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.”

PALM SPRINGS, CA (August 19, 2018) The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate extended holiday hours on Monday, September 3, 2018 in observance of Labor Day. That day, the first Tram up will be at 8:00 a.m., the last Tram up will be 8:00 p.m. and last Tram down will be at 9:45 p.m. Trams depart at least every 30 minutes.  

The Tramway’s “Early Friday” program ends August 31 and the regular Friday schedule resumes September 7 with the first Tram up at 10:00 a.m.

Also, September 1 is the end of the Tramway’s “Summer Hours” on Fridays and Saturdays. Beginning Friday, September 7, the Tramway’s last car up daily will again be 8:00 p.m. and the last car down will be 9:45 p.m.

The Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness concludes the summer’s “Junior Ranger Days” on Saturday, September 1 and Sunday, September 2. These popular events led by Interpreter Allison Barnes are held at the base of the Mountain Station’s walkway from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and include such children’s activities as “Leave No Trace” games, “Spin the Wheel” information board and “Meet & Greet” with animal pelts.

Finally, the Tramway’s Summer Pass ends August 31, but the Annual Pass is still available for purchase either online (www.pstramway.com) or at the Tram’s Valley Station. The price is $160 for adults and $90 for children and includes 365 days of fun!

PALM SPRINGS, CA (August  8, 2018) Rotary Club of Palm Springs kicked-off a new program this summer to help acquaint local youth with the wonders of nature through a series of four escorted hikes in the Mt. San Jacinto State Park. From June through August, members of the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs have met at the Valley Station of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway for a tram ride, a guided hike led by a State Park volunteer and then lunch at the Mountain Station’s Pines Café.

Rotarian Jerry Ogburn states, “We live so close to the Mt. San Jacinto State Park, yet many local kids have never had the chance to explore its Alpine forests. Therefore, our club decided to underwrite this inaugural program,” adding, “So far, the kids seem to love it!”

According to Boys & Girls Club Senior Program Director Andrea Madrigal, “The Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs is so thankful to the Rotary Club of Palm Springs for sponsoring our Club members and families to attend the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway hiking and exploration program. Many of these children have never had the opportunity to go up the tram so this is really a once in a lifetime opportunity for our youth. They are given the opportunity to bond with Rotarians, fellow [Boys & Girls] Club members and parents while enjoying the cool summer air and wildlife up at the top of the tram.”

While parents complimented the program’s educational and informational elements, when the kids were asked what they liked most, responses included “Seeing the Salton Sea,” “Smelling the trees,” “Views from Notch 5” and—of course—“The pizza afterwards!”