, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership Board of Directors and Inland Action Board of Directors. Cuellar earned a Master of Arts degree in communication management from the University of Southern California.

“It is an honor to have been appointed to the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority,” says Cuellar. “I look forward to ensuring this signature attraction continues to add to the unique and vibrant Palm Springs culture.”

Jeff Ohlfs, 56, of Twentynine Palms, has held several positions at Joshua Tree National Park from 1990 to 2016, including chief park ranger, district park ranger and park ranger. He has worked in parks at the local, county, state, national, and international level. Ohlfs is a member of the World Commission on Protected Areas, International Association of Chiefs of Police Environmental Crimes Committee, Ranger Federation, California State Park Rangers Association, Park Rangers Association of California, Twentynine Palms Historical Society, San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Morongo Basin Search & Rescue Team, and the Boy Scouts of America.

“The Authority is unique amongst the over 700 park entities in California and I look forward to continuing to make it the premier destination in Southern California,” says Ohlfs. “The Tram holds a special place for me as it was one of the first dates with my wife. And we both look forward to the Tram’s holiday festivities.”

According to Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “We welcome—and congratulate—our new board members and sincerely thank departing members Jan Oliphant and Jon Sheinberg for their many years of service to the Authority and Tramway.”

The other four Authority members are Jerry Ogburn and Nancy Stuart, appointed by the Palm Springs City Council, and Bary Freet and Brian Nestande, appointed by the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 11, 2018) Santa visits the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on Saturday, December 15 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free candy canes and photo opportunities for the kids bring another dose of Yuletide merriment to all who visit the Tramway’s Mountain Station.

Then, on Sunday, December 16 is the inaugural Brunch with Santa. Starting at 10:30 a.m., join Ol’ St. Nick for crafts, holiday treats and a delicious meal in an alpine setting. Tickets are $36 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children (ages 3-10). Tram fare is included. Advanced tickets are required by calling 760-325-1449.

On December 25, 2018 and January 1, 2019, Ride ’n’ Dine tickets—which include Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant)—are available for purchase beginning at 8:00 a.m. (rather than the usual 4:00 p.m.) Dinner service begins at 11:00 a.m. and ends at 8:00 p.m. Combination tickets are $36 for adults and seniors, and $23.50 for children (ages 3-10).

Peaks Restaurant serves their regular lunch and dinner menus along with a special prix fixe holiday menu beginning at 11:00 a.m. on December 25, 2018 and January 1, 2019. Reservations are recommended and may be made by either calling 760-325-4537 or via Open Table on the Tram’s website (www.pstramway.com/dining).

The Tramway operates a special schedule from December 17, 2018 through January 1, 2019. The first tram up each day is at 8:00 a.m., the last tram up is at 8:00 p.m. and the last tram down is at 9:45 p.m.