Tram closure turns away visitors as Cranston fire affects tourism
Update 7/30:
The Tram was reopened on Monday at 10 a.m.
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Original Story:
The Cranston fire has affected local tourism in the Coachella Valley with the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway being closed for several days.
“I’m sorry about that folks.”
That’s been the answer visitors to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway have been getting Sunday morning. Many of them disappointed coming from areas near and far.
“We’re feeling pretty bad because we came all the way with the hopes of going up there and having some fun,” Asim Srivastava of Eastvale said.
“We are very sad because we came from Germany and we’re making a bus tour and we planned on going up there,” Fabio Humke, a tourist, said.
They were met with a road closed sign at the gate with security guards breaking the unfortunate news. They said a number of visitors still drove up despite, the electronic marquee saying the tram was closed. One local looking to break from the heat said he has kept up with the news.
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“Some friends that live in Garner Valley and some friends that live in Idyllwild, Facebook friends so I’ve seen pictures and stuff while I was in the South,” James Allwhite of Palm Springs said.
The tram had been closed since Thursday when a precautionary evacuation was put in place at the tram due to the advancing Cranston Fire.
“Too close for comfort with the fire, so yeah,” Allwhite said.
Tram staff says they have given out refunds to any visitor requesting one, and also said the tickets are still good for admission as long as they are used within a year.
Staff says the tram is scheduled to re-open tomorrow for visitors at 10 a.m. Back country trails and camping however still remain closed.
