BACK UP THE MOUNTAIN: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is one of the best-known attractions in the Desert Resorts region. Santa visits it each year, and it runs on several holidays, delivering revelers up the hill for a vista-perfect dinner at 8,500 feet at either the Peaks Restaurant or Pines Cafe. Thus any lengthy closure outside of its usual schedule maintenance means something major is afoot. And so it was on Thursday, July 18 when the tram announced it would be closing due to air quality from the nearby Mountain Fire.
FIVE-DAY CLOSURE: It's shuttered span ultimately lasted five days: The tram will again open on Tuesday, July 23, with the first ride heading up the hill at 10 a.m. However, Mount San Jacinto Park and Wilderness will remain closed until for "additional evaluation." Rob W. Parkins, the general manager of the iconic carriage-in-the-sky attraction, said "we are grateful to the firefighters for their quick response and hard work in getting this fire under control."
LOOKING AHEAD: While the tram does have a scheduled maintenance closure for part of August, military appreciation days are still going on through July. Show your valid military ID for a free ride on the tramway through July 31.
