Moab Scenic Tram Owners Settle Six-Year Suit

By Rosemary Winters, The Salt Lake Tribune

Jan. 9–The idle tram sitting near Moab’s north end may finally be able to begin operations — nearly six years after it was built.

Owners of the tram, primarily William “Rick” Jewett, have settled their legal dispute with Grand County. U.S. District Judge Bruce Jenkins has dismissed Jewett’s lawsuit — filed in 2003.

Grand County agreed to pay $200,000 to the owners of the Moab Scenic Tram, located along U.S. 191, and to allow a business license to be issued once a $66,500 reclamation bond is posted, according to Salt Lake City attorney Craig Wentz, representing Grand County.

Jewett, who sued for $5 million in actual damages and $15 million in punitive damages, promised to seal an open mine shaft on top of the bluff where the tram ends.

It could eventually be used if a conditional-use permit is secured. Jewett had planned an underground mining museum for the site.

The reclamation bond — which would cover the cost of removing the tram if the business were to shutter — was the center of the dispute. In the lawsuit, tram owners claimed they obtained the proper permits and agreed to post the bond, but the county refused to accept the bond and grant a business license.

But Wentz said owners were given multiple opportunities to post the bond and failed to do so.

Wentz said the county decided to settle so Jewett would have an incentive to fix the “eyesore” caused by the abandoned tram and accompanying property, which have been repeated targets of vandalism.

With construction complete and employees hired, Jewett had planned to open April 13, 2001. The tram cost more than $3 million.

Six years and a court fight later, Jewett and his partners have less enthusiasm for the project, said their attorney, Jeffrey Walker.

They may decide to improve the project to sell it to another operator, Walker said.

“The bloom has come off the rose as far as their passion to operate the tram in Moab,” Walker said. “My clients have not had an extremely successful working relationship with the county in the past.

“We are hopeful that the most difficult times are very much behind us, but time will only tell.”

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