The vast, painted landscapes of West Texas are best appreciated from great heights. This tramway, photographed in 1970, was installed in 1959 by a local radio station for its technicians to service a transmitter antenna. It was subsequently gifted to the state, and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department opened the Wyler Aerial Tramway to the public in 2001. A dizzying 900-foot ascent out of the Franklin Mountains to the top of Ranger’s Peak took four minutes on a clear day, leading visitors to the windswept viewing platform to revel in a scene of rugged slopes; steep canyons; and a vista encompassing three states, two countries, and 7,000 square miles of stark southwestern desert. Despite its local popularity—about 45,000 visitors per year took it for a spin—concerns regarding the tram’s safety led TPWD to close it in 2019. But don’t give up hope: The department and local partners intend to put $36 million into a refurbished and restored tramline over the next few years, once again allowing visitors a heavenly view of westernmost Texas.
From the May 2025 issue
