Palm Springs Aerial Tram ride and history

Jeff and Sarah visit the Palm Springs Aerial Tram, finished in 1963, over Presidents' holiday weekend but had to wait over three hours to get onboard. This episode of History Hunters looks back on the history of the tram, the celebrities who rode it, the TV shows and movies shot using it and Jeff and Sarah riding it to the top of Mt. San Jacinto.

It all started with the dream of an electrical engineer named Francis Crocker!

#historyhunters #palmsprings #californiahistory

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[aaronlopez]

As a kid in the 70's I rode on the Tram and thought it was the best thing ever. Thanks for the trip back in time.

[tillitrueheart]

Wow, did this bring back memories. As newlyweds we went to Palm Springs and on a lark decided to take the tram. This was in the mid sixties. The interesting thing was that it was hot in town but when we got to the top, it had snowed and cold! This was a sweet memory and going back in time since my husband of 56 passed away four years ago. Thank you!!

[valmojica]

LAST TIME MY WIFE AND I RODE ON THE TRAM WAS 1985. MY WIFE WAS EMPLOYED AT THE TOP OF THE TRAM IN THE EARLY 70'S AND RODE IT EVERYDAY!

[SuperShifty]

What a BEAUTIFUL country. This land of ours!

[theathjr]

Lived in CA all my 51 years and have yet to visit Palm Springs. The gondola has been on my bucket list forever. Thanks for taking us along for the mayhem.

[jakebrakebill]

I rode it in 1967 on a school field trip, so glad I did it back then, it all seemed empty back then, no crowds.

[YourAbeFroemann]

Thanks for the nice tour!
I moved to Palm Springs in May of 1987, from San Diego.
Now THAT is a climate change! After my girl friend and
I rode the aerial tramway, we decided to purchase a seasonal
pass, and many times that first summer we would grab our
backpacks and sleeping rolls, head up the tramway. Get a
wilderness permit and hike about 1/2 mile NW of the upper
tram station and camp out for the night.
Clear crisp nights, the starlight, the wildlife, it was awesome!

[TennisNe]

I rode on the train in 2018 while attending a conference in Palm Springs and the Baripas tennis tournament in Indian Wells. There is a nice restaurant called "Peaks Restaurant" at the top of tram with good food and a great view of the valley. Another good episode.

[havingfun]

I used to have a timeshare in Palm Springs. I frequented the lift many times and loved it!! Thx for the memories.

[allanbeamer]

I used to go on my birthday in early February in the late '80's but was shocked to see the lines & price now!! I was in Boy Scouts in the early '70's when our troop went up the tram and hiked down with packs, tents etc. My dad came & we were up way earlier than everyone else, so the hike was just us two. He was a school teacher but had majored in Botany and knew ALL the trees and plants. I really miss my dad and will never forget our epic tram experience! Thanks Jeff!!! 😊😊

[bossco]

Nice video. I just retired from working there for 19 years. My dad worked there for 30 years too. My job had lots of ups and downs.:)

[Lando]

Too many people for me to go. Thanks for doing the waiting for us.

[laszlovass]

Just went today. No lines, good flow of people. Parked in the main lot at 10:30, was riding up by 11:05. Beautiful day hiking. Go midweek of a very regular day and enjoy the visit with little waiting.

[irishgip]

Spent some time in Palm Springs for a for a Military Appreciation Day by Bob Hope. He was and will always be the biggest fan of all military. Thank you professor (😊) AND HAPPY ST PATTY DAY!!

[OlavSchneider]

This made me realize just how much I miss California and Palm Springs.

[stevewhitacre]

My wife and I rode the tram in March of 2024. This was the first time for her, was #2 for me. We both had a great and exciting time both on the tram and on the Mt'n.
We got to the lower station about 1/2 hour before they opened, took us roughly around 45min. from parking to getting on the tram.

[lauraluververetenikoff]

I just went on the tramway 🚡 today and it was so amazing. I also hiked up in the San Jacinto mountains and had lunch at the peak. It was hailing up there at 2 pm. Once I got back down to Palm 🌴 Springs, it was 104 degrees 😰 I really enjoyed my trip up to the mountains for the day hike. I would love to be back in the spring when the wild flowers will be blooming. Thanks for sharing your video 😁

[footballlvnlady]

What a great video! I rode a tram at Niagara Falls years ago. I think the views here are much better! My hubby and I went to Dallas years ago. We went up to the top of a tower that had a revolving restaurant at the top. We were in the restaurant and it stopped. We were stopped for about a half hour. I have a fear of heights so I was had a death grip on my hubby and a railing. 😊Thank you for the wonderful video and awesome views!

[lauraluververetenikoff]

I went on it twice and both times were so amazing ❤😍💯%

[Larry-sgfl]

Back in the 70s I was working at a rigging company and met an old ironworker who worked on the construction of the towers for the tram. He said it was quite an experience and thought it was actually a great time. I asked him what happened if you dropped something and he said whatever it was, consider it gone. They accidentally dropped some of the steel beams and he said once they stopped bouncing down the canyon off the rocks they were useless and since the beams were fabbed to exact measurements it really put a damper in productivity. Supposedly the steel was not retrieved and he said if you look down you might actually see old rusty parts on the bottom of the canyon. I've been up there a few times and have never spotted anything, but then again it's a pretty far drop in some of the areas below the tram gondola. Now I'm inspired to head out there one more time.