PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 6, 2018) On November 30, a decades-long tradition resumes when holiday choir season commences at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday through December 14, a different middle or high school choir performs holiday favorites at the Tramway’s Mountain Station.

For the 2018 holiday season, the Tramway is proud to present the following line-up:

• Friday, November 30 – Indio High School Choir
• Saturday December 1 – Desert Ridge Academy Concert Choir
• Sunday, December 2 – Palm Springs High School Madrigals & String Quartet
• Friday, December 7 – Jurupa Valley High School Chamber Singers
• Saturday, December 8 – Martin Luther King High School Chamber Singers & Show Choir
• Sunday, December 9 – Encore High School for the Arts Madrigals
• Friday, December 14 – The Lions’ Pride Chamber Singers (Cathedral City H.S.)

According to Martin Luther King High School Choir Director Brian Holm, “Our Chamber Singers have performed annually at the top of the Tramway for over a decade, not only to the delight our performers but—apparently—to Tram audiences as well! In fact, I remember singing here as part of my own high school choir.  Everyone is glad to be continuing this long-standing holiday tradition.”

Show times are 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m., and are complimentary with regular Tram admission. Performances are on the Pines Café Stage with food and beverage service available from either the Pines Café or the Lookout Lounge. (Note: The 5:00 p.m. performance on December 2^nd is outside on the Desert View Terrace as part of the tree lighting ceremony.) Open seating (no reservations taken).

PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 31, 2018) HGTV’s “Desert Flippers” hosts, Eric and Lindsey Bennett, serve as this year’s celebrity tree lighters for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 2 at the Tram’s Mountain Station kicking off with a holiday performance by the Palm Springs High School Madrigals & String Quartet. Then the Bennetts light the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of 4,000 LED lights, which can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley.

Since the 2016 premier of “Desert Flippers,” these Wisconsin transplants have been transforming Palm Springs one ‘unloved’ house at a time…and showing the rest of the country the desert’s beautiful scenery and weather.

Renovating 20 properties a year—while raising three small children—is no small feat, and this couple takes it in stride. But when they go behind the walls of houses that live in triple-digit heat, they never quite know what they might find—scorpions, rattlesnakes, black widows and even squatters! In each episode of “Desert Flippers,” Eric and Lindsey search out a diamond in the rough, but they might find something that’s just plain rough!

The Bennetts are currently shooting Season 3 of their show and have also been seen on “Brother vs. Brother,” “The Today Show,” “Access,” “Entertainment Tonight,” and “E! News.” As well, they have been featured in HGTV Magazine, People.com, Palm Springs Life, The Desert Sun and Agent Magazine

PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 30, 2018) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate a special schedule during the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, Thursday, November 22 through Sunday, November 25. The first tram up each day will be at 8:00 a.m., the last tram up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last tram down will be at 9:45 p.m.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 22, Ride ’n’ Dine tickets—which include Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant)—will be 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 children (ages 3-10). The holiday menu includes a mixed greens salad; a choice of oven-roasted turkey, beef a la mode or vegetarian lasagna; a selection of side dishes; and old-fashioned carrot cake or pumpkin pie. Dinner roll along with a small fountain beverage, coffee or tea are included.

Peaks Restaurant will begin serving their regular menu along with traditional holiday favorites at 11:00 a.m. on Thanksgiving Day. Reservations are recommended and may be made by calling 760-325-4537 or by visiting https://pstramway.com/dining/ .

This Thanksgiving, take a ride on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, stroll the majestic forests of Mt. San Jacinto State Park, and then dine while enjoying the most spectacular views in the entire Coachella Valley.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 27, 2018) The winner of today’s 33^rd Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Mark Donaldson, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 34 minutes, 25 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was Amanda Sellers in 40 minutes, 50 seconds.  Sophia Herrera, finished first in the youngest category (6 and under) and Bill Bell, age 95, finished first in the oldest category (90-120).

This year’s Female and Male Challenge Division Winners are:

The first Tram Road Challenge was held in 1983, and was won by Rob Slick in 27 minutes, 35 seconds and Nancy Baird in 35 minutes, 25 seconds. The fastest men’s time was set by Rubin Garcia of Mexico—26 minutes, 5 seconds—in 1987. Lubov Kremleva of Russia set the fastest women’s time—28 minutes, 56 seconds in 1998.

1,341 runners and walkers participated in this year’s Tram Road Challenge.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 15, 2018) The 33rd annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge will be held on Saturday, October 27, 2018with a start time of 7:00 a.m. (walkers start at 6:30 a.m.).This 6K run/walk begins at the bottom of Tram Way and ends at the Tram’s Valley Station, anelevation gain of 2,643 feet in just 3.7 miles.

Special finishers’ medals will be presented to all participants along with a Cool Tech race shirt. Awards will be given three deep in each age category for both male and female finishers during a breakfast ceremony near the finish line immediately following the race.

The first Tram Road Challenge was held in 1983 and was won by Rob Slick in 27 minutes, 35 seconds and Nancy Baird in 35 minutes, 25 seconds. The fastest men’s time was set by Rubin Garcia of Mexico – 26 minutes, 5 seconds – in 1987. Lubov Kremleva of Russia set the fastest women’s time – 28 minutes, 56 seconds in 1998.

The Tramway’s road will be closed until (approximately) 11:00 a.m. on race day. Spectator shuttles will run from 5:30-6:00 a.m. from the Palm Springs Visitors Center (all spectators and participants will be directed to nearby parking lots.)

For more information or to register for the race, please call (760) 832-0497 or visit www.kleinclarksports.com.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 30, 2018) Temperatures may still be in the triple- digits, but October 1^st marks the start of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Snow Guessing Contest. This annual event continues until the first measurable inch of snow falls at the Tram’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet.

The first ten entries received with the correct date of snowfall will win four Tram admissions plus a special Tram gift memento. In the event there are more than ten correct entries, the earliest postmarks will prevail.

To submit an entry, simply write down your best-guess date on a postcard and mail it to: Snow Guessing Contest, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Please remember that only postmarked postcards will be accepted (no emailed entries) and no postmarks before October 1. Participants may enter as many times as they would like, but only one date per postcard. For more information and contest rules, please visit www.pstramway.com/special-events.

It won’t be long before snowflakes are falling just a few minutes from the desert floor. And there’s never been a year when someone didn’t win the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Snow Guessing Contest!

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 28, 2018) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen as scheduled on Monday, October 1, 2018 after its annual maintenance closure. The first tram up will be at 10:00 a.m., the last tram up at 8:00 p.m. and the last tram down at 9:45 p.m. Tram cars leave at least every 30 minutes on the hour and half-hour.

Completed projects this year include replacement of the upper haul rope and bearings on numerous tram systems; comprehensive mechanical testing; and resurfacing of parking lots and the 3.5 mile Tram Way, along with annual cleaning and refurbishment at both tram stations.

“We are now ready and excited to begin our 55^th season,” says Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols.

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Commences Annual Tradition

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 30, 2018) Temperatures may still be in the triple- digits, but October 1^st marks the start of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Snow Guessing Contest. This annual event continues until the first measurable inch of snow falls at the Tram’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet.

The first ten entries received with the correct date of snowfall will win four Tram admissions plus a special Tram gift memento. In the event there are more than ten correct entries, the earliest postmarks will prevail.

To submit an entry, simply write down your best-guess date on a postcard and mail it to: Snow Guessing Contest, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Please remember that only postmarked postcards will be accepted (no emailed entries) and no postmarks before October 1. Participants may enter as many times as they would like, but only one date per postcard. For more information and contest rules, please visit www.pstramway.com/special-events.

It won’t be long before snowflakes are falling just a few minutes from the desert floor. And there’s never been a year when someone didn’t win the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Snow Guessing Contest!

Five-Course Dinner Features Italian Wine Pairings

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 24, 2018) The inaugural Winemaker Dinner at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is scheduled for Saturday, October 20 starting at 5:00 p.m. in the Francis Crocker Room. A five-course dinner menu designed by Chef Frank Decker with wine pairings is $99 per person including tax, gratuity and tram fare.

According to Gary Givens, Peaks Restaurant assistant general manager, “We decided to feature Italian wines at our first winemaker dinner. There will be selections from Lamole di Lamole, Santa Margherita and Kettmeir, and Chef Decker has prepared an extraordinary pairings menu.”

Tickets can be purchased by calling 760-325-1449 during regular business hours starting September 24. Seating is limited, so reservations are suggested. Additional information and menu details are available at https://pstramway.com/special-events/ .

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 4, 2018) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will close for annual maintenance beginning Monday, September 10, 2018 with a tentative reopening date of Monday, October 1 at 10:00 a.m.

“This year’s shut-down will provide an opportunity to replace the counter rope, bearings and bushings along with comprehensive mechanical and electrical testing on numerous tramway systems.” says Tramway Vice President of Maintenance Nicholas Clesceri. “This year’s scheduled projects are in addition to our regular tramway maintenance tasks that are completed during our annual shutdown period.”

Adds Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “The tramway runs seven-days-a-week, year-round, so—while we regret the inconvenience our annual closure causes—this time allows us to complete projects we cannot do when we are open to the public.”