The Franklin Mountains antenna farm on Comanche and Ranger Peaks supports TV, AM/FM-radio, cellular, and other broadcast communication needs in the greater El Paso TX/Las Cruces NM area.
There are 5 NGS benchmarks at the Franklin Mountains Antenna Farm, and 4 of them are TV towers: CE0618 EL PASO TV TOWER KVIA, CE0619 EL PASO TV TOWER KDBC, CE0622 EL PASO TV TOWER KCIK and CE0621 EL PASO TV TOWER KTSM.
Blasterz have not been able to find any websites with early El Paso radio history, but in the WPA Guide to Texas (published in 1940) there were 2 radio stations in El Paso: KTSM-AM 1310 and KROD-AM 1500. Source: page 242 (
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From Wikipedia: (
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"El Paso is divided by a prominent natural ridge (part of the Franklin Mountains), where all of the U.S. based television stations in the market maintain their transmitter towers and antennas. There are four general sites ranging from 600 to 1,800 feet (550 m) above average terrain, the 300-foot (91 m) self-supporting tower just above Scenic Drive (long used by KVIA-TV (channel 7)), the "Old Channel 4" site with a 288-foot (88 m) tower first used by KROD-TV), the "New 4 site", Channel 10, and ch. 14 (used by KFOX-TV). In founding station (KNIT-TV), Daniels worked out a partnership between KDBC-TV and Larry Gallatin's two-way company. A new 440-foot (130 m) self-supporting tower was put up, with channel 4 at its top, channel 26's being side-mounted, on a 100 feet (30 m) tower that was long vacant (now occupied by radio station KSII (93.1 FM) and KINT-FM) and two-way space at the bottom."
Interesting fact: Ranger Peak is now part of a state park, and the aerial tramway that was built in the 1930s to maintain the KTSM-AM radio antenna at Ranger Peak is now run by the state of Texas as a tourist attraction.
From Atlas Obscura: (
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'A cable car once used to maintain a radio transmission antenna [KTSM-AM -- BMB] now takes visitors to the top of Ranger Peak in Franklin Mountains State Park for wide views of the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez area.
El Paso, Texas, sits at the base of the Franklin Mountains, and the end of the range separates the east and west halves of the city. Ranger Peak commands a wide view of the area, and the KTSM radio station selected it as the place to build their transmitter. To get the materials over the rugged terrain, the project director, Karl O. Wyler, had the tramway built to haul them up almost 1,000 feet in altitude. The tramway is single-span, meaning there are no towers along the half mile of travel, and a very strong cable like those on suspension bridges keep the gondola above the canyon below.
After the tower was built, the tramway was operated privately and made open to the public from 1960 to 1986, when it was shut down due to mounting insurance costs. Mr. Wyler would later buy the tramway, and then willed it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife department upon his death in 1997.
Four years later, after extensive renovation, it was reopened as the Wyler Aerial Tramway in his memory. Birds can be seen soaring above the city and salamanders scuttle among the rocks at the summit, and the wide view that Mr. Wyler wanted to give to the public is still available after a trip up the mountain."
Blasterz have never been able to ride the tramway, because whenever we have been in El Paso, it has been closed. :(
Information about the tramway can be found here: (
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"Things to Do
The Wyler Aerial Tramway at Franklin Mountains State Park features an aerial cable car situated on 195.742 acres of rugged mountain and rock formations on the east side of the Franklin Mountains.
Activities: Driving the paved road that snakes up the east side of the Franklin Mountains from the intersection of McKinley and Alabama streets is half the fun. The visitor arrives at a parking area that sits at an elevation of 4,692 feet. The view of El Paso, to the east, is magnificent. Here visitors can admire the beauty of cacti gardens or watch the tramway gondolas take off.
Visitors can purchase tickets at the tramway station to ride a gondola that will transport them to the top of Ranger Peak. The Swiss-made gondolas travel on a 2,600 feet long, 1 3/8 inch diameter steel cable. While waiting to depart, the visitor can view part of the machinery and mechanism of the system through a window located on the south side of the base station. On the smooth ride to the top, the park ranger will describe the different cacti and rock formations along the way. Abundant wildlife, including reptiles, birds and insects, offer exciting viewing opportunities. The four-minute ride soars above a vast canyon that is 240 feet deep in some places.
From Ranger Peak, 5,632 feet above sea level, the visitor can enjoy the view of 7,000 square miles encompassing three states and two nations. The tramway ride is a memorable experience offering a vista of the vastness and stark beauty of the southwest.
The station at the top provides accessible ramps and paved grounds leading into an observation deck with a 360-degree view. Pay-per-view high power telescopes enhance the experience.
The facilities at the Tramway, including the platforms, gift shop, restrooms, and the tram itself, are considered wheelchair accessible. Contact the Tramway for more detailed information.
Call before visiting to check on possible closures during times of high winds or other extreme weather.
Birding in the El Paso area will take one into and through the Franklin Mountains and the Hueco Tanks State Historic Site areas. The local Audubon Society has created an excellent birding area known as Feather Lakes. The natural flyway that is the El Paso area brings a large variety of bird species to the area. Local groups are taking advantage of this natural flyway by rehabilitating the remains of local bosques (wetlands), adding to the available bird habitat in the area."
"WYLER AERIAL TRAMWAY
No entrance fees
Call (915) 566-6622 before visiting; the Tramway sometimes closes due to high winds or bad weather.
Friday and Saturday: Noon - 7 p.m.
Sunday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Closed Monday through Thursday."