Estes Park Aerial Tramway Celebrates Its 50th Season August 814 WeekLong Celebration Highlights Attractions Special Summer



The Estes Park Aerial Tramway, an institution for generations of visitors to this beautiful mountain town, celebrates its 50th anniversary next week, August 8-14. This Colorado landmark, with ties to the success of the Colorado 10th Mountain Division in World War II, along with the roots of the Colorado ski industry, has offered free rides to 10th Mountain Division veterans during this special summer. During August 8-14, free rides will also be offered to anyone celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary or their 50th birthday.

During the same summer that we commemorate the 60th anniversary of the end of WWII, the "Tram" operators have enjoyed a great season. The attraction's summer-long Golden Anniversary celebration began with opening day on Saturday, May 21, and will wrap up its 50th summer of providing unparalleled scenic views to visitors on Sunday, September 11.

"We first stumbled across the tram pretty much by accident 14 years ago on the way to Rocky Mountain National Park," notes Loveland resident Tom Kliegl. "Since then, it has become a tradition for our family - whenever we have guests in from out of town, we go and ride the tram. The spectacular views of the trees, the snow-capped peaks and the view of the valley, the town and the lake really put in perspective why we live in Colorado."

Since opening to the public in August of 1955, the Tramway has safely carried more than three million people to the 8,700-foot summit of Prospect Mountain. Riders enjoy a four-minute ride that takes them 1,100 vertical feet up the mountain, gliding along up to 200 feet above the mountainside.

On the way, and at the top, riders enjoy breathtaking views of the Estes Valley, Estes Lake and Estes Park Village below and the surrounding mountain peaks, including 14,255-foot Longs Peak, the ranges of the Continental Divide and Rocky Mountain National Park.

Upon arrival at the summit, visitors are welcome to stay as long as they wish, taking in the scenery from the observation deck and enjoying lunch or a snack at the deli. Some choose to hike on the trails of Prospect Mountain, or bring a picnic and enjoy an outdoor meal among the trees. Others just relax and enjoy the scenery and fresh air. Some couples even make the trip to the top to get married! (visit http://www.estestram.com/Views/views.html to sample the views from the top)

The week-long Golden Anniversary Celebration set for August 8-14 will feature refreshments for riders, including cake and punch, as well as live entertainment. Commemorative merchandise will be available, including limited copies of an original 1950s-vintage screen-printed poster of the tram looking down onto Estes Valley, similar to the logo above.

Tramway History
The Tramway was designed and built by Robert Heron, a native of Canon City and a graduate of the Colorado School of Mines. Heron became involved with tramways during World War II. The U.S. Army's 10th Mountain Division contracted the engineering company Heron worked for, the Stearns Roger Manufacturing Company in Denver, to design a portable tramway for use in Italy and Germany to transport supplies and ammunition and evacuate casualties in steep mountain terrain where battles were being fought. The Estes Park Aerial Tramway is still owned and operated by the Heron family today.

Heron later became a pioneer in the design and construction of chairlifts for the ski industry in the U.S., building the first double chair lift in the nation. His company, Heron-Poma, established what later became Poma, and today is Leitner-Poma of America, Inc. Some of the more than 70 chairlifts built and installed by Heron-Poma are still in operation in the U.S. today.

Directions
The Estes Park Aerial Tramway is located at 420 East Riverside Drive in Estes Park, Colorado. From Elkhorn Ave. (Business US 34) turn south onto Moraine Ave. and stay in left lane. The entrance to the tram is across the river.

Admission
Adult round-trip tickets are $9.00. Riders over 60 years of age are $8.00. Children 6 to 11 years old are $4.00, and children under 5 ride free with a parent. Group discounts are available, including a $1 per rider discount for groups of more than 20, and a $2 per rider discount for groups of 50 or more people.

Hours of Operation
The Estes Park Aerial Tramway 2005 season begins May 21 and ends September 11. The Tram operates daily from 9:00 a.m. until 6:30 p.m. No reservations are required. Photography is better, weather is more favorable and lines are shorter in the early morning or late afternoon. The operating schedule may be affected by adverse weather.

Weddings
The top of Prospect Mountain has several outdoor ceremony sites which offer stunning mountain views. The rock outcroppings also afford natural amphitheaters. These sites will accommodate 5 to 20 people. One site is close to the top of the tram. The others are within 1/2 mile of the upper terminal. There is no fee for the site, and the bride and groom ride free. The entire wedding group is taken up in consecutive cars.

For more information about the Estes Park Aerial Tramway, call 970-586-3675, email e-mail protected from spam bots or visit www.estestram.com.

A book titled "The Tramway Builders" by Philip A. Lunday and Charles M. Hampton gives the history of the tramways contracted by the 10th Mountain Division and the men who built them. This out-of-print book is available for free in PDF format on the 10th Mountain Division Association, Inc. Website at http://www.10thmtndivassoc.org/chronology.html#tramway.





Estes Park Aerial Tramway Celebrates Its 50th Season August 814 WeekLong Celebration Highlights Attractions Special Summer