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All American Samoa Abandoned Mt. Alava Aerial Tramway
AO Edited

Abandoned Mt. Alava Aerial Tramway

The site of abandoned cable car system provides expansive views of Tutuila and nearby capital Pago Pago.

Utulei, American Samoa

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michaelnhartman
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About

At the top of a steep hill, across the street of the Port of Pago Pago, lies the abandoned remnants of a once-popular cable car. Completed in January of 1965, the Aerial Tramway spanned over 5,000 feet across the Pago Pago harbor, from this hill to the top of Mount Alava. The tramway came of necessity, providing a vital method of transporting TV equipment and personnel across the water and up the steep mountain. However, soon after opening, it also became a popular tourist destination, with a visitor ticket providing spectacular views of the island.

Said to be the brainchild of Governor H. Rex Lee, the tramway was used to facilitate a welcoming “shower of flowers” over cruise ships as they arrived into port, with islanders dumping bundles of blossoms from the cable car onto the ships as they passed beneath. In its heyday, the tower had a 100 HP electric motor to drive the cables, with an 85 HP gasoline engine as a backup, spanning the world record length across the harbor (for a single-span aerial tramway).

On April 17th, 1980, the cable system was involved in a horrific crash, when a U.S. Navy P-3 Orion anti-sub aircraft flew into the cables while on a run to drop paratroopers in celebration of Flag Day. Seven people were killed as a result.

The cable remained in operation following the disaster, but damage from Hurricane Val in 1992 required repairs that were deemed too costly.

Today, pieces of the tramway remain—a rusty winch and engine tower, frayed cables, and abandoned cable car—sit in decay, fighting against creeping vegetation. It still draws hikers, history enthusiasts, and photographers to the tramway’s base station near the harbor, offering spectacular views of the bay, Pago, and other parts of Tutuila.

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Abandoned Cable Cars Transportation

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Parking is available directly at the site, after navigating up a curvy road just past the turn in to Samoana High School. It’s also the terminus of Blunts Point hiking Trail, which begins behind the Fresh Laundromat on Route 1.Efforts to revive the abandoned tramway in Pago Pago are underway, supported by a grant proposal focused on creating an eco-friendly, sustainable attraction that boosts tourism and local employment. While the project shows promise, challenges like high costs, environmental concerns, and logistical complexities must be addressed for it to succeed.

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michaelnhartman

Published

January 27, 2025

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  • https://www.samoanews.com/local-news/old-cable-car-just-keeps-rusting-away
  • https://www.samoanews.com/local-news/design-and-feasibility-study-underway-long-awaited-tramway-rehab
  • https://visitpagopago.com/solo-hill/
Abandoned Mt. Alava Aerial Tramway
Utulei, 96799
American Samoa
-14.279538, -170.683328

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