Historic El Paso Tramway To Reopen With New Upgrades

Cesar Mendez, superintendent of Franklin Mountains State Park in El Paso, is a soft-spoken man who has the sort of voice custom-built for explaining the importance of local geology to schoolchildren. When he talks about riding the Wyler Aerial Tramway, though, he grows animated and excited, gushing about the incredible view it offers.

“On clear days you can see snow peaks of the Sierra Blanca in New Mexico,” he said in a phone interview, “On a really clear day, I mean especially in winter, you can see two countries, all the way to Chihuahua, Mexico. It is an amazing view that shows the vibrant, binational community right here of El Paso and Ciudad Juárez.” 

That view has entranced thousands of visitors to the park since it opened in 1959. Built by KTSM to help with the construction of a radio tower, the view was so spectacular that it was accepting rides from the public the next year. Karl O. Wyler, who managed the project, donated the tramway to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department when he died in 1990.

By then, the tramway had been closed for four years. Liability insurance for the gondola ride 940 vertical feet above the boarding area was understandably prohibitive. TPWD re-opened the tramway in 2001, where it once again became a beloved landmark.

Unfortunately, by 2018, engineers and auditors deemed it well past its recommended life expectancy. The tramway had a flawless safety record but was no longer up to modern standards. Updating it would cost millions of dollars TPWD simply did not have. It looked like the orange gondolas had taken their last trip over Ranger Peak.

However, love for the tramway didn’t fade away. Public activism eventually resulted in State Senator César Blanco (D-El Paso) securing $7 million for the tramway as part of an overall $27 million investment in the park. The initial investment will pay for Phase 1, while Phase 2 will require private investment to finish.

“On behalf of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission, I want to extend our deep gratitude to the Texas Legislature and the El Paso legislative delegation for their unwavering commitment to this community and to this project,” said Texas Parks and Wildlife Commission Chairman Paul Foster in a press statement. “The legislature’s investment ensures that this iconic attraction—so loved by generations of El Pasoans—will rise again. The Wyler Aerial Tramway connects us not only to the grandeur of the Franklin Mountains, but also to the sense of pride that comes with being a Texan.”

Plans for the revitalization will include a completely new tramway. The old tramway system and infrastructure will remain standing, but not available for use.

“The old system is still utilizing all the equipment to the telecommunication towers,” said Mendez. “So, we’re not touching that. We’re creating a completely new one.”

Mendez says one of the innovations they will include is a new booking system that will allow people to arrive in blocks rather than standing in long lines to travel up and down the mountain. The parking lot will be expanded, and a new visitors center and gift shop will available. Apparently, requests for souvenirs were common from visitors, and TPWD wants to accommodate that.

As of right now, there is no settled date for when the tramway will re-open. Planning for the renovations is still in the very early stages, so construction will likely take years to finish. Raising money for the second phase is also a future hurdle that will have to be cleared.

The chances of it being completed seem high. Before shutting down, the tramway saw 40,000 visitors annually, making it a very popular outdoor destination. The work of Sen. Blanco shows that support from the legislature is there. As a state park, Franklin Mountains will not be directly affected by the proposed Trump cuts to the National Park System, though ripple effects could impact the fundraising process. TPWD seems confident the project will go all the way. 

“With the Legislature’s investment leading the way, private donors and local partners now have the opportunity to join in bringing back a landmark that means so much to the people of El Paso and to visitors from across Texas and beyond,” said Anne Brown, Executive Director of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation in a statement. 

Meanwhile, Mendez is quietly preparing for the return of the tramway. He’s already fielding calls from prospective visitors eager to see the mountains from a gondola again.

“People keep calling and asking when it’s going to be open,” he said. “It’s hard to determine a day because we’re working in phases and we’re thinking in phases, but we are definitely getting closer.”