Community Chat

[Kachina624]

You've heard about our balloon fiesta but here's one local attraction that most people don't know about and it's one of my favorites.  Right on the Eastern edge of town, we have the world's longest aerial tram.  Its quite a spectacular ride, not only long, but very high over rugged terrain, cliffs bare of much vegetation of a pink granite.  Visitors can hike around the forest at the top; there even a trail with workbooks for kids to complete.

People spot all sorts of things below; cougar, bears, deer and even the wreckage of a TWA airliner that crashed there years ago.  On top is an observation deck that overlooks the whole Rio Grande Valley including Albuquerque and beyond.  There is also a new, very nice restaurant with spectacular views called Ten-03, for the altitude.

It makes a lovely evening to ride up there on a summer's evening as its very cool at the top.  Watch the sun set, eat a good dinner then ride down after dark to the view of the city lights. Very romantic. 

Here are some views which don't nearly do it justice.

[JaneMarple]

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@Kachina624 wrote:

You've heard about our balloon fiesta but here's one local attraction that most people don't know about and it's one of my favorites.  Right on the Eastern edge of town, we have the world's longest aerial tram.  Its quite a spectacular ride, not only long, but very high over rugged terrain, cliffs bare of much vegetation of a pink granite.  Visitors can hike around the forest at the top; there even a trail with workbooks for kids to complete.

People spot all sorts of things below; cougar, bears, deer and even the wreckage of a TWA airliner that crashed there years ago.  On top is an observation deck that overlooks the whole Rio Grande Valley including Albuquerque and beyond.  There is also a new, very nice restaurant with spectacular views called Ten-03, for the altitude.

It makes a lovely evening to ride up there on a summer's evening as its very cool at the top.  Watch the sun set, eat a good dinner then ride down after dark to the view of the city lights. Very romantic. 

Here are some views which don't nearly do it justice.

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Although very beautiful, it's a no from me. I'm afraid of heights.

[Trailrun23]

When we lived there, I loved riding the tram up to the top to eat at High Finance...the restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner. When did it close and the new one open? 
We lived there many years ago.

[Lucky Charm]

I've ridden the one in Palm Springs many times when we have friends with us.  Didn't know about the one in NM.

[patbz]

@Lucky Charm :  I've been on both those trams and the one in Palm Springs seemed scary to me ( and my Son) while the one in Albuquerque didn't bother me.

[Love my grandkids]

@Kachina624 Wowser! That would be something I'd love.

[Kachina624]

@JaneMarple    There's nobody in the world more terrified of heights than me.  I get sweaty palms just thinking about the Grand Canyon.  Yet for some reason the tram doesn't bother me, much like an airplane.  I don't get the feeling of being "on the edge" of a height.

There's one place where a sheer wall looms right in front of the path of the car and you'd swear it's going to crash into it, but of course it doesn't and sails right over it.

Most of the tram was built on huge pylons by a Swiss company necessitating something like 10,000 helicopter trips up the mountain to lay cable and put the pylons in place.  They close one day a week for maintenance at which time employees ride up on top of the car to inspect the cable.

[Kachina624]

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@Trailrun23 wrote:

When we lived there, I loved riding the tram up to the top to eat at High Finance...the restaurant where we had our rehearsal dinner. When did it close and the new one open? 
We lived there many years ago.

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@Trailrun23    High Finance closed and was torn down several years ago and the new restaurant, built a bit to the North, opened about two years ago.

[Kachina624]

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@Love my grandkids wrote:

@Kachina624 Wowser! That would be something I'd love.

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@Love my grandkids   Come on, we'll go together.

[Effie54]

Well this looks amazing! Though I'm not a fan of heights, I would absolutely do this. The view is spectacular! I'm sure I would love this most wonderful site in Albuquerque. Beautiful photos! Sooo nice!