The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, constructed in the rugged Chino Canyon on the north edge of Palm Springs, did not just happen—it required foresight, planning, financing and, most of all, vision.

 

As a young electrical engineer, Francis Crocker’s dream began in 1935 while on a trip to Banning, with editor and publisher of The Desert Sun, Carl Barkow. Mopping his brow in the heat of the day, Crocker gazed at the still snow-capped peak of Mount San Jacinto— elevation 10,834 feet—and longed to “go up there where it’s nice and cool.” At that moment, “Crocker’s Folly,” as it was soon dubbed, was born—a dream of having a tramway up the sheer cliffs of Chino Canyon providing easy access to cooler weather and unique experiences for everyone.

 

Enlisting the aid of desert pioneer and co-manager of the famed Palm Springs Desert Inn, O. Earl Coffman, Crocker’s dream soon had a plan.

 

Even though local enthusiasm for the idea was high, political roadblocks caused numerous disappointing setbacks. Twice, a Tramway-enabling bill passed the California State Legislature, only to be vetoed by then-Governor Culvert Olson. And with the outbreak of World War II, the effort stalled.

 

Despite this, Crocker’s vision of a tramway never died. Years after the original plans were shelved, they were soon dusted off and the battle began anew.

 

In 1945, a new tram bill was passed, and Governor Earl Warren signed the measure creating the Mount San Jacinto Winter Park Authority. Coffman, who had labored long and hard to see the vision realized, was named the Authority’s first chairman and Crocker was named the first secretary.

 

Architect E. Stewart Williams and his firm were commissioned to create the Mountain Station, while the Swiss-born modernist architect Albert Frey was commissioned for the Valley Station building design.

 

By 1950, technicians were moving ahead on designs for the Tramway, spending more than $250,000 solving riddles of road and tower construction. At the time, no manufacturer could spin a cable more than 7,500 feet long. Discussions began about the possibility of having a second station half-way up the canyon due to the short length of the cables, but that would add several million dollars to the already high costs. The project stalled once again. By 1959, new techniques had been perfected by Swiss manufacturer Von Roll Seilbahnen to create a longer 13,500-foot cable that would eliminate the need for a secondary station. The idea for the Tramway seemed feasible again, as long as the Authority could raise the money.

 

Funds for the construction of the Tramway were raised by the sale of $8.15 million in private revenue bonds. Culver Nichols donated the land for the Valley Station and parking lots, which helped stretch the funds raised even further. Not a single cent of public money was used for either the construction or operation of the Tramway.

 

The Korean War was to cause another delay, but the ambitious project finally started to take form in July 1961.

 

Construction of the Tramway was an engineering challenge and was soon labeled an engineering marvel because of the ingenious use of helicopters in erecting four of the five supporting towers. Twenty years later, the Tramway was designated a historical civil engineering landmark.

 

The first tower is the only one that can be reached by road. Helicopters flew some 23,000 missions during the 26 months of construction, hauling men and materials needed to erect the four other towers and the 35,000 sq. ft. Mountain Station.

 

Francis Crocker’s dream was completed in 1963, and the inaugural ride occurred on September 12 of that year with local and state dignitaries and celebrities in attendance.

 

After opening, Crocker rode the Tramway numerous times and fellow passengers often would receive a narration from him as they rode up to “where it’s nice and cool.” Francis Crocker died in 1992.

 

In 1996, the 35-year bonds were officially paid off.

 

In 1998, the Tramway announced that it was embarking on an ambitious modernization program that included the construction and installation of new tramcars and improved Tramway systems at a cost of $15 million. In September 2000, passengers began riding the world’s largest rotating tramcars.

 

In 2019, the Tramway’s Mountain Station began its first-ever renovation, which was completed in early 2023. Budgeted at $13 million, this effort was intended to not only bring electrical, plumbing and HVAC systems up to date, but to restore the original architectural vision of its noted Mid-Century architect, E. Stewart Williams. The Mountain Station renovation was completed just in time for the Tramway to celebrate its 60th anniversary in September of 2023.

 

In the past 60 years, numerous films and TV shows have since been filmed at the Tramway, including “Mission Impossible” (1971), “Columbo” (1972), “6 million Dollar Man” (1977), “Beverly Hills 90210” (1994), “The Bachelorette” (2018 and 2021), and many more.

 

Since 1963, over 20 million people have traveled the 10-minute, 2.5-mile ride, experiencing the dream Francis Crocker had to “go up there where it’s nice and cool” and making memories to last a lifetime.