On the rocky island of Santa Catalina, you’ll find beautiful cliff side views overlooking the Pacific and its shores. There are resorts, spas and golfing. Still you’re likely to miss one of its oldest attractions, the Santa Catalina Incline Railway, unless you look close.
Santa Catalina Incline Railway
There wasn’t much on the island before the early 1900s when developers built the Avalon resort. Equipped with fine rooms, accommodations and an amphitheater, the resort had everything, save for an incline railway to move visitors up and down the island’s steep cliffs.
In 1905, the resort completed the incline railway. Passengers immediately enjoyed the convenience. Whether riding the inclined railway to the amphitheater to catch a show or a ride down to Lover’s Cove where glass-bottomed boat trips waited, passengers didn’t need to break a sweat trekking the steep, rocky landscape.
The Ruins
The island moved on from the inclined railway, which closed in the early 1920s. Since then, it has fallen into disrepair with only remnants of it remaining: cables, support beams, wheel set and car. Even the amphitheater it carried passengers to has since closed.
The Return of The Inclined Railways
After the Santa Catalina Inclined Railway closed there was still the need to traverse hills and slopes throughout the island. Citizens made their own railways. To this date, Hill Hiker® has installed three systems on the island.
The Antique Incline Railway
In 2009, a client came to us needing a replacement for their old inclined railway system. The system needed to function like new, yet the client wanted us to keep the antique feel. We met their wishes with this custom made inclined railway.
To learn more about how Hill Hiker® can customize and install your next inclined railway, give us a call at (866) 476-2422 or contact us online.
