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Salt Tram Tower Toppled In Death Valley National Park

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Published Date

May 13, 2024

Saline Valley Salt Tram tower #1 on March 5, 2024/NPS

A historic tram tower built more than a century ago to haul salt out of Death Valley was recently toppled in Death Valley National Park, possibly by a motorist who attached a winch to the tower to pull a vehicle out of the muck, according to park staff. 

The 113-year-old tower was found upright in early March, but then discovered uprooted on April 27.

“I have hiked along sections of this tramway and am amazed by the tenacity it took to build,” said Superintendent Mike Reynolds. “I hope the person responsible for this damage will contact us so we can discuss restitution.”

The Saline Valley Salt Company built the 13-mile aerial tram to transport salt from Saline Valley to Owens Valley in 1911. The tramway climbed more than 7,000 vertical feet at steep vertical grades up to 40 degrees. The Saline Valley Salt Tram is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is considered nationally significant because of its age, length, steepness, preservation, and scenic setting.

Only the first four towers are within Death Valley National Park. Most of the tramway crosses lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management.

Salt Tram Tower #1 on April 27, 2024/NPS

Tram tower #1 is the tower closest to Saline Valley lakebed. Nearby tracks show that a vehicle drove a short distance off the legal roadway and got stuck in mud, a park release said Monday. Park rangers believe that someone used the nearby tower as an anchor to pull their vehicle out of the mud. The tower toppled over, pulling its concrete footings out of the ground.

The Park Service already had a salt tram stabilization project planned before this damage happened, funded by the Inflation Reduction Act. The project manager has not determined if that funding can be used to re-anchor tower #1.

Park rangers ask that anyone with information on this incident contact the NPS-wide tip line at 888-653-0009 or go.nps.gov/SubmitATip.   

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Comments

Submitted by Loui on May 13, 2024 - 3:16pm.

"...a salt tram stabilization project...funded by the Inflation Reduction Act."


Submitted by FMR on May 13, 2024 - 8:11pm.

Less than .05% of Death Valley visitors know these exist.  Of those that know about them less than 10% can get to them, or want to drive that far, due to the long un-maintained dirt road that you need to take to get there.  Death Valley Management at it's finest.

What would you rather have them do with the money?  Upgrade high visitation areas? Improve campgrounds? Hire sufficient staff?


Submitted by Sir Linear on May 15, 2024 - 8:42am.

I recently used a restroom along one of FL's bike trails that was funded by the Treasury Dept.?!?!?!


Submitted by CeeTee on May 18, 2024 - 11:40am.

I'd love to have them use money for all of the above, and more, including wildlife & botanical surveys and habitat preservation. Maybe they are - do you know for certain what the full range of projects is that is being funded by the recent funds? Or what other funding sources are being used on various projects? If you do, please share. Either way, preserving an amazing piece of engineering from the past that is a historic and cultural resource - that cannot be replaced - is a good use of tax dollars. It's even part of the NPS legislated mission. The managers of DV know the ins and outs of obtaining and using funding resources far better than the readers of this webpage do, and do an amazing job of keeping the parks viable and and beautiful for current and future generations. All on an absurdly low budget. Kudos to them.  PS Where did you get the statistics on visitors' knowledge?


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