LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) – A historic salt tram tower in Saline Valley has been damaged according to the National Park Service.
Park rangers believe the 113-year-old tower was pulled over while a person used a winch to get their vehicle out of deep mud. NPS seems to think it happened sometime between April 1 and April 24, 2024.
The tower toppled over, pulling its concrete footings out of the ground, officials said. As the investigation continued, rangers found tire marks nearby. They believe the vehicle drove a short distance off the legal roadway and then got stuck.
”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.”
Back in the early 1900s, the Saline Valley Salt Company built the 13-mile aerial tram to transport salt from Saline Valley to Owens Valley.
The salt tram is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered nationally significant as it climbed over 7,000 vertical feet at steep grades up to 40 degrees. The age, length and preservation of the tower all reflect why NPS is seeking more information.
Only the first four towers are within Death Valley National Park. Most of the tramway crosses lands managed by the Bureau of Land Management. Tram tower #1 is the tower closest to the Saline Valley lakebed.
A salt tram stabilization project was planned before this damage happened. It is unclear if the funding can also be used to re-anchor the fallen tower.
Park rangers are asking anyone with information on this incident to contact the NPS-wide tip line at 888-653-0009 or submit a tip here.
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