Come, Take a Tour on the Wildlife Explorer!

Enjoy a ninety minute tram tour of Wildlife Drive aboard our open-air Wildlife Explorer.  Learn about the fascinating history of the displaced town of Hagerman while watching for an abundance of wildlife.

• Lots of stops for bird-watching and photography.   
• Guided tours are weather permitting and seating is limited. 
• Standbys are accepted if space permits. 
• Recommended for age 6 - adult. 
• Bring binoculars or borrow ours.
• Meet at the visitor center 15 minutes before departure. 
• Free, funded by Donations and powered by Volunteers.

In the Fall of 2018 both Friends volunteers and Hagerman staff started noticing deterioration issues with the original tram--the Cardinal Express (CECE).  The CECE had been donated to the Friends by Dr. Carlos Araoz and his late wife, Eulalia.  Time, wear and extensive use was causing not only a need to replace the batteries, but also corrosion in the undercarriage that was only getting worse and looked terminal.  The Friends board of directors considered the issue and decided to begin a fundraising campaign to acquire a new tram.  Through 2019 funds were raised by the Friends via, among other things, a GoFundMe campaign and a more targeted effort aimed at prior Friends donors.  The effort, resulting in several gifts at the Life membership level, showed how loyal Friends supporters are.   Soon, with a little aid from the Friends’ general fund, the necessary money had been raised.  The new tram was ordered, delivered and put into service in February/March, 2020.  Unfortunately, the COVID pandemic has interrupted the tram tours, but only for now.  So, what name should the new tram have?  Well, the Friends conducted a “Name That Tram” contest and some 135 name nominations were submitted.  It took the 5 judges 5 rounds of judging to come up with the winner.  

And the winner is…. “The Wildlife Explorer!” The name courtesy of Mr. John Reynolds who won the naming contest.  Although the beautiful new tram carried only 116 tram tour passengers before the COVID interruption, it should soon be in full service again.