Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Set to Reopen

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway set to reopen Oct. 11 after shutdown concludes with refurbishment

PALM SPRINGS —The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the world’s largest rotating tram car, is set to reopen on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021 after its annual maintenance closure. The first tram up will be at 10 a.m., the last tram up at 8 p.m. and the last tram down at 9:30 p.m. Tram cars depart at least every 30 minutes.

Completed projects this year include repositioning of track ropes; changing pendant ropes, and the liners and bushings of pendant rope sheaves; and comprehensive mechanical and electrical testing of Tramway systems.

“Guest safety is always our number one concern at the Tramway,” General Manager Nancy Nichols said in a prepared statement, “and our annual maintenance shutdown is critical in ensuring that.”

During this year’s shutdown, one of the track ropes was repositioned, which is done in 12-year intervals to facilitate even wear, Vice President of Tramway Systems Chris Bartsch said when the Tramway closed in September.  Crews also changed pendant ropes, and the liners and bushings on the pendant rope sheaves. Finally, they conducted the Tramway’s annual comprehensive mechanical and electrical testing on numerous Tramway systems.

Opened in 1963, the Tram’s 80-passenger cars travel along the breathtaking cliffs of Chino Canyon from the Valley Station (elevation 2,643 ft.) to the Mountain Station (elevation 8,516 ft.) in approximately 10 minutes. For more information, please call 888-515-TRAM or 760-325-1391, or click here.