News

PALM SPRINGS, CA (January 8, 2024) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will observe holiday hours during the Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday Weekend January 13-15 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 9:30 p.m. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.

Tram admission is $30.95 for adults and $18.95 for children ages 3-10.

Special discounts and packages are available after 4:00 p.m. Twilight Tickets are $27.95 for adults and seniors, and $15.95 for children ages 3-10. Ride ‘n’ Dine Tickets, which include tram fare and dinner at Pines Café, a cafeteria-style restaurant, are $41.00 for adults and seniors, and $27.50 for children ages 3-10.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (December 22, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest officially ended on Friday, December 22, 2023 with an inch and a half of measurable snow at the Tramway’s Mountain Station as of 9:00 a.m.

The first ten contestants who submitted the correct date are:

1. Elisa Sanchez Espinoza of Coachella, CA
2. M.L. Bratton of Indio, CA
3. Tim McQuaide of Culver City, CA
4. Linda Ontiveros of Yucca Valley, CA
5. Tim O’Connell of Cathedral City, CA
6. Barbara Purgett of Palm Springs, CA
7. Linda Dinko of Cathedral City, CA
8. Scott Nevison of Palm Springs, CA
9. J. Lam of Monterey Park, CA
10. Sandy Khanbegian of Palm Springs, CA

The winners will receive four regular Tramway admissions plus a Tramway 60th anniversary gift bag with a tee shirt, sticker, and magnet. The contest began October 1 and 800 entries were received.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 28, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate on a special holiday schedule December 23 through January 7. 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 9:30 p.m.

On December 25 and January 1, Ride ’n’ Dine tickets—which include Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant)—are available for purchase from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dinner service begins at 11:00 a.m. Combination tickets are $41 for adults and seniors, and $27.50 for children (ages 3-10).

Peaks Restaurant will serve special holiday dining menus on December 25 and January 1. Holiday dining in Peaks Restaurant begins at 11:00 a.m. and is $79 for adults and seniors. A separate menu for children ages 3-10 is also available. Tram fare is not included. Peaks Restaurant will also continue to serve its regular menu. Reservations are recommended for holiday dining on December 25 and January 1 in Peaks Restaurant. To make a reservation, call 760-325-4537 or visit https://pstramway.com/dining/ .

REMINDER: Choir performances kick off the holiday season November 30, and continue select days through December 10. The annual Tree Lighting Ceremony takes place December 3 with actress Judith Chapman lighting the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of over 4,000 LED lights, hosted by KESQ’s Patrick Evans.

Television, stage, and film star Judith Chapman will serve as the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s 2023 celebrity tree lighter at the annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 3. KESQ Meteorologist and “Eye on the Desert” Host Patrick Evans will emcee this year’s event at the Tramway’s Mountain Station. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. with the Palm Springs High School Choir performing holiday favorites. Immediately following, Chapman lights the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of over 4,000 LED lights, which can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley.

Chapman is best known for her roles in several daytime dramas, including “The Young and the Restless,” “Days of our Lives,” “The Bold and the Beautiful,” “As the World Turns,” and “General Hospital.” She also guest starred on dozens of television series including “The Fall Guy,” “Magnum P.I.,” “Murder She Wrote.” and “Silk Stalkings.” Her feature film work includes “28 Days,” “The Sweetest Thing” and, most recently, playing Nancy Reagan in the Oscar-winning film, “King Richard”. Among her many stage appearances, she portrayed Oscar-winning film star Vivien Leigh in the Los Angeles premiere of the critically acclaimed, one-woman play, “VIVIEN,” for which she garnered rave reviews and toured nationally.

In 2007, she was recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with a Silver Circle Award, which honors members of the television community who have contributed 25 years to the industry.

“In these trying times, what a holiday blessing it will be for us all to come together in peace and harmony to share the shining light on our beautiful mountain. Peace on Earth and goodwill to all,” says Chapman.

The tree lighting ceremony is open to the public and is included with regular Tram admission.

High School Choirs Perform Holiday Favorites at 8,516 Feet

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 9, 2023) The holiday choir season kicks off November 30 at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Mountain Station, continuing a decades-long seasonal tradition. Visitors can enjoy holiday favorites performed by high school choirs on select dates through December 10.

For the 2023 holiday season, the Tramway is proud to present the following line-up:
Thursday, November 30 – Jurupa Valley High School Chamber Singers
Sunday, December 3 – Palm Springs High School Choir
Wednesday, December 6 – Coachella Valley High School Concert Choir
Friday, December 8 – Cathedral City High School Choirs
Sunday, December 10 – Encore High School for the Arts Madrigals

Show times are at 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. and are included with regular Tram admission. Performances are on the Pines Café Stage with food and beverage available for purchase from either Pines Café or the Lookout Lounge. (Note: The December 3 performance is outside on the Desert View Terrace at 5:30 p.m. as part of the tree lighting ceremony. There will also be a 7:30 p.m. performance inside).

Santa Visits the Tramway Two Weekends in December

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 2, 2023) “Breakfast with Santa” returns to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway on Saturday, December 2 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Join Mr. and Mrs. Claus for breakfast, holiday crafts, and storybook readings. Breakfast with Santa tickets are $55 for adults and seniors, and $45 for children (ages 3-10). Tram fare is included. Advanced tickets are required and can be made by calling (760) 325-1449.

Santa will also be visiting the Tramway’s Mountain Station on Saturday, December 9 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Santa’s visit in Pines Café is included in general tram fare admission. Tram tickets are $30.95 for adults, $28.95 for seniors, and $18.95 for children (ages 3-10). Children can share their Christmas lists with Santa himself, pose for photos, and receive a free candy cane.

Kick off the holiday season with a dose of Yuletide merriment at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway! For more information, please visit www.pstramway.com .

Extended Hours and Special Holiday Dining

PALM SPRINGS, CA (November 6, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate a special holiday schedule during the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, Thursday, November 23 through Sunday, November 26. 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 9:30 p.m.

On Thanksgiving Day, November 23, Ride ‘n’ Dine tickets—which include Tram admission and dinner at Pines Café (a cafeteria-style restaurant)—will be available for purchase from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Dinner service begins at 11:00 a.m. Combination tickets are $41 for adults and seniors, and $27.50 for children (ages 3-10). The holiday menu includes a choice of oven-roasted turkey, beef burgundy or vegetarian lasagna; a selection of side dishes; and a choice of pumpkin pie or carrot cake for dessert. A fountain beverage, coffee or tea are included.

Peaks Restaurant will also serve a special Thanksgiving Day menu including a butternut squash soup or mixed greens salad, oven-roasted turkey breast served with seasonal side dishes, and an apple tart topped with ice cream for dessert. Thanksgiving Day dining in Peaks Restaurant begins at 11:00 a.m. and is $49 for adults and seniors, and $27 for children (ages 3-10). Tram fare is not included. Peaks Restaurant will also serve its regular menu. Reservations are recommended for Thanksgiving Day dining in Peaks Restaurant. To make a reservation, call 760-325-4537 or visit https://pstramway.com/dining/.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (October 21, 2023) The winner of today’s 36^th Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Nic Beechan, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 30 minutes, 7 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was Jeanne Collonge in 35 minutes, 51 seconds. Maverick Gentry finished first in the youngest category (12 and under) and Andrew Suozzo finished first in the oldest category (75-79).

This year’s Male and Female 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.

732 runners and walkers entered this year’s Tram Road Challenge.

Posted: Sept. 29, 2023

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Continues Annual Tradition

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 29, 2023) The San Jacinto Mountains will soon be covered in snow, which means it’s time for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest to begin! This event runs from October 1 until the first measurable inch of snow falls at the Tramway’s Mountain Station, elevation 8,516 feet.

The first ten entries received with the correct date of snowfall will win four regular Tram admission tickets, plus a commemorative Tramway 60^th Anniversary gift bag. In the event there are more than ten correct entries, winners will be chosen by the earliest postmark date.

To submit an entry, write down your best-guess date on a postcard and mail it to: Snow Guessing Contest, 1 Tram Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262. Only one date per postcard will be accepted. For more information and rules, please visit https://pstramway.com/snow-guessing-2023/ .

The top of the Tramway will soon be covered in snow, making a snow day a short 10-minute tramcar ride away from the desert floor. There’s never been a year when someone didn’t win the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Snow Guessing Contest.

Posted: Sept. 5, 2023

$13-Million Mountain Station Renovation Commemorates Occasion

PALM SPRINGS, CA (September 5, 2023) Throughout the month of September, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is celebrating its 60^th anniversary. During its six decades of operations, this engineering marvel has transported nearly 22 million people to the Tramway’s recently-renovated Mountain Station and the 14,000-acre Mt. San Jacinto State Park & Wilderness.

A signature attraction for Greater Palm Springs, the Tram attracts adventure-seekers from around the globe to dine, hike, take-in the spectacular views and enjoy the thrill of ascending nearly 6,000 feet along the rugged cliffs of Chino Canyon. But all this took nearly three decades of planning and construction before welcoming the Tram’s first visitor.

The idea for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway began in 1935 when a young electrical engineer named Francis Crocker dreamt of a way to escape the summer heat of the desert floor for the cool Alpine forests of Mt. San Jacinto.

After years of setbacks and delays, $8.15 million in private revenue bonds was raised and a land donation was secured from local businessman Culver Nichols for the Tram’s Valley Station. Construction finally commenced in July of 1961. On September 12, 1963, (then) Governor Edmund “Pat” Brown ‘cut the ribbon’ and the Tramway officially opened.

In 2000, the Tramway completed a $15 million modernization program, which included the installation of its new rotating tramcars. These became the first of their kind in North America and remain the largest rotating tramcars in the world.

In 2019, the Tramway’s Mountain Station began its first-ever renovation, which was completed in early 2023. Budgeted at $13 million, this effort was intended to not only bring electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems up to date, but to restore the original architectural vision of its noted Mid-Century architect, E. Stewart Williams.

According to Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “We are very happy that the completion of our Mountain Station renovation has coincided with our 60^th anniversary. Members of the Mt. San Jacinto Winter Park Authority, our governing body, have worked for over a decade to make this a reality and what a wonderful way to welcome our 60^th anniversary visitors.”

In celebration of the anniversary, a series of events and promotions are planned for September including giveaways for every 60^th visitor, a 60^th anniversary celebration quiz on the Tramway’s mobile app, a free 60^th anniversary sticker for every visitor on September 12, continuous showings of the newly-restored original 1960s Tramway film “The Miracle at Palm Springs” in the Santa Rosa Theater, and other special displays and exhibits.