Nurture Your Inner Nerd at Palm Springs Windmill Tours
Have you ever wondered, as you come through the San Gorgonio pass, how the sea of giant windmills came to be? Have you wondered what it would be like to stand next to one? Palm Springs Windmill Tours offers answers and hands on experience. From their origins over 40 years ago, in the early days of renewable energy, to how they are engineered, maintained, and work their magic, tours offered on this private property provide an unforgettable adventure for all ages, not to mention, amazing photo opps.
The wind farm was established in 1982 by Wintec Energy in Palm Springs. Today, the collective wind farms in the San Gorgonio pass provide power for hundreds of thousands of homes per day. The Palm Springs Windmill Tours was originally established in 1998, then closed after the 9/11 event and reopened in 2014.
“We are the only windmill tour in the United States that offers in-depth tours on a private wind farm.” states Annette Said, Marketing Manager. “Since pivoting from our bus tours to our self-driving tours with a curated-APP, it has proven that there is a thirst for knowledge about renewable energy that has allowed us to expand to more offerings, such as guided tours on our electric golf cart.”
The journey begins with a forty-year step back in time to appreciate the optimism and anxiety of the early days of wind power in the San Gorgonio Pass. It then leaps to the present with beyond-the-barricades photo opportunities next to some of the large modern turbines on the wind farm. The tour then explores several experimental designs tested on our farm over the years and concludes with a survey of energy production, transmission, and storage in the surrounding area.
Guests can see and touch historical exhibits while learning about the successes and spectacular failures of the newborn wind industry. Not only will you be able to get up close to real operating wind turbines over 400 feet high, but expert guides will also be able to describe the inner workings of wind turbines and how they contribute to our energy grid. From the novice tour participant to engineers-types, everyone will be able to leave the tour with a better understanding of how this renewable energy is fast becoming part of our energy solution.
Be sure to dress appropriately for the weather and wind, including closed-toe shoes and sunscreen on most days. If you wear a hat, be sure it has a strap to secure it from blowing away.
For more information on pricing and availability, visit windmilltours.com or call (800) 531-5834.
