News

Posted: Aug. 30, 2023

Labor Day Holiday Hours Observed During Opening Weekend

PALM SPRINGS, CA (August 29, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen on Friday, September 1 after its annual maintenance closure. This first tram up will be at 10:00 a.m., the last tram up will be at 9:00 p.m., and the last tram down will be at 10:30 p.m.

During this year’s annual maintenance closure, completed projects include updating Tramway systems, hydraulic and brake servicing, and State permit testing.

Labor Day holiday hours will be observed on Saturday, September 2 and Sunday, September 3 with the first tram up at 8:00 a.m., the last tram up at 9:00 p.m., and the last tram down at 10:30 p.m. On Monday, September 4, the first tram up is at 8:00 a.m., two hours earlier than usual.

Also, Guided Nature Walks by Mt. San Jacinto State Park Volunteers end Sunday, September 3. These walks, which are conducted Sundays during summer months, feature a choice of two easy trails–the Desert View Trail, a 1½-mile route beginning at 11:00 a.m. and the Long Valley Nature Trail, a ¾-mile loop beginning at 1:30 p.m. No advance registration is required and there is no additional charge. Walks begin at the bottom of the concrete ramp.

Posted: July 31, 2023

Last Day to Ride the Tram is Sunday, August 6

PALM SPRINGS, CA (July 31, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will close for annual maintenance beginning Monday, August 7, 2023, with a tentative reopening date of Friday, September 1 at 10:00 a.m.

“During this year’s shutdown, we will be performing our annual State-permit testing,” says Vice President of Tramway Systems Chris Bartsch. “Additionally, the Tramway control systems will be updated, the gearbox will undergo a rebuild, and the cables will be tested.”

Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols explains, “Since we are open seven days a week throughout the year, our annual maintenance closure allows our maintenance and tramway systems teams to perform necessary updates and general maintenance. This time also allows for training and planning in other departments as we prepare for our upcoming season.”

The last day to ride the Tram before the annual maintenance closure is Sunday, August 6.

Posted: Jun 26, 2023

Extended Hours on July 3 and 4

PALM SPRINGS, CA (June 26, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate with extended hours on Monday, July 3 and Tuesday, July 4 in observance of the Fourth of July Holiday. The first tramcar up will be at 8:00 a.m., the last tramcar up will be at 8:00 p.m. and the last tramcar down will be at 9:30 p.m.

Begin your day with a ride on the world’s largest rotating tramcar and a hike in the Mount San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness. Then, visit the Natural History Museum to experience ten new audio tour stops on our free mobile app. Finally, end the day dining at Peaks Restaurant or Pines Café in the newly renovated Mountain Station.

Celebrate the Fourth of July Weekend in the cool mountain air at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway!

Enjoy Dinner with Panoramic Views of the Coachella Valley

PALM SPRINGS, CA (May 2023) Celebrate Palm Springs Restaurant Week at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway June 2 through 11, 2023. Peaks Restaurant will offer a special dinner menu along with the usual unbeatable views and a ride on the world’s largest rotating tramcar.
The three-course $59 prix fixe menu (exclusive of tax, gratuity, and tram fare) includes:

• Starter Options—Spinach Salad, Corn Chowder, Charred Shrimp, or Spinach Artichoke Dip
• Entrée Options—Pasta Parisian, Lemon Roughy, Filet of Beef, Smoked Gouda Pulled Pork Mac and Cheese, or Lemon Herb Chicken
• Dessert Options—Orange Bread Pudding, Flourless Chocolate Lava Cake, or Salted Caramel Cheesecake

Reduced Restaurant Week tram fares are available after 4:00 p.m. and are $19 for adults and seniors, and $12 for children (ages 3-10) with confirmed Peaks Restaurant reservations.

The last tram car up Sunday through Thursday is 8:00 p.m. and the last car down is 9:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday, the last tram car up is 9:00 p.m. and the last tram car down is at 10:30 p.m.

For more information or to make reservations, please visit www.pstramway.com/dining .

Class and Field Programs Begin May 19

PALM SPRINGS, CA (May 18, 2023) The Mt. San Jacinto State Park & Wilderness (MSJSP&W) and the Natural History Association (NHA) are happy to announce the Class and Field Program Schedule for the 2023 summer season.

Through October 8, a total of 24 programs will be presented covering a range of natural history and hiking trail topics. To register for a class and field program, please visit www.msjnha.org/events.

“Happy Little Worlds, Mosses, and Lichens” marks the first program of the series on May 19, led by Nick Garduno, Mt. San Jacinto State Park Interpreter I.

Guided Nature Walks by State Park volunteers resume Sunday, May 28 and continue every Sunday through September 3. These walks feature a choice of two easy trails. The Desert View Trail is a 1½-mile hike beginning at 11:00 a.m. The Long Valley Nature Trail is a ¾-mile loop beginning at 1:30 p.m. No advance registration is required for the Guided Nature Walks.

All programs are free and open to the public with advance registration. Regular tram fares and parking fees still apply.

For more information about MSJSP&W and NHA Class and Field Programs, or to register for a program, please visit www.msjnha.org/events.

Free Tram Admission in June for Qualifying First Responders

PALM SPRINGS, CA (May 22, 2023) For the entire month of June, all qualified first responders receive free admission to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway as part of “First Responders Days.” In addition, up to four of their guests receive 25% off their regular Tram fares.

According to Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “We are honored to welcome those who dedicate their lives to protect and serve our communities. ‘First Responders Days’ allows us to extend the Tramway experience as an expression of our gratitude to first responders. We truly hope they enjoy their visits along with their family and friends.”

Qualifying personnel include (Download full list below):

• Fire and police personnel
• California Highway Patrol
• County Sheriff Officers
• Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs)

This program runs June 1-30, 2023, with tickets only available at the Tramway’s Valley Station on the day of visit.

Note: “First Responders Days” is scheduled for June instead of August this year due to our annual maintenance closure moving to August to accommodate the Tramway’s 60^th Anniversary in September.

Extended Holiday Hours on May 28 & 29

PALM SPRINGS, CA (May 15, 2023) Memorial Day Weekend marks the beginning of the summer season at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Extended summer hours begin May 26 and end September 3.

Every Friday and Saturday, the last tram up will be at 9:00 p.m. and the last tram down will be at 10:30 p.m. In addition, Peaks Restaurant will extend the last seating to 8:30 p.m. and Pines Café will remain open until 9:30 p.m.

Also, holiday hours will be observed on Sunday, May 28 with the last tram going up at 9:00 p.m. and the last tram down at 10:30 p.m. On Monday, May 29, the first tram going up will be at 8:00 a.m., one hour earlier than usual.

“Our extended summer schedule provides guests the opportunity to spend more time outside in cooler weather during the hot summer months,” says Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols. “Visiting the Tramway after dark is a truly unique experience when guests can have dinner and enjoy seeing the city lights across the Coachella Valley from 8,516 feet.”

Chill in Cooler Temperatures April 1 Through July 31, 2023

PALM SPRINGS, CA (April 1, 2023) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Summer Pass is back, and with new dates! Starting April 1, guests can purchase a Summer Pass to escape the hot summer months and experience “chill at its peak” in temperatures 30-40 degrees cooler than on the valley floor.

The Summer Pass includes unlimited Tram admissions for the passholder, a 10% discount on additional Tram admissions (limit 4 per passholder), a 10% discount at Peaks Restaurant or Pines Café, and unlimited free parking for the passholder. Summer Passes are $85 for adults and seniors, and $45 for children ages 3-10. Beginning April 1, guests can purchase their Summer Pass online at www.pstramway.com, or in-person at the Tramway’s Valley Station. Summer Passes are valid April 1 through July 31, 2023.

Passholders can also enjoy over 50 miles of hiking trails, picnic areas and campgrounds in the 14,000-acre pristine wilderness of the Mount San Jacinto State Park.

The Tram’s Mountain Station offers spectacular views stretching from the Salton Sea to the San Gorgonio Pass. Guests can also take advantage of two restaurants, a cocktail lounge, a gift shop, natural history museum, mobile app audio tours, and two documentary-style movies about the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and the Mount San Jacinto State Park.

For more information or to buy your Summer Pass today, please visit our website www.pstramway.com.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (March 23, 2023) – The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will close Monday, March 27 and Tuesday, March 28 for maintenance.

According to Vice President of Tramway Systems Chris Bartsch, “During a routine inspection, an anomaly was discovered in the tramway system, so we have asked our manufacturer, Doppelmayr, to conduct a secondary inspection and, if necessary, perform repairs.”

We apologize for the inconvenience to our visitors.

The Tramway is expected to reopen on Wednesday, March 29, but please check www.pstramway.com for updates.

PALM SPRINGS, CA (March 20, 2023) California Governor Gavin Newsom has announced three reappointments to the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority (MSJWPA), the governing board of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Sandra Magaña-Cuellar, of Corona, has been reappointed to the MSJWPA, where she has served since 2018 and is currently Secretary. Cuellar 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 is a member of the Hispanas Organized for Political Equality Board of Directors, Coachella Valley Economic Partnership Board of Directors and Inland Action Board of Directors. Cuellar earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Mass Communication from the University of California, Berkeley and a Master of Arts degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California.

 Brian Conley, of Big Bear Lake, was originally appointed to the MSJWPA in 2018 and is currently the Chair. He has been President and Chief Executive Officer at Community College Connections since 2012 and was a professor at Golden West College from 1975 to 2012. He was an elected member of the Governing Board of the Rancho Santiago Community College District from 1988 to 2012, serving four terms as Board President. The district, the seventh largest in California, served 60,000 students and employed 3,000. In 1999, Governor Gray Davis appointed Conley to the Board of Governors of California Community Colleges where he represented the colleges in Washington, D.C. In 2010, Conley was appointed to the California Student Aid Commission by Assembly Speaker John Perez and served for five years, awarding California students $2.2 billion dollars in student aid during that time. Conley earned a Master of Arts degree in Higher Education and Humanities from California State University, Fresno and has completed advanced studies at UCLA, Pepperdine University (Doctoral Program in Education) and Geneva School of Art & Design in Switzerland.

Jeff Ohlfs, of Twentynine Palms, was originally appointed to the MSJWPA in 2018 and is currently the Vice Chair. Ohlfs has been a Division Supervisor (Reservist) for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Operations Division Response Directorate since 2017. He held several positions at Joshua Tree National Park from 1990 to 2016, including Chief Park Ranger, District Park Ranger and Park Ranger. He was a park ranger at Hot Springs National Park from 1987 to 1990 and at C&O Canal National Historical Park from 1985 to 1987. Ohlfs earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Natural Resource Planning (Law) from Cal Poly Humboldt.

According to Tramway General Manager Nancy Nichols, “I am delighted with the reappointments of our three Governor appointees. They, along with our other Authority Members, contributed to the success of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway through the challenging years of the pandemic. We all look forward to celebrating the Tramway’s 60^th Anniversary later this year.”

The other 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.