Tram News

UFC Hall-of-Famer Cub Swanson will serve as the 2022 celebrity tree lighter for the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway’s Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony on Sunday, December 4. Festivities begin at 5:30 p.m. at the Tram’s Mountain Station with the Palm Springs High School Madrigals & String Quartet performing holiday favorites. Swanson will follow by lighting the Tram’s landmark 45-foot tree comprised of over 4,000 LED lights, which can be seen throughout the Coachella Valley.

Cub Swanson, a Coachella Valley native, is a legendary American mixed martial artist who currently competes in the UFC. Swanson was inducted into the 2022 UFC Hall of Fame earlier this year for his iconic fight against Doo Ho Choi in 2016. As a heavily decorated UFC fighter, Swanson was nicknamed “Killer” and has won ‘Fight of the Night’ six times, ‘Knockout of the Night’ two times, 2016 ‘Fight of the Year,’ and 13 career performance bonuses—the most in UFC featherweight division history.

In addition, Swanson owns and runs a UFC gym in Costa Mesa. He also raises his 3 children with his wife, Kenda Swanson, and hopes to inspire youth to train and live a healthier lifestyle. Born and raised in Palm Springs, Swanson is looking forward to this year’s tree lighting ceremony at the Tram. “The Coachella Valley has always been my home and I’m excited to be named this year’s tree lighter for the 2022 holiday season,” says Swanson

Extended Hours and Special Holiday Dining

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will operate a special holiday schedule during the Thanksgiving Holiday Weekend, Thursday, November 24 through Sunday, November 27. 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 24, 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 $38 for adults and seniors, and $24.50 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 pumpkin pie for dessert. Dinner roll along with a 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 spectacular Coachella Valley views.

The winner of today’s 35^th Annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge was Steven Bingham of Cathedral City, who ran the “World’s Toughest 6K” in 33 minutes, 11 seconds. The first female to cross the finish line was Kate Tennant of Edmonton, Canada in 39 minutes, 45 seconds. Richard Olivares finished first in the youngest category (19 and under) and Patrick Bivona of Los Alamitos finished first in the oldest category (80-99).

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.

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

Scenic 6K Run/Walk Set for October 22

The 35th annual Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge will be held on Saturday, October 22, 2022, with 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, an elevation increase of over 1,900 feet in just 3.7 miles.

Special finishers’ medals will be presented to all participants along with a 2022 Tram Road Challenge tee shirt. Participants will also receive a post-race breakfast snack. 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place awards will be given in each age category for both male, female, and non-binary finishers during an awards ceremony near the finish line immediately following the race.

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).

Shutdown Concludes with Refurbishment and Comprehensive Testing

The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will reopen on Monday, October 10, 2022 after its annual maintenance closure. The first tram up will be at 10:00 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. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.

Completed projects this year include the replacement of tower sheaves, replacement of the dome windows in both tramcars, and comprehensive mechanical and electrical testing of Tramway systems.  

“Each year’s maintenance closure allows our team the opportunity to perform both mechanical and aesthetic improvements to our tramcars and to our Valley and Mountain Stations,” says General Manager Nancy Nichols. “We look forward to welcoming a new season of Coachella Valley residents and visitors to the Tramway and Mt. San Jacinto State Park and Wilderness.”